Question about S&W revolvers

[indianachris]

I'm fairly new to revolvers and had a few questions. First, I have a S&W 686-6 4 inch barrel and wanted to know it's age and if it's pre/post lock.

CHV5745 are the markings on it.

 

[cornfused]

Nice gun, I have the same. A post lock will have a lock on the left side above the release. I'm not sure on how to tell the year, I just call S&W.

 

[indianachris]

Thanks, Then I have a lock gun. I've read some bad things about the locks but it works fine for me.

 

[mikerccie]

Pre-lock versus post-lock is a highly debated topic. Some people that consider their revolvers serious defensive tools that must never fail don't like the locks. There are stories out there of the lock failing in a way that makes the gun unusable.