New 44 special

[A.Brown]

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.

 

[mikerjf]

Model 69 is pretty dang close!

 

[A.Brown]

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.

 

[shocker]

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.

 

[StrawHat]

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

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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

 

[diyj98]

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

 

[BigBill]

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

 

[Tytan01]

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

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.

 

[Skyhunter]

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

 

[murphydog]

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.

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.

 

[steelslaver]

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

 

[AlanF]

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.

 

[zzclancy]

Feed back

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.

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.

 

[Capt. F.]

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.

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.

 

[nbedford]

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.

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.

 

[Jon651]

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.

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.

 

[A.Brown]

Hey there

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.

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.

 

[Hank Dodge]

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

 

[BC38]

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.