Mike Irwin
Staff
Someone in another thread asked about S&W's frame sizes, so I thought I would give this rundown. It's in order of size, from smallest to largest. Hope you all find it useful...
M frame -- The smallest Hand Ejectors ever made, and only for .22 LR. These were 7-shot revolvers, and were also the original LadySmith revolvers. Three separate models. The 1st Model had the standard push-button cylinder latch, which was an absolute bear to make and put into such a small gun. In the 2nd and 3rd models, the pushbutton was done away with for a locking pin mounted on the front of the cylinder rod locking lug.
Very highly sought after by collectors.
I frame -- This was the original Hand Ejector frame size (not the K-frame), introduced in 1896. It was originally introduced for .32 Long, but later chambered .22 LR and .38 S&W. A few were also reportedly made chambered in .32 S&W, which would them among the rarest of the rare.
I frame improved -- A slightly larger I frame, which also introduced the coil spring instead of the leaf spring in the small handguns.
J frame -- Replacement for the I frame, which couldn't chamber the .38 Spl. cartridge.
K frame -- Like this needs any introduction/narrative, but... The "Classic" S&W Hand Ejector. The standard .38 & .357 revolver for many years with many hundreds of police forces. A very few were also made in .30 Carbine during WW II in hopes of getting a government contract. VERY rare. (Can you say BIG muzzle blast?
)
L frame -- Introduced in the 1980s as a beefed up K frame. The K frame .357s were just a little too light to handle a steady diet of full-bore .357 Mag. loads, so this is the result.
N frame -- The largest S&W frame, originally chambered for the .44 Spl., and .45 S&W cartridges. In 1935 it became the first home of the new .357 Magnum cartridge in the revolver later known as the Model 27. It was also the origial home of the .44 Magnum. A few were also made in .30 Carbine, during WW II. As with the K frame variant, very rare.
Now a quiz for you all...
What are the E, F, H & G frames?
------------------
Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.
M frame -- The smallest Hand Ejectors ever made, and only for .22 LR. These were 7-shot revolvers, and were also the original LadySmith revolvers. Three separate models. The 1st Model had the standard push-button cylinder latch, which was an absolute bear to make and put into such a small gun. In the 2nd and 3rd models, the pushbutton was done away with for a locking pin mounted on the front of the cylinder rod locking lug.
Very highly sought after by collectors.
I frame -- This was the original Hand Ejector frame size (not the K-frame), introduced in 1896. It was originally introduced for .32 Long, but later chambered .22 LR and .38 S&W. A few were also reportedly made chambered in .32 S&W, which would them among the rarest of the rare.
I frame improved -- A slightly larger I frame, which also introduced the coil spring instead of the leaf spring in the small handguns.
J frame -- Replacement for the I frame, which couldn't chamber the .38 Spl. cartridge.
K frame -- Like this needs any introduction/narrative, but... The "Classic" S&W Hand Ejector. The standard .38 & .357 revolver for many years with many hundreds of police forces. A very few were also made in .30 Carbine during WW II in hopes of getting a government contract. VERY rare. (Can you say BIG muzzle blast?
)L frame -- Introduced in the 1980s as a beefed up K frame. The K frame .357s were just a little too light to handle a steady diet of full-bore .357 Mag. loads, so this is the result.
N frame -- The largest S&W frame, originally chambered for the .44 Spl., and .45 S&W cartridges. In 1935 it became the first home of the new .357 Magnum cartridge in the revolver later known as the Model 27. It was also the origial home of the .44 Magnum. A few were also made in .30 Carbine, during WW II. As with the K frame variant, very rare.
Now a quiz for you all...
What are the E, F, H & G frames?
------------------
Beware the man with the S&W .357 Mag.
Chances are he knows how to use it.