Smith & Wesson S&W Mod. 296 Airlite Ti .44 Spl 2.5″ Hammerless DAO Revolver
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: LSB260415MJ009
Make: Smith & Wesson
Model: 296 Airlite Ti Centennial
Serial Number: CDF1344
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1999-2001
Caliber: .44 Special (not to exceed 200 Grain)
Action Type: Hammerless Double Action Only 5-Shot Revolver with Swing-Out fluted Cylinder and ejector.
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSON”. The right side of the barrel is marked “.44 S&W SPECIAL CTG.” / “MAX BULLET 200 GRAIN”. The left side of the frame is marked with the S&W monogram logo. The right side of the frame is marked with ‘atomic’ rings around the S&W logo, “AirLite Ti” and the four-line Marcas Registradas. The crane cut is marked with the serial and “296”. The crane arm is marked “842”.
Barrel Length: 2.5″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade pinned to the ramped barrel rib. The front sight is hand-painted orange for visibility. The rear sight is a square notch milled into the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are Uncle Mike’s two-piece textured rubber grips with speedloader cutouts and finger grooves. There are handling marks and scuffs. There are no rips or tears. Overall, the grips are in an Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Anodized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There is a light squib ring near the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates at a 8/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are handling scratches and wear throughout. There is minor finish loss on the edges of the humpback. There is a faint turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp with light tooling. Overall, this handgun rates an Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup shows very minimal side to side play. The double-action trigger is smooth. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Smith & Wesson Model 296 AirLite Ti Centennial is a short-production, lightweight big-bore revolver built for concealed carry and defensive use. Chambered in .44 Special and limited to loads not exceeding 200 grains as marked on the barrel, the Model 296 combined a lightweight alloy frame with a titanium cylinder to reduce carry weight while retaining a substantial five-shot bore diameter. Its Centennial-style enclosed-hammer design gives it a snag-resistant profile, and its double-action-only operation was intended for simple, consistent defensive handling. Produced around the turn of the 21st century, these revolvers were never made in large numbers and have become interesting to collectors and shooters who appreciate lightweight S&W carry revolvers, unusual .44 Special chamberings, and pre-lock-era-style defensive wheelguns from the AirLite Ti period.
This Smith & Wesson Model 296 AirLite Ti is a .44 Special 5-shot DAO revolver with a 2 1/2″ barrel, swing-out fluted titanium cylinder, serrated ramp front sight hand-painted orange, fixed square-notch rear sight, and Uncle Mike’s textured rubber grips. The revolver retains about 98% of its finish, showing handling scratches and wear, minor finish loss on the humpback edges, and a faint cylinder turn line. The grips rate in Excellent condition with handling marks and scuffs but no rips or tears. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion, though a light squib ring is noted near the muzzle, and the bore rates 8/10 in this writer’s opinion. The action functions correctly, the cylinder shows very minimal side-to-side play, and the double-action trigger is smooth. Overall, this is an Excellent condition lightweight S&W Model 296 AirLite Ti with desirable .44 Special chambering, scarce carry-revolver appeal, and a noted bore ring that should be considered by bidders. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY