Specification of Grip / Butt of Certain S&W N Frame Revolvers

[LRS1951]

In attempting to answer the question of a buddy, I had hoped to get some info from this group.

First... are any of the N frame Hand Ejector models built with the rounded butt on the grip handle?

Second... are any of the S&W M1917 Army models (including the Brazilian Contract models) built with the rounded butt on the grip handle?

Third... are any of the N frame Model 28 Highway Patrolmen revolvers built with the rounded butt on the grip handle?

My friend has - at one time or the other - owned at least 2 of each one of these (plus has examined over a dozen more of each) and claims that everyone he owned/observed was strictly the Square Butt design and doesn't believe that any of THESE models were ever built in the Round Butt design.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

Well they're not common but round butt N frames have left the works at times. Here's a "Lew Horton Special" 624 that I bought new in the mid-80's.



3-inch barrel, adjustable sight and Goncalo Alves wood. I found and had fitted a 4 inch tube a while back and this revolver currently wears a round-to-square Monogrip that makes it much more comfortable to shoot.

A blue 3" round Model 24 was also briefly available. Ooh ooh...

 

[LRS1951]

Well they're not common but round butt N frames have left the works at times. Here's a "Lew Horton Special" 624 that I bought new in the mid-80's.

View attachment 781883

3-inch barrel, adjustable sight, and Goncalo Alves wood. I found and had fitted a 4-inch tube a while back and this revolver currently wears a round-to-square Monogrip that makes it much more comfortable to shoot.

A blue 3" round Model 24 was also briefly available.

Thanks for the info.

I too was aware of some of the more modern (post 1960s) S&W N-Frames having the round butt design (though admittedly. not that many); but in his specific question (if one closely looks), all of the models that he talks about (other than late manufacture Model 28s) are much earlier design N-Frames.

BTW, very nice revolver. I am of the other persuasion. I find the round butt grips more comfortable to shoot and a better fit for my hands.

 

[Jonesy814]

I don't think the 1917s and model 28s were ever produced with round butt frames. Some may have been later modified but they didn't leave the factory that way. Traditionally in the modern generation of revolvers ( roughly 1957- now) guns with a 3.5 inch barrel or longer had a square butt and those shorter had a round butt. There are exceptions like a snub nosed model 10 can be found both ways.
I would say your friend is absolutely correct about the particular models you mentioned. The original 357 N frame was only done with a square butt too. Now practically every revolver S&W makes is a round butt except a few in the classics line.

 

[WC145]

N frames didn't get factory round butt grip frames until the 1980s, any you see prior to that were the work of aftermarket gunsmithing. It was the popularity of the custom round butt N frame snubbies that were built by shops like the John Jovino Gun Shop and Mag-na-port and 'smiths like Austin Behlert, and distributors like Lew Horton that saw recognized the market potential that pushed S&W into building factory large frame round butt snubbies.


No 1917s or M28s left the factory with round butt grip frames.

 

[LRS1951]

Yes, I too agreed with these facts and observations. I myself was also unaware of any (early) N Frames that were round butt design. I was only posing the question as I could not give him a definitive answer. I have a Second Model Hand Ejector (N Frame 44 caliber), three S&W M1917 Army Revolver (N Frame 45ACP / 45AR) and a model 28 highway patrolman (N Frame .357 Magnum Highway Patrolman - 4" Bbl, manufactured in 1972). ALL of these are the square butt design.

While I personally agreed with his observations and experiences, I could not say with 100% certainty that there were NO models (of those specifically mentioned) that came out of the factory with the round butt design.

I believe that question has assuredly now been answered and can be put to rest.