I picked one up today and it's a standard 696, 3" bbl, RB, Uncle Mike's grips; nothing fancy. It was probably made in late 2000. The date on the fired case envelope is 3/13/01, but it doesn't have the on/off switch.
The serial number is lased on the frame under the crane, on the left side of the frame below the cylinder and on the left side of the grip frame. (Nothing on the bottom of the grip frame.)
I have S&W revolvers made long before this one and one made after this one, and other than a Model 64 NY-1 I have I don't recall S&W putting the serial number on the side of the frame on revolvers in plain view. I haven't poked around on the Web looking for pictures of revolvers from this era. Was this standard practice?
Thanks,
Bill