S&W frame types

[heidad01]

I'm not an expert on S&W revolvers hence the question.

From time to time I see a post saying something like oh, thst is a nice k frame or N frame or what ever.

Do you guys memorize this stuff, or can tell by the shape or model number? Or do you have to look at the box and read it off the box??

I looked at one addressed as a k frame. For the life of me, I could not see anything on it that resembles a K.

[jdfthetech]

http://hipowersandhandguns.com/Smith%20&%20Wesson%20J,%20K,%20L%20and%20N-frame%20Comparisons.htm

This explains some of them.
I think the reason people know it off the top of their head is just experience.
You shoot enough of them, you just start to see the differences.

It's like anything else, you just do it enough and you pick it up.

[SoCal Bob]

S&W frames go something like this:

J - small, usually a 5 shot .38 Spl, think "Chief's special"
K - medium, usually a .38 Spl or .357 think "models 10 or 19"
L - beefed up medium, usually .357 think "models 586 or 686"
N - large frame, usually .44 magnum or .45, think "models 29 or 625"

[SoCal Bob]

Hickok45 stopped by to answer your question

[Ubermcoupe]

...
I think the reason people know it off the top of their head is just experience.
You shoot enough of them, you just start to see the differences.

It's like anything else, you just do it enough and you pick it up.

S&W frames go something like this:

J - small, usually a 5 shot .38 Spl, think "Chief's special"
K - medium, usually a .38 Spl or .357 think "models 10 or 19"
L - beefed up medium, usually .357 think "models 586 or 686"
N - large frame, usually .44 magnum or .45, think "models 29 or 625"

Don't forget the X frames - SW 500 & SW 460

[highpower]

There are smaller framed S&W’s than the “J” frames.

“I” frames, most commonly seen on the .32 caliber Terrier.

“M” frames, the original .22 short Ladysmith. So tiny the workers at S&W hated putting them together.

[P5Ret]

S&W frames go something like this:

J - small, usually a 5 shot .38 Spl, think "Chief's special"
K - medium, usually a .38 Spl or .357 think "models 10 or 19"
L - beefed up medium, usually .357 think "models 586 or 686"
N - large frame, usually .44 magnum or .45, think "models 29 or 625"

You forgot the X and Z frames. X is the .500 mag, and .460, I think the Z is the governor.

[heidad01]

Thank you all. It makes sense to me know.

[tuna quesadilla]

J-frame for pocket carry
K-frame for carry and training

Anything else is just a range toy.

[I Swan]

You got your questions answered pretty well here. If you want to get super technical as always there are exceptions. Earlier J frames are built on a slightly smaller frame this changed when they started making 357 mag versions.

Oddly on the model 12, an alloy framed model 10 K frame the grip frame is slightly different and thinner on all of them until the 12-4 engineering changes.

You didn't ask this but for future reference if you see some talk about say a model 10-5, 10-8, 10-10, they are referring to the same model but of various engineering changes/revisions made to the gun over the production run.

This can be important when ordering parts and other reasons.

[Barbarosa]

The following is just a start - listing only .38/.357.

Copied from Luckygunner:

[tipoc]

The terms I, J, K, M, L, N, X etc. began as inside the factory designations for the frame sizes. Initially S&W just called them small frame, mid frame, and large. For many years the largest frame, the N frame, was called the "44 frame" as it was initially chambered in the 44 Spl. Over the decades though the K,L, etc. designations made their way into popular use.

Those frame sizes are still used as a bench mark for revolvers and a way of describing their size. Folks will say that a Ruger Speed Six is about the size of a K frame but a bit heavier than most. Or that the Kimber K6 is larger than a J frame but smaller than a K.

Like someone said, it takes time and experience to learn what's what. Shooting them, handling them at gun stores and gun shows, owning.

If you're interested in S&W wheelguns get ahold of a copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas.

You can memorize this stuff but charts and such are sometimes off (The chart above is off in calling the M520 a "Military and Police" gun.) The internet can provide broad knowledge but you want it deep too. The latter comes from handling and shooting the guns.

tipoc

[Wordupmybrotha]

http://hipowersandhandguns.com/Smith...omparisons.htm

This explains some of them.
I think the reason people know it off the top of their head is just experience.
You shoot enough of them, you just start to see the differences.

It's like anything else, you just do it enough and you pick it up.

That's the case with me.

S&W frames go something like this:

J - small, usually a 5 shot .38 Spl, think "Chief's special"
K - medium, usually a .38 Spl or .357 think "models 10 or 19"
L - beefed up medium, usually .357 think "models 586 or 686"
N - large frame, usually .44 magnum or .45, think "models 29 or 625"

Yeah, that's how I remember also, without memorizing specific model numbers. Higher alphabet, bigger the frame.
J : small
K: medium
L: medium+
N: large

Other sizes, I don't care about.

[Wordupmybrotha]

You didn't ask this but for future reference if you see some talk about say a model 10-5, 10-8, 10-10, they are referring to the same model but of various engineering changes/revisions made to the gun over the production run.

This can be important when ordering parts and other reasons.

Yes, the term "dash".
Confused me when the marketplace ad said it was a "no dash".

[sierra11b]

J-frame for pocket carry
K-frame for carry and training

Anything else is just a range toy.

Unless you're hunting.

I realize you might be joking but I swear this forum revolves way too much around fanboi debate on which is the best concealed carry/carry/home protection gun I'll likely never use in my life vs. the N frame i'll use to fill a tag every year.