Take a close look at the forcing cone from the side. See if it is shaped like a funnel with the big end toward the cylinder. If so, look very closely for cracks beginning. I have seen two 696's and both showed the obvious stretching of the thin forcing cone. If a crack occurs, I think it is unrepairable and pigs will fly before finding a replacement 696 barrel. A stretched one might still be OK but it has obviously been stressed. One found not stretched would be a nice find if the price is fair.

The 696 has been reported to exhibit a fair number of barrels with a "thread choke" where the bore deforms slightly when installed. At least one of the ones I saw had a noticeable deformation in the bore near the thread area.

If mostly healthy, one of the ultimate all around hiking guns in my opinion (unless you have a bear issue!), and works well with the wood magnas.

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Honoring the little pin