S&W 686-3 Manufacture Date?

[SteelCityShooter]

Can someone tell me the manufacture date for my S&W 686-3?  I did an internet search for this information and couldn't find any specifics so I hope someone here with a reasonably recent "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" can help.  I would ask on an S&W forum but the one I found is "not secure" and, having had my computer hacked a while ago, I avoid those.   

 

I have a S&W 686-3 purchased in January 1993, serial number BJC7XXX.  I believe it was made just before the 686-4 revision was introduced in 1993 since it came with a Hoque rubber grip but that wasn't made standard until the 686-4 was introduced.  Mine was not drilled and tapped and has the old style rear sight .

 

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

 

[Tampa-XD45]

1992 according to appendix B of the 4th edition of Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.

 

Engineering changes: 

686-3 1988 New yoke retention system

686-4 1993 Changed rear sight leaf, drill & tap frame, change extractor, introduce Hogue grips

 

[SteelCityShooter]

Great and thanks for looking it up.  I knew about the engineering changes from -3 to -4 but not the specific manufacture date of my gun.   As I noted I was pretty sure mine was built near the end of the -3 model run.

[Pepepaco]

Hi! I just bought an almost like new s&w 686-3 , 6 inch barrel,which came with aftermarket hogue grips, and also with the original wood grips, which I re-installed right away. I know this particular variant (686-3) was produced between 1988 and 1993. Since mine came with front and rear adjustable sights, it must have been manufactured between 1988-1992. As I have read, by 1993 the adjustable sights were no longer available (at least front and rear at the same time)after1992. I would like to know when was this gun manufactured and or delivered. The serial no is BPD40XX. Any help will be appreciated. 

Edited March 3, 2022 by Pepepaco