Smith & Wesson Model 586
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.
Smith & Wesson Model 586
Author: Dustin Suchter, Dsuchter at en.wikipedia · I took the picture myself, it is of my personal handgun. · Public domain
- Name
- Smith & Wesson Model 586
- Field
- revolver
- Region
- United States
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wikidata · Q7545021 · wikipedia · Smith & Wesson Model 586
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Smith & Wesson Model 586 • Origin — United States • Type — Revolver • Is Ranged — yes • Manufacturer — Smith & Wesson • Production Date — 1981–1999 2012–present • Variants — 586-(1 through 8) 686 (stainless steel) • Cartridge —.357 Magnum.38 Special • Action — Double action and single action • Feed — 6-round or 7-round cylinder • Sights — Adjustable rear open sights
Engineering and production changes
Engineering and production changes
• Model — Year — Modifications • 586 — 1981 — Introduction. • 586-1 — 1986 — Radius stud package, floating hand • 586-M — 1987 — Product warning by S&W: M over stamped to signify a modification by factory or warranty station for 586 and 586-1 • 586-2 — 1987 — Changed hammer nose, bushing and associated parts • 586-3 — 1988 — New yoke retention system • 586-4 — 1993 — Change rear sight leaf, drill and tap frame, change extractor, Hogue grips • 586-5 — 1997 — Delete 8 3/8" barrel/change to MIM thumbpiece/Ship with Master trigger locks • 586-6 — 1997 — Change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud, eliminate serrated tangs, MIM hammer and trigger, change to internal lock • 586-6 — 1999 — Model 586 Discontinued • 586-7 — 2004 — Seven shot with internal lock. Also Performance Center.38 Super, 6-Shot unfluted cylinder, barrel, Stainless Steel, 250 made. • 586-8 — 2012 — Reintroduction as a Classic Series with internal lock 6-shot 4" and 6" RR, WO TS SB
Recall
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.
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- United States
Description
• Illustration — Smith & Wesson 586-1 with 6 inch barrel 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, 3, 4, 6, and 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. 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. 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.) 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. 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. These are produced with 4 in and 6 in 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.
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Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Smith & Wesson Model 586, revision 1364188206 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Supica, Jim. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Gun Digest Books. January 2019.
- 2.Austin, Christina. How Gun Maker Smith & Wesson Almost Went Out Of Business When It Accepted Gun Control. Business Insider. January 21, 2013.
- 3.Supica, Jim. Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson. Gun Digest. 298. 2016. 978-1-4402-4563-3.
- 4.Smith & Wesson. Product Warning. Popular Mechanics. 165. 1. 11. January 1988.
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1- revolverTerminology
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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