I bought my 296 & 696, both new, over a year and half ago for <$830 total inc sales tax. The 296 was axed the year before the 696, .44 Specials just weren't popular. I love them... I also bought a safe-queen LNIB '83 vintage 6.5" 24 as well as my last new S&W, another .44 Special - a Heritage Series ('02) 6.5" 24 (CDNN still has them ~$600). I like that round...
My most frequent range-mate is my 696, a -1 version. It will launch anything in a .44 Special or Russian case, it's 36 oz SS construction really absorbing the recoil. It is uncanny how accurate that 3" barrel can be. I did swap grips - it came with the rounded bottom backstrap-enclosing UM's combat grips... I replaced them with the squared version, like the 66's, etc come with. Those rounded UM's, recycled to the 296, were a great aid there. An HKS CA-44 speedloader works great with both the 296 & 696 (and 396). The 696 may be my last to be parted with S&W...
Now... the lite weight 296 (& 396!). They are ammo restrictive - no short cases (.44 Russians). The lite weight comes from an alloy frame with a SS barrel liner and a titanium cylinder. No lead bullets (clad only). Nothing over 200gr (Check the right side of the lug...). I carry CCI Blazer 200gr Gold Dot JHP for CC - and shoot the same/similar loads from Georgia Arms in Starline brass (... or my own same-bullet reloads.). Careful use of the ejector is mandatory... the frame cast cylinder stop will shear off if you 'Hollywood' the unloading action... leaving you with a separate cylinder and frame! And... the little guy, actually not a pocket gun in anyone's definition, kicks fairly abruptly with those Blazers.
If you want a real N-frame .44 Special, see if you can get one of the Heritage 24's.... they are probably the prettiest - and best quality - S&W's I have seen. Sadly, they liked small grips back then... so, the current styled round butt grip, actually a nicely made walnut boot grip, had to go on mine... a cocobolo Ahrend's resides there now - great look and feel. I cringed on spending $600 for a new revolver... especially blued - but, it was a steal! That 396 would cost you that much...
Stainz