Does Anyone Here Have Experience w/S&W CS-1?

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I recently purchased an S&W M686 3" bbl. .357 revolver that is reportedly made for the Customs Service in 1988. These are marked on the frame beneath the yoke with "CS-1". Supposedly, a total of 3281 such revolvers were made before they went to 4" guns. They have a round butt rather than the usual square; at least this one does.


The gun was not new and had Pachmayr grips on it. I replaced them with these Eagle Secret Service Grips. The gun was almost like NIB. I'd estimate very few rounds having been fired through it. The front sight is narrower than the usual 1/8". It appears to be about 1/10".

I would appreciate any information on this model or personal experiences that members might have.

Thank you in advance.

Best.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[P95Carry]

No info Steve but I can say - I wish to heck I had one!!

Great proportions and that is one tough gun too. Make a great carry piece. I hope someone has some info - it is a most intriguing variant.

I have only ever owned 6" 686's and love the gun - but heck, 3" sounds dreamy!

[Bud White]

No exp but nice looking Gun

[ExSoldier]

Geeeze it's a beautiful piece. Can I ask what it set you back? Since I gave my little girl her SP101, I've been thinking of replacing it with something like this.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Well, it was not NIB, but nearly so. I paid $479 for the gun. Perhaps a bit high, but I keep an eye out for S&W's made before the company added the locks and altered the contours of the gun and have never seen one of these before, so I coughed up the tariff.

Best.

PS: I continue to use the SP101 and continue to be most favorably impressed with this revolver. It truly is a favorite.

[Shotgun Willie]

To me it looks not too long and not too short. Well balanced in its appearance in my opinion.

I probaly would have paid as well(assuming my wife let me have some of my money ).

Nice gun.

[QKShooter]

Customs Service Revolver...with Secret Service Grips...put it in an F.B.I. holster & you're good to go.
Seriously - Very Nice Revolver.

[Euclidean]

I wish I could say I had experience with something like that.

Dang if I saw one of those I'd pay $479 for it no questions asked.

That's pretty close to the Ultimate Carry Revolver...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Thank you all very much for your comments. They are appreciated.

Best.

[QKShooter]

S&W sure can make a Super Nice Stainless Revolver.
And you know that if they did a special run for U. S. Customs...then your wheel gun will be especially well fit together.
Yep, that sure is a KEEPER.

[Shotgun Willie]

If you ever get sick of it, you are welcome to send it my way.

[srfl]

Nice looking gun!

[gunthorp]

A most fortuitous find. Thanks for sharing the pic.

[Tangle]

I have a 2-1/2" 686 and it's really hard to believe how different it looks compared to your 3" barrel. My 2-1/2" clearly looks "snubbie", but yours with a 1/2" longer barrel doesn't.

I've kinda felt for a long time that a 3" barrel is good length. That's why I bought an SP101, because I could get it in a 3" barrel.

Nice lookin' gun Stephen, you did good!

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, and thanks very much. Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then, as the saying goes. I really like the 3 1/16" SP101 as well and am shooting one regularly.

Best.