S&W 696 steal for $350???? (UPDATE on Status)

[tlr16]

So I'm new to this caliber but I found this and bought it home it was well under $500 not sure how I did. To me its ruff. The marks on the cylinder are the worst on the gun.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Few hours of rubbing with Mother's Mag polish would shine it up nicely.
Did that with a new 686 and it looks great.

 

[Waywatcher]

Not sure if serious.

 

[tlr16]

Not sure if serious.

What do you mean? I have all 629s and 66 or 686s. Not sure I want a diff caliber. I'll give it a day or two at the range. Sometimes you run across someone needing money he said $400 I glanced at the gun and said $350 cause it needs a new front sight and he took it.

 

[Arik]

I think it's silly to sell a perfectly good gun cause of some external scratches. If that was a 357 I'd give you 350

 

[murphydog]

$350 for this one, even with the missing front sight insert and the marks on the cylinder, was an excellent price. Enjoy it, if you decide to keep it...

 

[LittleCooner]

sounds like a super buy to me. I would have bought it without even thinking at that price, but then again, no 38's or 357 around here, all 44's so I am a 44 junkie?

 

[k22fan]

S&W 696 steal for $350????

You might have time to make a get away across the Mexican border before you hear "drop the 696 and come out with your hands up!" The model 69's appearance on the market might have deflated 696 prices a bit but you still committed a crime.

Guns with deep scratches on one side always remind me of old cop shows. Maybe I watched too many who-done-its.

I also could be a buyer.

 

[tlr16]

Sadly enough based how how it looks and was sticky I think it rode most of its life under a seat. (I fig the metal seat frame made the marks and a spilled drink caused the stickiness)

 

[BaldEagle1313]

For that price it almost doesn't matter how it looks as long as it's still timed right and doesn't have enough end shake to mix drink powder in a bottle of water. That's the gun you just enjoy shooting the hell out of it and don't concern yourself about future resale value.

 

[diyj98]

I'd give $350 in a heartbeat for it that just for a truck gun.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Me 2! I already have one, paid more than $350.
I would pull that money out in a heartbeat.

 

[Waywatcher]

What do you mean? I have all 629s and 66 or 686s. Not sure I want a diff caliber. I'll give it a day or two at the range. Sometimes you run across someone needing money he said $400 I glanced at the gun and said $350 cause it needs a new front sight and he took it.

I asked if you were being serious because that's a screaming deal, like k22fan noted:

You might have time to make a get away across the Mexican border before you hear "drop the 696 and come out with your hands up!"

 

[hkcavalier]

Holy heck...$350 is a great price if it's mechanically sound.

 

[357larry]

Leave the scratches and dings alone and I will give you $400 for it.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Congrats on your newest!

That is a screaming deal if it's sound.

 

[RSBH44]

So I'm new to this caliber but I found this and bought it home it was well under $500 not sure how I did. To me its ruff. The marks on the cylinder are the worst on the gun. I may end up selling.

Oh Man! I've been looking for a 696 for quite awhile now. They just aren't found around here. Nice find.

 

[tlr16]

Update. I got it cleaned up. Mechanically and all oiled up. No need to work on other issues till test firing. It has a very nice single and double action. Usually I'm used to one of the other.

 

[RSBH44]

Well, get ready to be pleasantly surprised at how smooth both double and single actions are. From everything that I've read on this site about the 696, the actions on these guns are exceptional.

 

[Snapping Twig]

A mechanically sound No Dash for $350 is unheard of, but now we've heard of it.

Should go to Vegas with luck like that.

 

[JoeReed]

Hickock 45 is shooting a 696 this week on his site, and that little gun...three inch barrel 44 special and he does not miss his first 15 shots, not until it is a very very long shot to a small target. I have one and it is a very nifty very accurate gun that shoots like a 45 with moderate special loads. Only downside is that load is hair shirt punitive for pricing unless you reload, but it is easy to reload it.

I think I heard once that a downside of 696s is the ancillary parts, such as cylinders, are no longer available. That might be why the price was lower. Obviously a collectible no dash has to be in good condition. As a shooter though this revolver is just top drawer.

 

[hkcavalier]

Most of the highly desirable guns on this forum no longer have ancillary parts...that's what makes them so valuable (if complete). Weird logic. I guess to someone just starting to buy guns, they want stone reliable, easy to maintain guns. Plenty of plastic fantastics and ARs out there for those guys.

 

[tlr16]

Here is the current condition it cleaned up nice. Shoots a little high at 25yds but was using cowboy loads. Recoil felt like a .38

 

[Dennis The B]

Here is the current condition it cleaned up nice. Shoots a little high at 25yds but was using cowboy loads. Recoil felt like a .38

The .44 Special is a kitten in the L frame. I've owned one for about five years, and it's a fine gun. If you reload, you can attain velocities approaching the .44 Magnum, but the gun is perfect with standard .44 Special loads. I use 200gr and 240gr flat nose SWC bullets, and they work perfectly.

The stocks in your earlier pictures are standard to the gun, and they are much more comfortable than the Magnas in the last. You could also consider some Ahrends round-butt combat stocks. I have those on mine and they fit my hand perfectly.

Congrats on a great buy!

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Those hi viz sights can shoot high. You can go with a higher blank sight Good job. Me jealous

 

[tlr16]

Surprisingly the Magnas didn't feel bad. I know the Butler creek were stock but they aren't in the best of shape. I want round butt combats but then I'd need 2 sets. It matches my 66-3 3" with Magnas but I use Hogues on it mostly which I prefer. These were at the local shop we threw them on to check out and for carry the wood slides easier and is smaller

 

[tlr16]

I may look into the cylinder n slide rear sight they make

 

[Shark Bait]

I really like the smooth VZ grips on my 696. I also have them on my 686-4+. I got this 696 from another forum member. It's a keeper!