Im picking my 696 up from its 10 day wait on friday or tomorrow if I get off work early enough...Looking to get some nice stocks on it. Was about to get Don collins but thats too fancy for me..

ANyone know where I can get grips like these=



They look trimmed down though, not as big as the N frame ones.



ANother option would be these current production ones (I believe) and might be cheaper but they lack the medallion=



ANy info on these is much appreciated...(There should be a stock sub forum)...


Here is a pic of the don collins grips I wanted to get....Nice arent they?

Was also considering getting a nice wood combat finger groove type grip from the same year as when the no dash 696 was made, sort of like I'd be putting era correct stocks on it....how it SHOULD have ben shipped from the factory. (I hate uncle mikes)

The smooth stocks in your first picture were sold by S&W as "Combat Stocks" in the 1980s and 1990s. Whether they are any good for actual combat or not, they are referred to on this forum as K/L frame round butt combats and command a high price at least in part because they look great in pictures. The stock in your picture is damaged. Its upper horn should extend back as far as the frame. Combats are often offered in the classifieds here.
I am not familiar with the stocks in your second picture but they look nice.
I think it's best to select stocks by how they feel in your hand firing your revolver, not how they look. I prefer checkered stocks without finger grooves, but you may find you like the opposite of what I do.
After you install what you like to shoot with, It’s best to store the originals tagged so you can reinstall them if your revolver becomes collectable some day.

Edit to add:
I believe the last Combats left S&W on 2 1/5” round butt 686s after the 696 was discontinued, so it appears the type in your first picture would meet your desires.

thanks for the info k22...The 696 has been fired but I dont mind because that means I get to shoot it some more!

Also, I wish I could try all of them out for feel, but I dont have access to any buddies or an LGS that would have the various makers, altamont, ahrends, S&W, etc.

It is probably dumb but im buying on looks at this point...

leviathon,
I've also seen the picture of the Dan Collins stocks and agree that they are sure pretty. I checked with Don a few months ago and at that time he was out of burl wood and could not make a set that looked like those in the picture.
I just ordered a set of Kim Ahrends K/L round butt tactical stocks. The difference with the tacticals versus the retros is that the tacs are wider. You can check them out at their website or even EBay and it will let you see the different woods and styles. Check out Altamont also as I believe they actually make the stocks currently used by S&W.
I also own a 696 no dash like yours and believe me it's made for shooting!
good Luck,
Len

__________________
Endeavor to persevere

You can get the stocks in the second picture from Altamont grips,They will add the S&W Medallion for an extra $10.

Thanks for the info guys. Lenny- I was actually wondering the same thing if Don was even making those anymore. I would take a pair in any type of wood because the detail is so nice, but if he isnt making that style anymore thats a shame...its a nice looking grip (Boot style I think? Or combat?) and it looks to be not so wide which is nice.

You might want to pm Nyteman44 and ask what he has available. I've purchased about 3 sets of smooth combats for two N frames and one k frame. I found that the repro grips that were on my 1937 Brazilian were too short for my hands. So I stuck a set on it. Nice big hand filling grips. Very nice person to deal with, packs the grips well and I am very satisfied with what I have so far purchased from him. Frank

Frank- THanks for the info I will PM him tonight. If these are era correct thats even better.

I also noticed that the ones in the second pic might well be altamonts, however the current production altamonts do not have checkering which I like for the altamonts. If I got some Smooth combats by S&W I'd be really glad though..I will keep you all posted

FWIW, I have purchased parts from Nyteman 44 approximately a half dozen times and always was happy. He closed his last ad in the accessories forum about a week ago. He kept selling then adding more stuff for around a month. Near the end he had a bunch of factory stocks.