Smith & Wesson 696 .44 Special
Model: 170210
Smith & Wesson 696 .44 Special
Model: 170210
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Smith & Wesson 696 was the all-stainless L-frame .44 Special produced from 1996 to 2002. It pairs a 3" barrel with a 5-shot cylinder, adjustable rear sight, and red-insert serrated front ramp in a 35.5 oz package. Where the lighter S&W 296 was built around recoil-managed concealment and the new 396 Night Guard splits the difference, the 696 is unapologetically the range-and-belt gun in the family — heavy enough to soak full-power .44 Spl all day, with a 5 lb DA/SA trigger that owners describe as one of the better stock revolver triggers S&W shipped in the era.
The 696 was discontinued in 2002 and now trades in the $900-1,500 range on the used market. The closest current-production analog is no longer a Smith — it's the steel 21 oz Charter Arms Bulldog 2.5", which is lighter and cheaper but lacks the L-frame's smoothness and adjustable sights. Practical tip: if you find a clean 696 in the under-$1,100 range, the value over a new Bulldog is real — but the lack of factory parts support means you should budget for a once-over by a revolversmith, especially on the cylinder hand and ejector star.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Stainless L-frame at 35.5 oz handles full-power .44 Spl loads more comfortably than any current-production .44 Spl revolver — the modern Charters and the 396 Night Guard are all 22 oz or lighter
- Adjustable rear sight with red-insert front is a deliberate target-revolver sight setup that current production .44 Spls (outside the Target Bulldog and Mastiff) do not offer
- Discontinued 2002 — used market only, with prices climbing as supply tightens and limited factory parts support for older L-frame internals
- 7.8" overall length and 35.5 oz rule out pocket carry — this is a holster or range gun, not a daily-concealment piece
Category Rankings
How the Smith & Wesson 696 .44 Special ranks among compact .44 Special handguns.
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Alternatives to Consider
Similar compact .44 Special handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Smith & Wesson 396 Night Guard .44 Special
Smith & Wesson
|
— |
|
Charter Arms Target Bulldog 4.2" .44 Special
Charter Arms
|
— |
|
Taurus 445 Ultra-Lite .44 Special
Taurus
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— |
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Smith & Wesson 624 .44 Special
Smith & Wesson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 696 compare to a Charter Bulldog for range use?
The 696 is a stainless L-frame with adjustable sights and S&W's drawn-out trigger refinement; the Bulldog is a smaller, lighter, fixed-sight working revolver. The 696's 35.5 oz mass tames recoil enough that 100-round practice sessions stay comfortable, where the 21 oz Bulldog turns harsh after the first cylinder. The flip side is portability — the Bulldog disappears in a pocket holster, the 696 needs a real belt rig.
Why is the 696 priced where it is on the used market?
Supply is limited (1996-2002 production), and S&W has not revived the dedicated stainless .44 Spl L-frame even with the 396 Night Guard launch. Demand from .44 Special enthusiasts is steady and supply only shrinks. Clean examples in the $1,000-1,400 range are typical, with pre-lock guns commanding a premium over later production.
Does the 696 share parts with other L-frame revolvers?
Most internals (springs, hammer, trigger, ejector rod) are shared with other L-frame revolvers like the 686 in .357 Magnum, which keeps repairs feasible. The cylinder, barrel, and hand are .44-specific and harder to source. A competent revolversmith can keep a 696 running indefinitely with mostly off-the-shelf 686 parts, but cylinder work requires specialty inventory.
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