Trying to find out how many of the 3" no dash 696 guns S&W produced and was it more or fewer than the 3" no dash 657?
Thanks

Trying to find out how many of the 3" no dash 696 guns S&W produced and was it more or fewer than the 3" no dash 657?
Thanks

I have no idea how many were made, but I have one of them:

__________________
Dave Frost

The historian at Smith and Wesson told me that they don't even know so I guess I got my answer.

Snowman, did that lanyard ring come with the grips? Did you swap out the front sight? My 696 has the familiar red insert black ramp sight and two piece rubber grips.

David W.

__________________
David Wilson

Rangeruger,

I don't know either but here are my 2 M696's




And M657

__________________
Jim

696 and 657 roll call!

DC; the patridge sight was installed by the previous owner. I have the original ramp with insert somewhere. I checked earlier for another member who requested information on the sight by e-mail. I believe that this will be a standard S&W patridge sight, .243". You can get them through Brownell's at about $8.00 each. Taller and shorter versions are available.

The lanyard ring came from S&W. A few years ago, I saw one on a 2.5" 629, I think the model was "Backpacker" or something similar. I called S&W and they had them in stock. I ordered three of them at the time. I like to put them on the guns I tend to carry in the mountains or desert. BTW, the grips are Hogues.

__________________
Dave Frost

Very nice. Keeps those pics coming.

This is definitely a model they should reintroduce, and I am not talking about the Night Gaurd line, although I will be looking at those as well.

No idea how many were made, but I have one.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Dave F., thanks for the further info.

You know, with your next post you'll hit 696 in your message count. How appropriate to do it in this thread!

David W.

__________________
David Wilson

LOL, DC. Okay, I'll do it.

__________________
Dave Frost

I'm going to resurrect this thread so I can post a few pictures of my 696-ND that I took this morning. It's raining outside, so I set up a photo stage under some inside fluorescent lighting and made use of the white balance feature of my camera. For those who care, Canon G9, ISO 100, f/8, about 1/4 second, tripod. Overhead light reflected from back. Side and front illumination very limited.







I think those grips are going to be a project later this year. Strip 'em down, sand 'em off, realign the medallions, and maybe put an oil finish on the wood. They are kind of rough right now, as shadows show -- shallow gouges and scratches. I think maybe they were worked on before. If not, it was sure a bad day at the factory when these came off the line.

And to the OP's question: I still don't know how many of these were made. Just a few thousand, I would guess.

David W.

__________________
David Wilson

I've got one!

__________________
195th Session FBINA

Don't know how many were produced. The no dash was only produced for one year. Just traded into one on the 23rd. I have been looking for quite awhile.

Is it just me or does anyone else think that it's kind of bizarre that S&W does not know how many they made? Maybe their lawyers suggested they would be safer from lawsuits.

I have one that never gets used....



G