296

[dbracin]

I have a chance to pick up a 296. No box or original grips, it has badgers on it. Some carry wear but overall good condition. The price is the question. What's a fair market value for this odd 44 special? db

 

[DCWilson]

Prices have come down a bit from a high about a year ago. My impression is that barely fired guns with their boxes and docs are in the $700-800 range. Without the box and showing some wear, maybe $450-500?

It's a funny gun because of the love-it-or-vomit design, but those who like them have often been willing to pay a little extra to get one. I sure did, buying at the height of the market last year. The gun is a handful, and I put a steel 696 cylinder in mine to give it some extra mass and cut the recoil a bit. Others have done that too, and you might want to consider doing so if you have numb-hands syndrome after a few rounds.

 

[Torakan]

I have seen a 396 and a 296 for sale in my area in the last year. The 396 was at a local gun shop and was sold for $650+tax. The 296 was at a gun show and was marked $800. I dont know if it sold, but I think the seller was a bit crazy on the price. Neither had box or docs. My totaly unqualified opinion is that if you could get it for under $600 you would be OK. Close to $500 and you would be really OK. Under $500 and you would have a very good deal.

 

[Stainz]

Mine was $349 with box and papers... it was new... that was almost eight years ago. It was on closeout then - at less than half it's last MSRP. I bought it to go with the new 696 I was buying that day - $439. That was two new S&W's on the same day - for less than one of them nowadays - used - would run. Gotta admit, that 296 will be here when the 696 is gone. In a Mika's pocket holster, it'll fit over two of three of my pants front pockets. A similarly holstered 296-after-weight-watchers, my 642, will ride in any front pocket. Neither is a joy to shoot, the 296 with Georgia Arms 200gr Gold Dots & the 642 with +P Remington 158gr LHPSWC's. Both sport their OEM boots for better concealment. The rounded Uncle Mike's, like my 2" M10 came with, improve the 296's recoil, albeit at a significant CC premium.

A couple of things to look for re the used 296. Topstrap etching over the b/c gap, along with a loose cylinder, are easy to find. Not so easy - open the cylinder - see if it is still 'stopped' by the cast-in-place cylinder stop as you push the cylinder rearward. A couple of 'Hollywood raps' of the ejector rod can pare away that Al cylinder stop by the Ti cylinder's edge. Then - the cylinder can fall off backwards whenever it is released. I don't know what S&W could do about this.

The revolver is tempermental - no short cases (.44 Russians) - no lead - clad or plated bullets 200 gr or less. I tried 240gr LSWC's - mid-level loads. After four, the fifth one was fully uncrimped - would have jammed had the rounds been more energetic. I had a Al-cased Blazer 200 gr Gold Dot split it's case in my 696, so I replaced them with the new Starline brass loads from GA Arms - chrono-ed the same from the 696. Still - I like it.

Stainz

 

[smithcollector]

I got mine at a gun show mabey 3 years ago..no hard case, but it had the white cardboard box, paperwork, original grips, laser grips with box, tools and paperwork, and i think i paid under 500. Traded the lasergrips towards a model 19.
Its a cool little gun, you'll like it.

 

[TSQUARED]

The 296 is a bit light for me. I use thwe 696 which is all stainless.