Yow! The prices, man, the prices!

[Gewehr98]

I picked up an older no-dash 696 a couple years ago for $200, thinking if I didn't like it, I would use it to buy something I did like. Stainz, did you see this?

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976814750.htm

Similar gun, cheaper but not by much, and it's sold:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976812933.htm

 

[Hk91 Fan]

Obviously, a representative of the cult of the .44 Special purchased that firearm. As someone who also holds membership in the .44 club, I see why folks would go out of their way financially to obtain that gun. I'm considering building up two new .44's - one on a 50th anniversary Ruger Blackhawk, and one on a 686. The price will be steep.

People love their particular arms, and the 696 is one of the mythical creatures that folks talk up alot. Oh, and Taffin is wrong about the cartridge -it is definitely magical.

 

[Gewehr98]

I wonder what their MSRP was when S&W was still making them?

I shoot mine fairly often (cast bullet handloads), so I hope I'm not beating up somebody else's serious collector gun.

I know about the cult thing, I have a 1961 S&W Model 52, and those things haven't exactly depreciated.

 

[Starter52]

I got rid of my Mod. 696 three years ago, when I bought a Mod. 29. I traded it in at the dealer's. I thought I made a good deal at the time. I never expected the price would climb the way it has. :banghead:

I never really liked the Mod. 696. Too heavy for the round it fires. The Mod. 29 is a better gun, IMO.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

I wonder what their MSRP was when S&W was still making them?

I just looked and my early 696 was purchased in March of 1997.
The original reciept is still in the factory box.
The price on it is $349.99 new from the dealer.
According to the S&W catalog the serial numbers for the 696 started with CBS2xxx.
Mine is that number. Hhhmmmmm

It didn't come with these grips and this is not the gun I have mentioned above. I'm just using the pic as a reference.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[zeke]

Bought my first slightly used 696 for $350, the next 2 bought were around $400. Ain't planning on selling any of em, man gots to have spares

 

[SnWnMe]

Smith 44 Spls have something magical about them that their Magnum brothers cannot deliver.

 

[Gewehr98]

Ok, that's just plain funny right there!

I never really liked the Mod. 696. Too heavy for the round it fires. The Mod. 29 is a better gun, IMO.

If a 5-shot stainless steel L-Frame in .44 Special is too heavy for the round it fires, I can only imagine how much lighter a 6-shot steel N-Frame is going to be with those same .44 Special rounds. (Since the 696 isn't a .44 Mag like the Model 29)

My 696 serial number is CBP36xx, so S&W's alphabet is not sequential from A-Z when it comes to serial numbers, I guess.

 

[GUNKWAZY]

My 696 serial number is CBP36xx, so S&W's alphabet is not sequential from A-Z when it comes to serial numbers, I guess.

Strange that you say that, but they ARE NOT in order.
Check out page 296 of the S&W standard catalog Rev #2.
That's kinda unusual for S&W.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

 

[JNewell]

IIRC the MSRP when S&W discontinued the 696 was up around $575. They routinely go for more on Gunbroker and other internet sales sites. $875 and $995 are a little high, though someone appears to have ponied up for the $875 gun.

 

[P5 Guy]

I paid $400 more or less for mine and got two boxes of Remington SWC 200 grain carteridges too.

 

[george29]

I couldn't find a 696, so I settled for a 296 and never looked back, it is loaded and sits holstered in my shirt pocket. Now if they only made a .44 special on the frame of a 340, I would sell the refrigerator, stove and washer dryer to get one (probably have to add $) but it would be worth it, and I don't even like S&W that much anymore.

 

[Stainz]

In '01, the MSRP was $602 - it might have been more by late '02, when it was axed. The later intro-ed ('99) 296 had been gone for a while by then - and it's last MSRP was $789. I bought my 696, marked $439, and 296, marked $359, on the same day just over four years ago. The dealer gave me $10 off - and I think he threw in the 5% S/T . The 296 is a great carry piece - in the pocket with those OEM boots - or an OWB leather in the 696's UM's combat grips, always loaded with 200gr GDHP's. Over 2k rounds and it still looks new.


The 696 probably has >10k through it - it was a common range bag rider, with mainly mediocre 240gr LRNFP/LSWC in .44 Russian & Special cases. Fun plinker. No plans to say goodbye here. But, if I didn't have one - and wanted 'one', I'd go grab a brand new 4" 629MG, at 4 oz more, or splurge and get a standard 4" 629, at only 6 oz more. Full MSRP on that 4" 629, SKU # 163603, is <$800, and you get a REAL forcing cone, extra inch-o-barrel, extra chamber, and, oh yeah, it'll take Elmer's .44 Specials with aplomb. I put some .500 Magnum Hogues on mine - real loads - even .44M's - are fine now. And... it has a partial lug... just looks better. Bigger hammer & trigger, too. What is the best use for a 696??

Stainz

 

[JNewell]

Stainz, I hear what you're saying. I have both a 629 MG and a 696, which I picked up last fall LNIB for $545 locally. The thing I hadn't reckoned on was how much more compact the L frame is, both in the holster and in the hand. I love the N frames, but for my purposes (here in the Northeast) a K frame or an L frame is a more practical balance. YMMV!

 

[orionengnr]

Yeah, I think that's a bit pricey.

I bought a 696 about two years ago for $650, and sold it last fall for the same price.

When I see them for sale (not that often), they generally go $650-700.

Neat revolver, but if you do not reload, 44 Spl ammo is getting ridiculous.

I was paying $12.96 for 50 rounds of Blazer 200 gr Gold Dots two years ago, now they are $22 and change.