A Review of the S&W Model 681

[sherrick13]

This is without a doubt, my favorite handgun. If I had to get rid of all of my handguns but one, this is the one that I'd keep. It is rugged and reliable, and yet at the same time, it is reasonably light weight. Here is a stock photo of one that I found on another website. Mine is similar right down to the Magna stocks, except that my revolver has a Tyler T-grip and now sports a lanyard attachment of a slightly different type.

Today, I took it out and put just over 100 standard velocity 38 special rounds through it. I had been reluctant to do this as my gunsmith had done such a good job of cleaning it when he put the lanyard attachment on it that I didn't want to dirty it up. But I bravely bit the bullet (no pun intended) and took it out to my range where I set an IDPA target up and started blasting away with some older 158 gr LSWC rounds that I got from Bullseye in Wichita. It was all fairly close-range, about five or six yards at the max, (typical self-defense distance) and for the most part I did not use the sights.

Accuracy in my hands was more than acceptable, which did not really surprise me, as this was the gun that I used when I took Bill Regina's service and snub-nose revolver class in Wichita about four years ago. I tied for first place in the final qualification shoot, with ksccw member 357Mag's wife being the person I was tied with.

Being as how this is the gun I would take with me on any outdoor jaunts, such as up to Alaska, or if I ever go to sea, I shot with the lanyard attached to the gun and around my neck, and ran into a slight problem. I was using an old air force surplus holster with the hook attachment for the web pistol belt and found that the lanyard cord would get tangled with the hook on the holster. This may take some experimenting to deal with and I might have to switch some stuff around. I'll figure it out.

It might be noted that it is a fixed sight revolver. This I feel, adds to the ruggedness for there are no adjustable sights to knock out of alignment, and as I don't intend this to be a target gun, it can get banged around a bit without this worry. Besides, I don't think that adjustable sights are needed on a gun that has the primary function of close-range defense.

Having carried this particular model off and on for over thirty years, I find it to be a darned good choice. It is, as I said earlier, very rugged, and reliable and has a very smooth DA trigger-pull. This one is a keeper.

I wonder why that revolver has a lanyard loop?

 

[mtngunr]

I wonder why that revolver has a lanyard loop?

His original post, which you quote, suggests his, and likely that borrowed photo owner's idea, was same as any lanyard's purpose, to prevent loss while doing strenuous/unexpected/emergency things...of course, many folk like the old fashioned vibe of the things...and some.police departments have persisted in their use around the world into modern times.

Visually, I like them, too, but not enough to deal with it being there in the way and rattling around, and lanyard hanging on things, and no way ever do I put unbreakable cords around neck... it would need be secured to anything besides my neck (and one other place).
But it is attractive in an "over the top, boys," look.

That original post mentioned the ruggedness of the fixed sights to which I'd also add snag free draw, and dodging one other thing experienced, which is gouging elbow on holstered adjustable rear sight blades.

 

[sherrick13]

His original post, which you quote, suggests his, and likely that borrowed photo owner's idea, was same as any lanyard's purpose, to prevent loss while doing strenuous/unexpected/emergency things...of course, many folk like the old fashioned vibe of the things...and some.police departments have persisted in their use around the world into modern times.

Visually, I like them, too, but not enough to deal with it being there in the way and rattling around, and lanyard hanging on things, and no way ever do I put unbreakable cords around neck... it would need be secured to anything besides my neck (and one other place).
But it is attractive in an "over the top, boys," look.

That original post mentioned the ruggedness of the fixed sights to which I'd also add snag free draw, and dodging one other thing experienced, which is gouging elbow on holstered adjustable rear sight blades.

LOL, Yeah I know.

What I really meant is I wonder if that particular revolver, that we don't know the history of, was in military or foreign police service, thus the lanyard loop, which is NOT used by American civilians or American police to any real extent.

 

[Snattlerake]

LOL, Yeah I know.

What I really meant is I wonder if that particular revolver, that we don't know the history of, was in military or foreign police service, thus the lanyard loop, which is NOT used by American civilians or American police to any real extent.

Weren't the old Smith M&P model 10 revolvers provided with lanyard loops because of the military requirements? Much like the 1911 was when it came out. Shoot, the MPs at Swill still had 1911's with lanyard loops and lanyards in the 80's.

They also had to ask permission of their first-line supervisor to rack a round into the chamber! Incredible! Of course, your typical MP was a snot nosed kid just out of boot camp and AIT.

 

[gerhard1]

LOL, Yeah I know.

What I really meant is I wonder if that particular revolver, that we don't know the history of, was in military or foreign police service, thus the lanyard loop, which is NOT used by American civilians or American police to any real extent.

I have a Colt Police Positive Special made in 1955 with a tropical finish in 38 S&W/38 Colt New Police that has a lanyard ring. It is marked RHKP on the backstrap.

Can anyone guess where it ended up before I got it?

 

[Snattlerake]

I have a Colt Police Positive Special made in 1955 with a tropical finish in 38 S&W/38 Colt New Police that has a lanyard ring. It is marked RHKP on the backstrap.

Can anyone guess where it ended up before I got it?

Royal Hong Kong Police, and I didn't Googlefoo.

 

[CutBaitNBlowSh*tUp4ALivin]

I have a Colt Police Positive Special made in 1955 with a tropical finish in 38 S&W/38 Colt New Police that has a lanyard ring. It is marked RHKP on the backstrap.

Can anyone guess where it ended up before I got it?

What is a "tropical finish"?

 

[gerhard1]

What is a "tropical finish"?

Parkerized. I couldn't remeber the word before.

 

[mtngunr]

LOL, Yeah I know.

What I really meant is I wonder if that particular revolver, that we don't know the history of, was in military or foreign police service, thus the lanyard loop, which is NOT used by American civilians or American police to any real extent.

I had mentioned PDs as wondering if the original post photo was a UK weapon, Australia in particular, or perhaps Hong Kong, having also owned a RHKP Model 10 at one time....but, others beat me to more detailed replies including our own military of recent times, including the 1911s and successor M9s.

I also look forward to hearing of the tropical finish details, my own military experience in tropics had us calling our always rusting equipment "tropical finish".
(Ah, I see the parkerized reply posted as I typed, our tropical finish always involved black rattlecan over rusting parkerize. Our "rot-proof" synthetic gear did not fare well, as with a week or two of sweaty funk build-up, local bugs thought it a tasty sauce to liven up otherwise bland nylon...heck, was happy to get the obvious duty used 681 free of rust pits, gouges or scouring marks, most seen today for sale being real doggy bow-wows.)

 

[gerhard1]

Royal Hong Kong Police, and I didn't Googlefoo.

Give the man a cigar!!!!

As a matter of possible interest, the British Home Office typically didn't arm its' constables. Okay, most of you probably knew that. But the Colonial Office did. THe PPS I have is one example. It was chambered in the then British service round, what they called the .38-200., basically our 38 S&W with a 200 grain bullet.

Some time later, the RHKP dropped the .38-200 in favor of the 38i special and happily, I now have a neat little Colt.