[dakuda]

I recently bought a S&W 686 and was curious on how old it is/when it was made. I know it was atleast made in the 80's. Anyone here willing to let me know:

SN# REH6xxx

 

[Zappa]

I can tell you that the 686 was introduced in 1980, but I couldn't find the serial number prefix "REH" listed in my copy of "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson".
Are you sure it's not "BEH"? If so, that would be Sept. 1989.
If that's wrong, don't feel bad, I myself have two S&W's that I can't find in the book either. One is a 3" M#629-5 "Mountain Backpacker", serial number prefix "MBP", and the other is a 6" M#29-6, prefix "SBR".
If you can give more info, I can narrow it down by features and production changes. Is it a 686 no-dash? if so, those were made from 1980-85. If the model number has a "-1" , that's a 1986 production gun. The dash numbers go up to 5, with -5 being 1998 to present.

 

[dakuda]

I can tell you that the 686 was introduced in 1980, but I couldn't find the serial number prefix "REH" listed in my copy of "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson".
Are you sure it's not "BEH"? If so, that would be Sept. 1989.
If that's wrong, don't feel bad, I myself have two S&W's that I can't find in the book either. One is a 3" M#629-5 "Mountain Backpacker", serial number prefix "MBP", and the other is a 6" M#29-6, prefix "SBR".
If you can give more info, I can narrow it down by features and production changes. Is it a 686 no-dash? if so, those were made from 1980-85. If the model number has a "-1" , that's a 1986 production gun. The dash numbers go up to 5, with -5 being 1998 to present.

It was BEH. The paperwork I had said REH, but it was a typo. The gun is stamped BEH. Thanks for the info. It is a 686-3.