As a huge .41 Mag fan , I do find this interesting. I though conversion to .41 mag was workable when I owned a 696 , which I still regret trading away. But I want a .41 Magnum. Since the .41 Special is a handload only round (I do load my own .41 mags) , brass is expensive , and no commercial ammo/self defense loads are available , I don't think I'd convert a perfectly good and fairly hard to find discontinued revolver like the 696. There IS lots of good .44 special loads out there.

I'd love to see a .41 Special factory load or two. I've been to ranges where they did not allow any 'magnum' rounds. It didn't matter if ya loaded pipsqueek loads and cut down the brass 1/8th of an inch , if the headstamp said 'MAGNUM' , it was forbidden.