The 856 Executive Grade is based on the 856 line of .38spl revolvers. In particular, it's based on the 856 Defender models with a 3-inch barrel and Hogue rubber grips. From there, Taurus turns it into the equivalent of a "Performance Center" model from Smith and Wesson, with some notable changes to the action. MSRP for the 856 Executive Grade is $689, but can be found for around $500 depending on the retailer. I paid $530 for this one at Brownells.
The 856 Executive Grade is still a small-frame revolver, but a bit bigger than your normal snub-nosed pocket revolver. It measures 7.5L x 4.8H x 1.4W. It's all metal, so it weighs in at 25 ounces unloaded according to Taurus. The sights on the Executive Grade are similar to the standard 856, with a frame trough rear sight and a serrated blade front sight.
The frame, cylinder, and barrel are all stainless steel, and they all get a smooth satin finish that is unique to the Executive Grade. It is hand-polished to achieve a nice uniform finish that is markedly nicer than the matte stainless finish 856, and in a completely different league than the scratch-prone matte black finish 856. Looking around the gun there's no uneven spots or spots with noticable finishing marks, so I think they did a very solid job with this. The frames are marked with the Taurus Executive Grade logo on the right side, and its actually engraved into the frame instead of just lasered on there. Also engraved are the "Taurus Int'l Mfg" Bainbridge GA" and model number, as well as the "Taurus Armas Brazil" on the left side. The engraving is clean, uniform, and very well done. Taurus says that the Executive Grade also features an "improved trigger guard", but comparing it to my other 856 the only difference I can see is that the Executive Grade trigger guard is a hair thinner; the shape itself is unaltered.
The cylinder is another place where Taurus took some extra time with the Executive Grade. It is still a six shot cylinder chambered in .38spl +P, but they did some extra machining around the chamber mouth to chamfer the lip. This makes it a bit easier to insert cartridges, especially when trying for a fast reload. The spent cases are kicked out by an ejection rod that feels like it has a bit stiffer spring in it than a standard 856. It is fully shrouded when the crane is closed, and has some nice knurling on the end of it as well.
Another Executive Grade specific feature are the grips, which are walnut and checkered on both sides. They are a beautiful color and visually complement the satin metal very well in my eyes. They give me a nice full grip on the gun, but they don't stick out any further than they need to, which keeps this a relatively concealable weapon. In fact I don't think that these grips are any taller than the Hogue rubber grips that are available on the 856, though they are a bit longer in the heel of the grip.
The most significant Executive Grade feature is the hand-tuned action. Unlike the standard 856, the Executive Grade is double action only, and uses a bobbed hammer with no spur. This should make for one less snag point when coming out of a holster, especially if it's being carried under clothing. Taurus says that the action has been tuned for enhanced smoothness, and I can definitely confirm that. The action feels like there is a lot less friction between the parts during the trigger press, and this is the most notable right in the middle where the pull force peaks. In the 856, this can sometimes feel gritty or stagey, but in the Executive Grade it feels like the trigger just rolls smoothly through the hammer release. There is just as much pull weight as the standard 856, but it feels lighter because it's smoother.
Speaking of trigger pull weight, I measured this out and it is off the top of the scale of my little Wheeler gauge, so I can't give you an exact number, but most say that the pull weight is around 11 to 11.5 lbs. What I can tell you is that while the pull weight is notably heavier than our long-term 856 (and remember that has the Wolff Shooters Kit springs in it), I still prefer the double action pull of the Executive Grade overall. Its smoother and has none of the grit in the trigger that the standard 856 does.
If I had to nitpick, I would have liked to see Taurus upgrade that front sight for me out of the box instead of having to do it myself. Either that, or adding in a speedloader or two, or even a basic holster would really put this package over the top.
So what do I think of the 856 Executive Grade? Overall I think that it's a solid improvement over the standard 856, especially in terms of shooting feel. The grip combined with the worked over trigger really changes the feel of the gun, to the point where I don't really see a need to change anything internally like with our base 856. I think that the features and finishing that Taurus has added to the 856 make the added money worth it. Heck just that Pelican case and the Wood grip together are worth almost the full price premium. What this gun REALLY makes me want, though, is a .357mag version. Taurus has recently released an Executive Grade Judge, but I hope that they continue to expand this lineup and way of thinking to their existing lineup.
I think that the thought process that created this gun, from the attention to detail in the finishing, to the solid value-for-dollar, to the unboxing experience symbolizes a whole different thought process that is happening at Taurus. You can see it in this model, and in models like the G3 Tactical and GX4 TORO: If they can add features to their models and make them feel that much more "special" and maintain their value proposition, I think that they can tap into a section of the market where a lot of us tend to shop, and one where they can definitely gain some credibility.