It took exactly two months between the day I bought my 696 in Switzerland and that I could pick it up here in Holland.
It's a 696 no dash and brand new. Clearly not shot ever.





It did not come cheap. I payed 975 euro total. That is 1358 in dollars. A lot but still not bad considering this was the only one I could find for sale in Europe.

A 969 is a wonderful revolver! Feels right, not to light, not to heavy.
I changed to target front sight and Millet target rear sight. Now I am looking for the right grip. The original holds nice but I do not like plastic on guns.
I thought a 3" would look funny with SB targets but it does not.
I would like a Diamond set on it like on my others but they are hard to find.



Today I got these in.



Brand new football relief target grips. With black washers, who knows till when they were made? (Unfortunately no screw.)
I am between thoughts about using these grips and fill the round butt gap with a piece of matching wood. (anyone did that?)



Or sell them and go for a Eagle heritage conversion.
I miss the S&W logo's on the eagles. But it is a luxury problem!

Shooting: Unfortunately it will be for an few weeks before I got the change to shoot. But that gives me time to reload some.
I have a technical question. That I post separately.

How did I do?


Yesssss big holes!

Congrats on your purchase....Beautiful gun and I believe you'll enjoy the .44 cartridge...
Price wise, not that bad....I noticed a few selling new on GunBroker for $900 here in the U.S. I'm sure they are far more scarce in Europe.
Let's us know how it shoots.....Again, nice buy...

Very nice gun. Congratulations. I am sure it will be worth much more than you paid with time.

Spectacular! I'm envious.

I put an old set of diamond walnut round but grips on mine, with a Tyler T grip. I am a bit of a throwback, and still carry it concealed. Bigger grips are just too hard to hide for me. Good catch!

It may be SANIB but not new I bet, Someone took it apart and didn't know how to put it back together. Bet they had a spring kit in it and took them out to sale as NIB. If you payed less than 1 grand (where I live) for it you didn't get hurt. Let us know if you don't have the part. I may have one laying around.

Hi Jeroen,

glad you finally got your 696, and it's a nice looking gun. You will enjoy it. Try this handload: 4.5 grs of Trail Boss and 200 grs copper plated TC bullet by Haendler and Natermann (should be easy to get in Holland) - very easy load, but accurate and of course no leading.

As for the grips: I gave my wife a Retro Banana by Kim Ahrends for her 696, and she loves it. If you like a bit more wood on the frame, Ahrend makes a round-to-square-butt conversion (the same stocks as for SB, but to fit the RB) - I have them on my K-Frame, and those are the best grips I ever tried.

best regards
Ulrich

__________________
Life is too short to own a bad gun

That is a beauty!!!! I wish I had a 3'' N-frame !Not Fair!!!! LOL!!!

Nice buy, Jeroen. You'll remember the pleasure of shooting your new M696 long after you've forgotten the price.

I had a "friend of a friend" visit Colorado from England, and the gun he most enjoyed shooting was my S&W M696-1. After shooting mine, he commented, "I'd have one of these if the government would let me."

(and Marshall 357, the M696 is an L-frame...)

Wow, great buy! Its hard to find them here too in California and asking almost the same price

I think these grips work work great on your new 696:

S&W N-Frame Grips on a L-Frame

Black Talon,
Those are nice looking grips!

__________________
Shoot fast & live long
Warren

Only two months? It took me 6 months to find one in California. I know you will just love your 696. It is just a fantastic revolver.

Can some one post a pic of a 696 next to a similar N frame?

Thanks for the kind words!

@ Bullseye Smith: I have those parts but thanks. I do still think it is unshot, no case print in the recoil shield and no other marks in the cylinder, cone etc. All new.

@ Daimler1989: Yes, that is the recipe I will start with. You told me before and I wrote it down. Thanks!

@Norton 750: could you place a pic of your gun with the diamond and T-grip?

Hi Jergen, Congrats on a gorgeous revolver ! ! I always marvel at enthusiasts like yourself who have the persistence to make their dream happen in gun unfriendly environments. Filling the gap with a small panel of matching wood is a fine idea. Also, you can't go wrong with a set of Ahrend's RB frame to SB grip conversions jn your wood of choice. In any event, I'm sure that you will enjoy shooting that revolver for many years to come...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Congratulations on your very rare L frame .44spl!

Here's a grip idea for you, in this case it's an N frame, but the idea is the same. Hogue smooth finger round to square conversion.

Great looking gun. I have two 696s- 21-4 Thunder Ranch and a 21-4 in stainless, all 44spls and all S&W. I work part-time at a shooting range. I take care of the rental guns, and shoot for free. I run a box{50 ct } thur each one every week. Could not do it if I didnot reload my own. bob k.

Anyone!??.........

I'm thinking most folks don't have the 696 part of that photo to post.

I'm trying to think, who might...

Paging MickeyD, white courtesey phone...