696 vs 696-1

[caps]

So far I really like the looks of the S&W 696 .44 Special 3". So I'm looking for one. But I'm puzzled & hope someone can enlighten me. What's the difference between the plain ol' 696 and the 696-1? Anybody? Buehler?

/Cap S

---
Better to have one & not need it.

 

[steelhead]

Dash 1 added the following:

Change frame design to eliminate cylinder stop stud.
Eliminate serrated tangs.
Change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin.
Change to MIM trigger.
Change internal lockwork.

Dash 2 added the following:

Trigger lock


696 and the 696-1 command higher prices than the 2's.

 

[Majic]

The no dash is the most sought after one (and most expensive). It has the hammer mounted firing pin and no MIM parts. It's also generally the hardest one to find these days.

 

[Gewehr98]

S&W does funny things throughout a production run.

This is my no-Dash 696, I picked it up from a fellow GI for $200 a couple years ago. (He wasn't a .44 Special kind of guy)

It has an MIM cylinder latch. I'm also not too certain that the hammer and trigger aren't MIM, even though that wasn't supposed to happen until the -1 and -2 versions of the 696.

 

[EddieCoyle]

Here's my 696 no dash that I picked up for $281 at a gun show a couple of months ago:



It has stamped steel trigger and forged hammer. There is no MIM on this revolver. (Not that there's anything wrong with that).

 

[Gator]

The one change that I like is the black front sight blade on the -1, vs. the SS blade on the no dash, but that is an easy fix

 

[caps]

Thanks to all. I appreciate the promptness (& expertise!).

I just got back from a gunshow with my cash still in my pockets. I didn't count, but I'll bet there were fewer than 50 (modern) handguns, and fewer than 20 revolvers. I wonder if that decline is due to the popularity of the online auctions. Or what. Dang!
I think I just hijacked the thread I started. Disregard. Disregard. Erase. Erase.

/CapS

---
It's better to have one and not need it.