What Is this revolver, and what Is It worth?

iGunny40 · June 12, 2013, 06:53 PM

My dad has an old .357 Magnum revolver and we are Just wondering what It's worth. I cant find it anywhere online. It's a Smith and Wesson Model 586 stainless steel. The problem Is, I have been told by many that Smith and Wesson doesn't make a Model 586 In stainless. So what Is It, a misprinted 686? It's also 29 years old, Im not sure If they made a Model 686 back then though. My questions are, what is it, how much Is It worth? I will post pictures, also sorry If my Grammar Is off a litle bit, Im on my phone.

iGunny40 · June 12, 2013, 07:01 PM

iGunny40 · June 12, 2013, 07:02 PM

g.willikers · June 12, 2013, 07:24 PM

A nickel plated 586?

lee n. field · June 12, 2013, 07:28 PM

Nickel plate -- that's my thought too. It looks shinier than I see most stainless guns.

MrBorland · June 12, 2013, 07:43 PM

Open the cylinder and look on the frame near the yoke. It'll be stamped with the model # and the variant (e.g. 586-2, etc). If it's a 586, it's nickel plated.

Buzzcook · June 12, 2013, 07:59 PM

Both the 586 and 686 came out in 1980 so 33yrs ago.

The pictures look more like nickel than stainless to me.

iGunny40 · June 12, 2013, 08:24 PM

Mod 586...
If you Guys are right It's nickel plated, all I know Is In person It's very shiny, especially In light! So how much Is It worth you think?

hAkron · June 12, 2013, 08:45 PM

$500-$600

**Tom Servo** · June 12, 2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

The pictures look more like nickel than stainless to me.

It's hard to tell. If the ejector star is black, the gun is nickel.

If it is nickel, and in such good condition, I'd say $700 or so to a collector.

iGunny40 · June 12, 2013, 08:50 PM

I was appraised by a Gun shop of no less then $800

Winchester_73 · June 12, 2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

It's hard to tell. If the ejector star is black, the gun is nickel.

If it is nickel, and in such good condition, I'd say $700 or so to a collector.

Same is true for hammer and trigger, unless someone would bother switching them out. Case hardened = 586, SS = 686

The gun appears to be a 586-4 or older, since its pre lock. I think -4 is the cutoff for those pre lock guns. That will be inside the yoke, when you open the cylinder, in the revealed portion where a serial number also is.

I would say $650 to $800, because nickel isn't readily available in a 586.

laytonj1 · June 12, 2013, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Case hardened = 586, SS = 686

686 triggers and hammers were carbon steel also. S&W flash chromed most of them to look like stainless steel.
Page 269 of the 3rd edition of the SCSW shows a 686 with case hardened trigger and hammer.

S&W did not nickel plate stainless steel so either the gun is a 686 that someone polished the finish or it's a 586 and the 5 looks like a 6.

Jim

**Tom Servo** · June 12, 2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Case hardened = 586

Actually, the case-hardened triggers and hammers became standard on stainless Smiths quite awhile ago.

Winchester_73 · June 12, 2013, 11:18 PM

Ok, well for a SS gun, esp that model, without the lock, it would have the flash plating. If its case hardened, it would be a later 686. The one pictured in this thread does not have a lock. I'm pretty sure even through a -3 they had this flash plating. Later on, they did go to case hardened for SS revolvers. My mistake.

Jim Watson · June 12, 2013, 11:27 PM

It's shiny like nickel and unlike stainless; except where S&W never plate their guns, it is marked 586 which was available nickel plated.

I conclude it is a nickel plated 586.
$800 seems a generous price, but they are discontinued and therefore automatic collectors items in the minds of many.

RJay · June 12, 2013, 11:41 PM

Value is in the eye of the beholder. An item may be worth a certain amount, but only if someone is willing to give you that amount. I also think that 800 is very generous and you may have a hard time in achieving that goal.

Dave T · June 13, 2013, 03:48 PM

No offense to the OP or the other posters but it looks like the front sight insert is missing. And, although it's hard to tell because of the poor focus of the pictures, the finish looks a little dinged or scratched.

If those are all the case I think you're doing a disservice to the OP telling him the gun is worth $700-$800. A some what dinged up nickel 586 is not going to bring that kind of money in any gun shop I've ever been in.

Dave

iGunny40 · June 13, 2013, 03:59 PM

Sorry for the somewhat bad camera quality, I was using my outdated android lol. I don't have the best nerves and shaking makes it a little blurry. I don't know what you're talking about with It being dinged up though,

any revolver will have a few scratches here and there If over a few years old and this Gun Is 28 years old. The sight Is perfectly on aim and shoots bullseyes anywhere you point it (If you can see that far)...

caz223 · June 14, 2013, 08:22 AM

Nice piece. I got a similar model, in 2 1\2" that I'm not selling. Ever.
It carries easy, shoots accurate, and feels absolutely awesome.
Newer smiths, as nice as they are, aren't as nice as older ones.

Winchester_73 · June 14, 2013, 08:36 AM

Quote:

No offense to the OP or the other posters but it looks like the front sight insert is missing. And, although it's hard to tell because of the poor focus of the pictures, the finish looks a little dinged or scratched.

If those are all the case I think you're doing a disservice to the OP telling him the gun is worth $700-$800. A some what dinged up nickel 586 is not going to bring that kind of money in any gun shop I've ever been in.

The pics are not good enough to say whether the front sight insert is missing or faded. The pics are also not good enough to say how much the finish is dinged or scratched either.

The cardinal issue regarding the value is the scarcity of nickel 586s. First of all, I think we all see many more 686 guns. So someone who wants a L frame 357, but wants nickel needs a little luck. This gun has 2 important things which effect its value, pre lock, and nickel finish. Of course condition is important, but its hard to say anything definitive based on those pics. I think some of what you see is smudges, from fingers from the gun not being wiped down prior to the photos being taken.

While $800 seems high, many pre lock 686s bring near $600 and sometimes more. They are much more common in my experience than a nickel 586. When I said $650 to $800, I didn't mean what it would definitely sell for, or what it would sell for in a day or two, I meant a composite average of what such a gun would bring overtime. The gun also would bring online (assuming a quality ad and quality photos) a fair sum of money. I know many of us don't use online values for many reasons, but the truth is, few of us are actually running a gun shop, which means what they bring in a gun shop is just as "irrelevant" in the context of what a non-FFL could get for the revolver. Someone running a shop has many advantages over a private seller, and often can get more money for the same exact gun due to those advantages. Any of us can sell a gun online, so considering an "online value" is a crucial consideration.

Nathan · June 14, 2013, 01:49 PM

Lots of good information here.

This is really a fantastic revolver. I think as you get used to revolvers, you will realize why people love them so. My 19-3 will put 5 in .6" at 15 yards! I'm really going to shoot more 25 and 50 yard groups!

Wheel-Gunner · June 17, 2013, 09:31 AM

I bought a 6" nickel 586 in beautiful shape for $500 earlier this year.

Sport45 · June 17, 2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGunny40

I was appraised by a Gun shop of no less then $800

If this is the gun shop that told you it was stainless I wouldn't trust their pricing either...

June 12, 2013, 06:53 PM	#1
iGunny40 Member Join Date: June 8, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	What Is this revolver, and what Is It worth? My dad has an old .357 Magnum revolver and we are Just wondering what It's worth. I cant find it anywhere online. It's a Smith and Wesson Model 586 stainless steel. The problem Is, I have been told by many that Smith and Wesson doesn't make a Model 586 In stainless. So what Is It, a misprinted 686? It's also 29 years old, Im not sure If they made a Model 686 back then though. My questions are, what is it, how much Is It worth? I will post pictures, also sorry If my Grammar Is off a litle bit, Im on my phone.

June 12, 2013, 07:28 PM	#5
lee n. field Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 2002 Location: The same state as Mordor. Posts: 5,588	Nickel plate -- that's my thought too. It looks shinier than I see most stainless guns. __________________ "As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. "

June 13, 2013, 03:48 PM	#18
Dave T Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2000 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,458	No offense to the OP or the other posters but it looks like the front sight insert is missing. And, although it's hard to tell because of the poor focus of the pictures, the finish looks a little dinged or scratched. If those are all the case I think you're doing a disservice to the OP telling him the gun is worth $700-$800. A some what dinged up nickel 586 is not going to bring that kind of money in any gun shop I've ever been in. Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret

June 14, 2013, 08:22 AM	#20
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Nice piece. I got a similar model, in 2 1\2" that I'm not selling. Ever. It carries easy, shoots accurate, and feels absolutely awesome. Newer smiths, as nice as they are, aren't as nice as older ones. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

June 17, 2013, 09:31 AM	#23
Wheel-Gunner Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2006 Posts: 277	I bought a 6" nickel 586 in beautiful shape for $500 earlier this year. __________________ "History does not entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." Dwight Eisenhower

June 12, 2013, 07:24 PM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	A nickel plated 586?

June 12, 2013, 07:43 PM	#6
MrBorland Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2007 Location: NC Posts: 2,614	Open the cylinder and look on the frame near the yoke. It'll be stamped with the model # and the variant (e.g. 586-2, etc). If it's a 586, it's nickel plated.

June 12, 2013, 07:59 PM	#7
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Both the 586 and 686 came out in 1980 so 33yrs ago. The pictures look more like nickel than stainless to me.

June 12, 2013, 08:24 PM	#8
iGunny40 Member Join Date: June 8, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	Mod 586... If you Guys are right It's nickel plated, all I know Is In person It's very shiny, especially In light! So how much Is It worth you think?

June 12, 2013, 08:45 PM	#9
hAkron Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2011 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 318	$500-$600

June 12, 2013, 08:50 PM	#11
iGunny40 Member Join Date: June 8, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	I was appraised by a Gun shop of no less then $800

June 12, 2013, 11:18 PM	#15
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	Ok, well for a SS gun, esp that model, without the lock, it would have the flash plating. If its case hardened, it would be a later 686. The one pictured in this thread does not have a lock. I'm pretty sure even through a -3 they had this flash plating. Later on, they did go to case hardened for SS revolvers. My mistake.

June 12, 2013, 11:27 PM	#16
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,182	It's shiny like nickel and unlike stainless; except where S&W never plate their guns, it is marked 586 which was available nickel plated. I conclude it is a nickel plated 586. $800 seems a generous price, but they are discontinued and therefore automatic collectors items in the minds of many.

June 12, 2013, 11:41 PM	#17
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Value is in the eye of the beholder. An item may be worth a certain amount, but only if someone is willing to give you that amount. I also think that 800 is very generous and you may have a hard time in achieving that goal.

June 13, 2013, 03:59 PM	#19
iGunny40 Member Join Date: June 8, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	Sorry for the somewhat bad camera quality, I was using my outdated android lol. I don't have the best nerves and shaking makes it a little blurry. I don't know what you're talking about with It being dinged up though, any revolver will have a few scratches here and there If over a few years old and this Gun Is 28 years old. The sight Is perfectly on aim and shoots bullseyes anywhere you point it (If you can see that far)...

June 14, 2013, 01:49 PM	#22
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,825	Lots of good information here. This is really a fantastic revolver. I think as you get used to revolvers, you will realize why people love them so. My 19-3 will put 5 in .6" at 15 yards! I'm really going to shoot more 25 and 50 yard groups!