Smith & Wesson Model 681 Gunshow find.

ATCDoktor · November 30, 2018, 11:34 PM

I picked this up today at the Crossroads of the West Show in Phoenix and figured I’d share:

As per usual this was stuck in the back of a dealers case he had to move a gun or two to get it out.

I eyeballed it pretty hard and figured I’d haggle with him and see what I could get it for.

We went back and forth for a few minutes and seeing is how he was an FFL and had to collect sales tax (near 10% in Phoenix) we split the tax and he let it go for $420.00 OTD.

Not a great price but near enough to what I wanted to pay to go ahead and close the deal.

Now, I need another fixed sighted duty revolver like I need the proverbial hole in the head but you don’t see these every day and I have a thing for the odd and uncommon so I figured I’d take it home.

Rooting around on the interwebz I was able to discern there were about 52,000 of these made between 1981 and 1991/92ish.

Not rare but not all that common either.

Both the double action and single action trigger pulls are exceptional which led me to check the mainspring strain screw and it was snugged up as tight as it could be.

I’ll check it out tomorrow and see how it shoots with 38 specials and 357 magnum rounds anything remarkable reference shooting and I’ll report back.

burrhead · November 30, 2018, 11:39 PM

Like it and that's a great price in my world. Just need a Tyler-T and you're good to go.

bamaranger · December 1, 2018, 03:54 AM

The L-frames are arguably S&W's ideal .357 mag, smaller than the big N-frames and easier to tote, and tough enough that a steady diet of mag ammo should not hurt them over the long run as surfaced with the K-frame in certain situations.

A 686 was my last issue revolver back in the day (before SIGS) and although they were notably bigger than the previous K-frames, they gobbled up 125 JHP and were relatively easy to shoot with the hot load too.

A T-grip on that would look right. Congrats on a good buy.

DaleA · December 1, 2018, 04:01 AM

Nice gun and a VERY nice price.

I like it just the way it is.

You can shoot the beejeebees out of it and pass it on to an offspring who can do the same. Nice purchase.

**Mike Irwin** · December 3, 2018, 08:41 AM

I do not much care for the L frames... It's the full underlug. Makes it look like a double barrel shotgun to me.

I also don't care much for stainless steel.

But for that price? I'd have bought that in a freaking heartbeat.

1MoreFord · December 4, 2018, 07:23 PM

I found mine in a local gun shop where it was a police trade in. As usual it was carried a lot and shot a little. Back then I had the notion to turn it into a NRA action revolver but never got around to doing it. Kinda glad I didn't.

Brian Williams · December 8, 2018, 09:00 AM

I have 2 581, its blued brothers. Love them and would like to have the barrel cut down to 3" on one and the under lug removed to look like a Model 13 on Steroids.
One of my favorites

shurshot · December 9, 2018, 07:52 AM

I would have been skipping out the door with that gun at that price!

2wheelwander · December 9, 2018, 10:10 AM

Id have been skipping and giggling all the way home!

smee78 · December 22, 2018, 10:46 AM

That is a fine price for a wonderful revolver. Congrats on a fine addition, I love my 686 and am sure the 681 would be just as good. So how well does it shoot?

CommandoX · December 24, 2018, 11:40 AM

Wow, nice find. That piece looks beautiful and as so many others have said, that price is way too good to pass up.

Eddietruett · December 27, 2018, 10:18 PM

I agree that that was a great find. I disagree with the statement about the price. That was a great price. The few I've seen in this area are $600+. For some reason they just don't show up very much and the 582 even less

November 30, 2018, 11:34 PM	#1
ATCDoktor Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 172	Smith & Wesson Model 681 Gunshow find. I picked this up today at the Crossroads of the West Show in Phoenix and figured I’d share: As per usual this was stuck in the back of a dealers case he had to move a gun or two to get it out. I eyeballed it pretty hard and figured I’d haggle with him and see what I could get it for. We went back and forth for a few minutes and seeing is how he was an FFL and had to collect sales tax (near 10% in Phoenix) we split the tax and he let it go for $420.00 OTD. Not a great price but near enough to what I wanted to pay to go ahead and close the deal. Now, I need another fixed sighted duty revolver like I need the proverbial hole in the head but you don’t see these every day and I have a thing for the odd and uncommon so I figured I’d take it home. Rooting around on the interwebz I was able to discern there were about 52,000 of these made between 1981 and 1991/92ish. Not rare but not all that common either. Both the double action and single action trigger pulls are exceptional which led me to check the mainspring strain screw and it was snugged up as tight as it could be. I’ll check it out tomorrow and see how it shoots with 38 specials and 357 magnum rounds anything remarkable reference shooting and I’ll report back.

November 30, 2018, 11:39 PM	#2
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Like it and that's a great price in my world. Just need a Tyler-T and you're good to go. __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

December 1, 2018, 03:54 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	L-frames The L-frames are arguably S&W's ideal .357 mag, smaller than the big N-frames and easier to tote, and tough enough that a steady diet of mag ammo should not hurt them over the long run as surfaced with the K-frame in certain situations. A 686 was my last issue revolver back in the day (before SIGS) and although they were notably bigger than the previous K-frames, they gobbled up 125 JHP and were relatively easy to shoot with the hot load too. A T-grip on that would look right. Congrats on a good buy.

December 3, 2018, 08:41 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,382	I do not much care for the L frames... It's the full underlug. Makes it look like a double barrel shotgun to me. I also don't care much for stainless steel. But for that price? I'd have bought that in a freaking heartbeat. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 8, 2018, 09:00 AM	#7
Brian Williams Senior Member Join Date: September 4, 2001 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 1,288	I have 2 581, its blued brothers. Love them and would like to have the barrel cut down to 3" on one and the under lug removed to look like a Model 13 on Steroids. One of my favorites __________________ Brian <><

December 1, 2018, 04:01 AM	#4
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,312	Nice gun and a VERY nice price. I like it just the way it is. You can shoot the beejeebees out of it and pass it on to an offspring who can do the same. Nice purchase.

December 4, 2018, 07:23 PM	#6
1MoreFord Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2014 Location: Arkansas Posts: 244	I found mine in a local gun shop where it was a police trade in. As usual it was carried a lot and shot a little. Back then I had the notion to turn it into a NRA action revolver but never got around to doing it. Kinda glad I didn't.

December 9, 2018, 07:52 AM	#8
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	I would have been skipping out the door with that gun at that price!

December 9, 2018, 10:10 AM	#9
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 539	Id have been skipping and giggling all the way home!

December 22, 2018, 10:46 AM	#10
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	That is a fine price for a wonderful revolver. Congrats on a fine addition, I love my 686 and am sure the 681 would be just as good. So how well does it shoot? __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

December 24, 2018, 11:40 AM	#11
CommandoX Member Join Date: February 2, 2011 Location: The Land of Cheese n' Beer Posts: 95	Wow, nice find. That piece looks beautiful and as so many others have said, that price is way too good to pass up. __________________ When in doubt, empty the mag.

December 27, 2018, 10:18 PM	#12
Eddietruett Member Join Date: June 15, 2017 Posts: 54	I agree that that was a great find. I disagree with the statement about the price. That was a great price. The few I've seen in this area are $600+. For some reason they just don't show up very much and the 582 even less