Frame Size Designations

[JV_2108]

There are a lot of frame size designations mentioned on these boards - K, L, N, X, etc. You start to get a sense after a while, but do they have specific meanings/dimensions, or are they more arbitrary? More like men's clothing sizes, or women's? :)

[Croyance]

Each are specific to the manufacturer. The ones you list are Smith and Wesson revolvers though. Each does have specific dimensions, but I sure don't remember them. Each is offered in a variety of materials, though the K-frame is (I think) only in two.

The J-frame is the compact frame that their snubbies are built on. Typically .38 Special or more recently .357 Magnum. I believe there are .22 LRs too. the first are five round revolvers.

The K and L frames are medium framed revolvers, mostly what were service revolvers. The K-frames are some of the most famous S&W. The L-frame is stronger, but the grips are interchangable. The latest models in L-frame seem to be an attempt to replicate the feel of some of the K-frames.

The N-frame used to be the largest S&W frame and the loadings offered go up to the .44 Magnum and .45 ACP. The famed 'Triple Lock' and Clint Eastwood's .44 Magnum are N-frames.

The new X-frame is a very heavy frame built to handle the .500 S&W and the .460 S&W. Just because the gun can handle it doesn't mean that every gunner can. Suprisingly fine trigger.

There used to be an I-frame, also a small, compact frame. But that has been discontinued since before I was born.

You didn't ask, but a 1911 has a 5" barrel, standard.
A Commander has a 4.25" barrel, but clones will be 4" to 4.25" with a full length grip.
The Officer's and company had a 3"-3.5" barrel with a shorter (by one round) grip.
A CCO is a combination of a Commander length slide/barrel and an Officer's grip.