S&W 681? I know nothing about it.

C

chaim

New member
I am currently the high bidder on Gun Broker for a S&W 681. I know nothing about this gun. From the picture it looks like a stainless steel, fixed sight K-frame. If so how does it differ from a 65? Is it a K-frame as it appears? What is a good price? If someone outbids me should I increase my bid (I'm currently at $205 and my max is 220 right now, plus $25 shipping, plus FFL fees which are $40 at my favorite FFL)?
 
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OK, I did a little search here (something that maybe I should have done before posting my questions :rolleyes: ) and so now I do know a little about it. It sounds like I may have been wrong about it being a K-frame, good since I would like to get an L-frame or a Ruger so I can shoot more .357s without worrying about destroying my K-frame S&W 65. Seems like it should be a nice gun if it is in good shape (you can't really tell from a picture). It looks like the finish is good (from the picture), it has the wood service grips (one of my favorite grips in a S&W though I may get the hardwood target grips for a fuller grip) and the seller claims it is 95%. From the picture it looks like a 4" HB with a full underlug (should be nice and heavy/solid). I hope I get it.

I still would like to hear from you if you own one about how you like it. Also, given that it is an online sale, and thus sight unseen, what max would you bid? If someone outbids me, what should I set as my limit (adding $25 for shipping and $40 for FFL fees)?

I have also contacted the seller to see if he would be willing to end the auction and sell outright. I'll see what his answer is and what his price would be to do so.
 
It is an L frame, slightly beefier than a K.

The 681 is the exact same gun as a 686, only with fixed sights.

You cannot go wrong with it if it's in nice condition.

I don't think I'd go past $300 for it though unless it was new with box and papers.

The same gun in blued carbon steel is an M581:

2g.jpg
 
Thanks Roger. Your 581 in blue looks so much better. Maybe if this doesn't pan out I'll look out for one of these (though this was a bit of an impulse bid, I'm really on the lookout for a .38 right now).

Oh, one more question. Unlike the K-frame the L can take a pretty much unlimited diet of .357 rounds, correct?
 
Supposedly they can take a steady diet of .357's.

Funny how things go.....the M19 was produced because supposedly the M27 was too big.

Then the 586/686's were produced because M19's were being shot loose by too many .357's.

I prefer N frames myself. They are big, but unless you shoot some insane reloads, you'll never break one with .357 ammo.

Some people say that the L frames with their full underlug barrels are just as heavy as N frames. It could just be that so much weight forward makes you think it's heavier than it is.

The full lug does help control recoil.
 
681 in 95% condition books for $195.
I wouldn't bump the bid on a gun that I can't inspect.

If you don't get this one.
A 581 will find you....patience.

Sam
 
L-frame, full underlug barrel, fixed sights, same grip frame and size as the K-frame, meaning that any grips for a square butt K-frame will fit a square butt L-frame.
 
Looks like I lost it, sniff:( . Someone raised my bid. It is currently at $225 and I thought about raising my bid just a tad, but I don't know what the current bidder has as his max. Anyway, I don't think I'd want to go too much higher on a used gun sight unseen (in addition to the price it would cost an additional $25 to ship and $40 at my FFL so for a gun I've never seen it would already be almost $300, 225+25+40=290)..

I'll keep my eye out for a nice 581 or 586, especially at the local stores and at gunshows.
 
You'll find one. Don't forget, the same gun with adjustable sights is the 586/686.

Good luck! The "hunt" is half the fun :)
 
Not to pound on you, tovarisch, but $40 sounds real steep for the transfer fee. Have you checked around? All the dealer has to do is mail a copy of his FFL, (he does this all the time), receive the gun (he does this all the time), and have you fill out the 4473, and run your NICS check(which he... well, you get the picture). That ain't worth 40 scoots, IMHO. If it was me, I'd find another "friend". If you actually make the acquaintance of the owner, who can actually set the charge for such service, y'might find out what he drinks and buy him a bottle. G'luck
 
I just picked one up off gunbroker for $210 recently. I prefer them to the 686 because I like fixed sights on a working gun. I also agree that $40 is a pretty high transfer fee, unless it's the first time you've done business with them.
 
Without driving an hour or two it looks like $40 is the best I can do around here, and yes I am a regular customer there (that is why he'll let me transfer a gun new or used, normally he would only do used). A local range where I'm a regular will charge me $75 and another (where I'm a semi-regular and used to be very much a regular) will not do a transfer at all. About an hour or two drive away I can do $25-30 but saving $10-15 isn't really worth the extra time or gas (esp. since I live in MD so I'd need to take two trips, one for the federal and MD paperwork another 8 days later to pick up the gun).
 
Peoples Republic

You have to move. The People's Republic will sooner or later declare you a crimnal aginest the state for owning firearms.
 
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