Happy birthday to myself

[Marshal Tom]

I love the 3" L frames and the 3" guns in general. I found a 696 no dash several years ago at a LGS and knew the guy who put it in there as well. I traded my friend the owner for my 357 MTN Gun, ouch! I love the .44 special so I am happy with the trade. Also have a 3" 66-2 and a 3" 686 CS-1. They are some of my favorites.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

Happy Birthday! It is always great to get exactly what you want.

 

[Nemo288]

You are gonna love it!

Only change I made was to lower the trigger rebound (return) spring strength slightly (13 lb. Wilson Combat spring).
One of the best double action triggers I have used.

If you don't mind, what is the serial number and does it have smooth (ECM) or sharp (broached) rifling in the barrel?

I am trying to pin down when the sharp rifled barrels were changed over to the smoother ECM ones
as I have both but they appear to be in reverse order.
In other words I have a 696-1 with what appears to have an early 696 barrel but don't really know where it came from.
That gun also has a 696-2 hammer so a spare parts special I suspect.

My 696 is serial CBS2474 and has the smooth rifled barrel.
I am looking to confirm (or deny) that possibly earlier 696's came with the older fashioned rifling.
That could help explain where the one I have came from.
I don't think a "letter" would have that kind of manufacturing detail.

If you are uncomfortable publishing the serial, PM me.
I would welcome this information from other 696 owners as well.

If we can pin down a definite change-over period this should end up in The Standard Catalog.

Thanks All!

 

[Dieseltech56]

Mine is a CBU serial number. Special order code dates it to early 1997. I'll have to check on the rifling

 

[Dieseltech56]

Okay, it's probably no secret that I have dozens of S&W revolvers and my favorite time period is the 90s. I have never looked much into the switchover to ECM rifling though I gathered it took place around 1993. I'd be willing to bet that more conventional barrels used in years past were in stock in great numbers and the switchover happened much later.

I examined a number of my 90s guns and I think I can tell what rifling is what now. The few lock guns I have are obviously ECM. Some of the 686s dating from 89 to 96 I have are not obvious and it is hard to tell. I believe all the 629-4s and 29-6s I have are conventional rifled even though these go all the way up into 97.

My new 696 no dash is ECM rifled. I am sure of it. The late built CBC prefix 629-4 I have looks to be conventional.

 

[kmyers]

Looks like a great birthday present.