I would love for S&W to offer a 5 shot K-frame 44spl. 2,3,or 4" barrel, blued, hi-viz sights. And could they possibly do it at a reasonable price point, ie. something less than $700.00
I have an original 3" bulldog that's amazingly light for its size that I love to shoot. It's my walking in the woods gun, and my backup while bow hunting.

Model 69 is pretty dang close!

Yah, the 396 and 696 are as well, but a K not L frame, in steel, would be less costly, about the same weight, and just that hair or two smaller, wouldn't it? Not having to use a titanium cylinder would save cost.

Smith would say there's not enough difference in size, weight, and cost to engineer a 5 shot K-frame when they have a popular 44 caliber L-frame already on the market.
Here's a 66 and 69 side by side. K frame is a little thinner but the weights are within 2 oz and in profile the sizes are very close.

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Spokhandguns used to offer a custom 5 shot 44 Special on the K frame. At least one member on this forum has one. They stopped offering it. Not sure why.

Kevin

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The 696 was discontinued due to lack of sales.....Search for a Rossi mdl 720. It is a k framed size 5 shot stainless steel .44 special and is a robust gun.
Smith 696 and Rossi 720

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S&W Accumulator

My 2 3/4" 69 serves as my 44 special gun. I sold off my Charter Arms after the 69 came out.

I’d like a m24 4” barrel in nickel. To go with my m24/6.5” barrel

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Plant garlic in the fall

After buying up pretty much all of the used S&W revolvers in my neck of the woods....I had to start looking for other revolvers from other makers and I picked up a Rossi M720 44spec with bobbed hammer. Stainless 3". Haven't fired it yet but for $375 I feel good about the purchase. I look forward to comparing it to 44specs from other gun makers in my collection.

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I recently acquired a Ruger GP-100 that's a 5 shot and it's a very nice revolver. Blued steel, 5" barrel, and its about the same size as a K frame.
It's very accurate and a joy to carry. You might look into locating one.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

The OP hasn't been around for a month or so, but a used model 329 with .44 Specials would fit the bill exactly, and holds 6 rounds. Yes, it's an N frame but is lighter than a theoretical steel K frame 5 shot .44 Special would be.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I would like to know how you can crowd a 44 barrel into a K frame. The bottom of the 357 barrels somethings crack at the yoke clearance flat on the bottom of the forcing cone. I have both CA Bulldogs and a Taurus 431 5 shot 44 specials. Both have smaller cylinders than my 696, 396 and 296 S&W L frames They also have a smaller chamber radius (cambers closer to center axis) Also a shorter yoke. If S&W moved the chambers inward and then made a barrel to match either the barrel would be paper thin or the metal between barrel and yoke would be unless the completely redesigned the gun. Just like my dream of a 5 shot L frame 45. Not gonna happen for the exact same reasons. I have measured and measured.

My N frame 325 are lighter than any of my K frames. If you want a 44 special an 396 0r a 296 (shrouded hammer) will weigh less than any steel gun.

J frame model 36 38 special 19.5oz
L frame 396 with TI cylinder in 44 special. 18 oz

I carry a 6 shot 45 acp 2 1/2" barreled 325 with a titanium cylinder and at 21.5 oz forget its on me. The 6 200 gr hollow points make it come in at about 25.5oz or about 5 oz more than a steel J frame with 5 110 gr rounds

I am looking at the Model 69 for 44 Special duties. The Ruger GP100 44 Special was disappointing with its too thin forcing cone but I sure liked the size of the 5" half-lug.

I like the 3" barrel, bobbed hammer and fixed sights.

I would like feed back after the range.

I don't know much about Rossi quality.

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I have a 720 as well. It’s actually a better “grouper” than my 6 1/2” Model 24-3.
In a pancake holster it conceals well and is comfortable to carry.

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I agree almost 100%, except I really prefer that regular old S&W patridge front sight. I am too dern old to mess around with a tv screen mounted on my front sight.

Here is my wife's Rossi M720 .44 Special. Great gun. We've added a set of wood target grips since these photos have been taken. The story I've always heard is that Rossi purchased the machine tooling from S&W to build these revolvers.

Edit - I've added recent pictures with the wood grips.

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The point was to have a 5 shot "S&W" in 44spl. To have the quality and the name, not to have the lightest gun. To have it in a K frame for all the accessories. To have a Beautiful deep blue steel revolver with wood grips to enjoy owning as much as shooting. I like the old style, reliable guns of the past, the ones my father handed down to me, that my sons are already trying to divvy up before I'm even gone. I just dont look at titanium or scandium guns and go, "oooh, I really want that". Besides, the price is nuts.

I really like my 696....It's a d great little 5-shot double action. Wish they still made them.

Taurus offers one - called the Model 445. I'm probably going to go pick up a used one at a local LGS tomorrow afternoon for $325. Unless you're one of those who looks down on them as an excessively inferior brand.

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In honour of the late Jeff Quinn, Ruger is currently doing a limited run of 500 blued GP100s in .44 Special, 4.2", 5 round capacity, unfluted cylinder, Hogue custom walnut grips. Definitely one of the nicest GP100 editions IMHO.