The May edition of GunBroker.com’s Top Selling Report presented by GunGenius.com, shows Smith & Wesson’s Model 686 revolvers moving up in both new and used revolver categories. The recent release of a Lipsey’s exclusive Mountain Gun version of the 686 has breathed new life into this 45-year-old design.
The Model 686 is built on Smith & Wesson’s L frame, which is often seen as a Goldilocks size for revolvers. It’s larger than the K frame on which the Model 19 is built, but smaller than the N frame on which the Model 29 is built.
The Model 19 was a popular revolver with law enforcement, but many felt that the K frame size was better suited to lighter .38 Special loads and not the heavier and hotter .357 Magnum loads. The K frame’s relatively light weight meant that full power .357 Magnum loads were more demanding of both the shooter and the gun.
On the other hand, the large N frame was deemed to be too heavy to carry for .357 Magnum loads when that size gun was most popular with .44 Magnum shooters. As a result, the L frame was the perfect compromise size that handled like a lighter K frame but had the beefy durability of the N frame.
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Introduced in 1980, the Model 686 is a stainless-steel version of the Model 586 that debuted the same year. The original configuration of the 686 was a square butt L frame with a full length underlug, a six-shot cylinder, and was available with a 2.5”, 4”, 6”, or 8.375” barrel. Over the years, there have been a dizzying array of different configurations for triggers, hammers, sights, stocks, cylinder fluting, barrel ports, and more. In 1996, the Model 686 got some extra firepower when the “Plus” version debuted with a seven-shot cylinder.
Over the years, there have been seven different engineering and production changes that have included changing the yoke retention system, changing the extractor, drilling and tapping the frame, and more. Each of the subsequent changes have brought the 686 design up to what we see in the guns that are coming out of the factory brand new right now.
Today, Smith & Wesson offers 17 different configurations of the Model 686 that range from concealable 2.5” barrel guns to finely tuned Performance Center guns and even a competition-focused configuration with a weighted 6” barrel. The newest is the 686 Plus Mountain Gun, which has a seven-shot cylinder, a 4” barrel, a brass bead front sight, and custom walnut stocks.
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Both the new and used Model 686 revolvers remain popular with shooters and collectors alike. The used guns moved up to spots to number 4 and the new guns moved up one spot to number three. Not too shabby for a design that first debuted when Jimmy Carter occupied the White House!
Top Selling Guns Sold in June 2025
Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/
To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.
Editor’s note: In the report, guns are rated from one to five within each category, with the number one gun being the most popular that month. The numbers are color-coded to show any changes in the ranks from the previous report.
Black = Steady
Green = Up
Red = Down
Source: gungenius.com/top-selling/
To learn more or shop for any of the guns listed, visit Gun Genius at www.gungenius.com/top-selling.
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