Smith & Wesson Model 586

Last updated
Smith & Wesson Model 586
Smith and Wesson 586-7.jpg
586-7 Revolver with 7-round capacity and factory wood grips and hammer lock
Type Revolver
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Produced1981–1999
2012–present
Variants586-(1 through 8)
686 (stainless steel)
Specifications
Cartridge .357 Magnum
.38 Special
Action Double action and single action
Feed system6-round or 7-round cylinder
SightsAdjustable rear open sights

The Smith & Wesson Model 586, is a six- or seven-shot double-action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge; it will also chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges. The Model 586 has a carbon steel construction and is available in a blued or nickel finish; it is essentially the same firearm as the Model 686, which has stainless steel construction. It is also known as the Distinguished Combat Magnum.

Contents

Smith & Wesson 586-1 with 6 inch barrel SW-586.jpg
Smith & Wesson 586-1 with 6 inch barrel

Description

In addition to being able to chamber and fire .357 Magnum cartridges, the 586 will chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges as well as .38 Special +P (overpressure ammunition). The 586 has been available with 2½ in, 3 in, 4 in, 6 in, and 8⅜ in (64, 76, 102, 153, and 214 mm) barrel lengths as standard models and other barrel lengths either by special order from S&W's Performance Center custom shop, or acquired from or built by after-market gunsmiths. [1] The barrel has a twist rate of 1/18.75 for the 158 grain bullet.[ citation needed ]

The Model 586 uses S&W's L (medium) revolver frame, with a K-frame-sized grip mated to a larger diameter cylinder. During the 1980s, Smith & Wesson developed its L-frame line of .357 Magnums: the Smith & Wesson Model 581, Model 586, Smith & Wesson Model 681, and Model 686. The Model 581 had a fixed notch type rear sight, whereas the 586 used a target style adjustable rear sight. These handguns had a major effect on both law enforcement and sporting markets. The 586 was introduced in 1980, while the 581 was discontinued in 1988. [1]

The K-frame guns, though popular with police departments, were felt to be too light for full-power .357 ammunition, and a heavier and more durable gun was desired, in the same frame size. (This would avoid the complaints attaching to the larger, heavier N-frame Model 29 and Model 58. [2] ) Designed with input from official S&W historian Roy Jinks, the L-frame was the result, and it quickly gained praise from policemen and hunters. [1]

The 586 was discontinued in 1999. After a 13-year absence, it was reintroduced in 2012 with the aforementioned safety modifications, plus an improved yoke, as the 586-8 variant. [1] These are produced with 4- and 6-inch barrel lengths, as part of Smith & Wesson's Classic line of revolvers.

Controversy rose when Smith & Wesson cooperated with the Clinton administration to modify their line of revolvers with an internal locking mechanism, colloquially dubbed the 'Hillary Hole', and other changes. That agreement resulted in a boycott by many firearms enthusiasts, which led to a dramatic drop in stock price, and nearly bankrupted the company. Smith & Wesson was sold to Saf-T-Hammer for a fraction of its true value. [3]

Engineering and Production Changes [4]

Recall

In 1987, seven years after the release of the Model 686, there were reports of cylinder binding with some types of standard .357 Magnum ammunition for L-frame revolvers manufactured before August 1987. S&W published a product warning and authorized free modification to the revolver. All affected revolvers repaired for this recall were stamped with an M on the yoke near the model number. Thus it is known as the M modification for all 686, 686-1, 586, and 586-1 revolvers. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revolver</span> Firearm with a cylinder holding cartridges

A revolver is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six cartridges, before needing to be reloaded, revolvers are commonly called six shooters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson</span> American manufacturer of firearms and ammunition

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (S&W) is an American firearm manufacturer headquartered in Maryville, Tennessee, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 29</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge and manufactured by the United States company Smith & Wesson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 19</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 19 is a revolver produced by Smith & Wesson that was introduced in 1957 on its K-frame. The Model 19 is chambered for .357 Magnum. The K-frame is somewhat smaller and lighter than the original N-frame .357, usually known as the Smith & Wesson Model 27. A stainless steel variant of the Model 19, the Smith & Wesson Model 66, was introduced in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 10</span> Service revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a K-frame revolver of worldwide popularity. In production since 1899, the Model 10 is a six-shot, .38 Special, double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in (130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also known to have been made for special contracts. Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most-produced handgun of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 686</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 686 is a six- or seven-shot double-action revolver manufactured by Smith & Wesson and chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge; it will also chamber and fire .38 Special cartridges. Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 686 in 1981. It is the stainless steel version of the Model 586, which featured a blued steel finish. They are available ported and unported with a choice of 6- or 7-round cylinders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 15</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 15, initially the Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece, is a six-shot double-action revolver with adjustable open sights produced by Smith & Wesson on the medium-size "K" frame. It is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge and is fitted with a 4-inch (100 mm) barrel, though additional barrel options have been offered at various times during its production. It is essentially a shorter barrel version of the Smith & Wesson Model 14 and an adjustable-sight version of the seminal Smith & Wesson Model 10 with target shooting features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 27</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 27 is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge and manufactured by the United States company Smith & Wesson. It was first produced in 1935, and many versions of it are still in production today. The Model 27 was built on S&W's carbon steel, large N-frame, had adjustable sights, and was available at various times with 312", 4", 5", 6", 612", 838", 834", or 1058" barrel lengths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 17</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 17 is a six-shot double-action revolver chambered for .22 LR. It is built on Smith & Wesson's medium-sized K-frame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 3</span> Single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 3 is a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson (S&W) from around 1870 to 1915, and was recently again offered as a reproduction by Smith & Wesson and Uberti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snubnosed revolver</span> Type of gun

A snubnosed revolver is a small, medium, or large frame revolver with a short barrel, generally less than 4 inches in length. Smaller such revolvers are often made with "bobbed" or "shrouded" hammers and there are also "hammerless" models ; the point is to allow the gun to be drawn with little risk of it snagging on clothing. Since the external movement of the mechanism is minimal or nil, shrouded and hammerless models may be fired from within clothing. The design of these revolvers compromises range and accuracy at a distance in favor of maneuverability and ease of carry and concealment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 13</span> US Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 13 is a .357 Magnum revolver designed for military and police use. It is based on Smith & Wesson's K-frame—specifically, it is a .357 Magnum version of the heavy-barrel variant of the .38 Special Model 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Centennial</span> Revolver

S&W Centennial is a family of revolvers made by Smith & Wesson on the "J-Frame". Depending upon caliber, the cylinder holds either 5, 6, 7, or 8 cartridges. Centennials feature a fully enclosed (internal) hammer, which makes them Double Action Only (DAO) firearms. Like all other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, they have a swing-out cylinder. Centennial models have been made in different versions like PD "Personal Defense", LS "Lady Smith", and M&P "Military & Police"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 60</span> Service revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 60 revolver is a 5-shot revolver that is chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum calibers. It was the first revolver produced from stainless steel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 610</span> Revolver

The Model 610 is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the 10mm Auto cartridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 640</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 640 revolver is a 5-shot snubnosed revolver that is chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum caliber introduced in 1989. Like other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a swing-out cylinder, but this model features a concealed hammer, and is part of the Centennial line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Model 57</span> Revolver

The Smith & Wesson Model 57 is a large frame, double-action revolver with a six round cylinder, chambered for the .41 Magnum cartridge, and designed and manufactured by the Smith & Wesson firearms company. The gun was designed as a weapon for law enforcement agencies. However, due to size and recoil it found more favor with civilian target shooters and hunters.

The Smith & Wesson models 619 and 620 are seven-shot revolvers introduced by the Smith & Wesson company in 2005. The 619 has fixed rear sights while the 620 comes with adjustable rear sights and a different handgrip.

The Smith & Wesson Model 646 is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the .40 S&W pistol cartridge, manufactured in 2000 and 2003 by the United States company Smith & Wesson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smith & Wesson Bodyguard</span> Family of small, J-frame revolvers

The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard is a family of small J-frame revolvers with shrouded hammers manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They are available chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2006). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (3rd ed.). Iola, WI: Gun Digest Books.[ page needed ]
  2. Grandpa Willie (2001). "Smith & Wesson's .41 Magnum". Free Patriot. Archived from the original on 2008-02-14. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
  3. Austin, Christina (January 21, 2013). "How Gun Maker Smith & Wesson Almost Went Out Of Business When It Accepted Gun Control". Business Insider .
  4. Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2016). Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson (4th ed.). Iola, WI: Gun Digest. p. 298. ISBN   978-1-4402-4563-3 . Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. Smith & Wesson (January 1988). "Product Warning". Popular Mechanics . 165 (1): 11.