Love the .44 Special, wanted a S&W but was having a hard time finding one so I bought the Ruger Blackhawk, fine gun, but not a S&W. Wouldn't you know it, after buying the Ruger I did find a 24-3 at a local gun show. I now have three .44 specials, the third being a gun not mentioned here yet, it's an Interarms Rossi M720, a 5 shot 3" stainless approximation of the 696. I'm not a fan of stainless guns, but the Rossi is growing on me as it is pretty good shooter.