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Let me smack you up side of the haid boy..you bin around spoons long enugh to know all about Smiths...and about quality and that U should buy the best you can afford. It pays in the long run. BELIEVE ME I HAVE BIN DOIN THIS FOR OVER 30 YEARS

This is sooo much of a no brainer...Buy the Smith 686 with a 6 inch barrel FOR A FIRST WHEEL GUN..U WILL NOT BE SORRY. obviously for a virgin wheel gun boy it is not an issue of CCW. You want sumthin that you can enjoy in a variety of circumstances..like goin to the range or the fields and blastin away at them Liberal alumium cans and bottles. Usein heavy or light loads..and shootin out the eye of a nat at 25 paces...I do think that would be your best bet for a virgin..as you git more experienced handlin them wheel gun honeys then you can look to a dedicated purpose.

Now here is the deal go to Gun Broker...and start looking at the used ones. OR BETTER yet take a look at Collectors Firearms in Houston..he is online and posts his NEW inventory everyday on line. I bought both of my 686's from him..and don't forget to ask him is this is the best he can do on the price...HE DOES WHEEL AND DEAL..686's are one of the spoons that has gone up this year.. I used to see em go at auction for $425 to $450 hammer price and now it is $500 to $550 hammer

BUY IT USED..there are plenty of NEW IN THE BOX ones out there. Buy one with a serial number prefix starting with an A. SN numbers since 1982 start with a 3 letter prefix starting with AAA and working up as time goes on...also S&W uses model number changes yo denote engineering changes..686, 686-1, 686-2, 686-3 etc...my point is to buy a mid to late 1980's S&W..the used prices don't really vary much on the age of the 686 spoon, but I just like em OLD. Also I don't think much of them new fangled 7 shooters nor with the dam key hole locks on the frame..those definitely will not endear themselves to the collectors.

I bought my 8 inch 686 from him for $410 in the spring of last year. My total cost with shipping,receiving & registring here in LV was $490. The FFL's here nick me for a cool $50 to register..$25 to city state and $25 to the Dealer. No way around it..Ironically this summer I bought a High Standard that came with a early 686 8 inch barrel box..so now I got a box to go with my 8 incher..

The second 686 was a 4 inch NIB circa late 80's...and that one I have just about $625 out the LV Dealer door and that was in the fall of 09.

also this goes for all U BOYZ..KEEP ALL THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING..it means money on the resale end of the equation. I have a gun collector friend that goes APEY on having the original boxes..as in he only likes to buy em with the box and he does pay more for a spoon with a box...yep Tommy I am talkin about ya behind your back...he lurks here btw..