Handgun frames?

[Carl]

I'm new when it comes to handguns themselves. I've heard a lot of talk about frames being called certain letters and I'm not really sure what they mean. Do they represent the size of the frame or a certain style perhaps? L, K, J frames, etc...

 

[Oyeboten]

Yes...with Smith & Wesson, Letter designations for Revolver Frame Models indicate the relative size of the Frame.

J Frames, are smaller than K Frames...K Frames are smaller than N Frames...


J Frame Revolvers are five Shot, .38 and smaller Calibre...K and N, six shot...with the K having been limited to .38 Calibre and no larger, if sometimes smaller...and the N, .38 Calibre, and up.


That's a rough outline anyway...

 

[rcmodel]

S & W

I frame = Slightly smaller predecessor to the more modern J frame.
J frame = 5-shot .38 special, .357, and .32's, with some in .22 LR.
K frame is the most common S&W, the old-standby Model 10 M&P, Model 19 Combat Magnum, etc..
L frame is fairly new (1980s) and is a heavier size for .357 guns that are shot a lot with heavy loads, also a .44 special.
M frame = Tiny size used only for the 7 shot .22 Ladysmith revolver of the early 20th century.
N frame is the big .44 special, .44 mag, .45 Colt,.45 ACP and the big frame .357.
X frame .460 S&W mag, .500 S&W mag.

Colt:
P frame = Single Action Army (cowboy gun)
G, K, and Q = various models of the .22 LR in SAA style
F frame = Black-powder guns (they call all of the guns an F frame even though there are some size differences)
D Frame = Detective Special
E Frame = Officer's Model Match, Official Police and Trooper (original version) Firing pin in hammer.
I Frame (Python) = Same size as E, except firing pin in frame.
J Frame = Official Police Mk III, Trooper Mk III and V, King Cobra, various variants of these.
O Frame = 1911 Automatic
S Frame = Colt Woodsman .22 Auto (and various match grade versions of same)

rc

 

[Babarsac]

rcmodel,

Is there a breakdown for any of the Rossi revolvers?

 

[WardenWolf]

Unfortunately, S&W's standardization system also prevents innovation or fixes for badly flawed grips. It locks them into a ranking system of standardized grip designs.

 

[rcmodel]

Is there a breakdown for any of the Rossi revolvers?

Not that I know of.

The early Rossi's were built on old worn-out S&W machinery and they did correspond to the J & K frame sizes. It's anyones guess now though.

It locks them into a ranking system of standardized grip designs.

And that's a good thing!
Imagine how difficult it would be to make or buy after-market or factory grips if there were no standard frame sizes at all?

rc

 

[WardenWolf]

Rcmodel, I feel you missed my point. Colt uses a non-sequential method of designating its frames. If they came out with a new or improved frame, they can call it whatever they want. S&W, on the other hand, has everything ranked based on size. See the problem? There's no way to come out with an intermediate size because its designation has already been taken, and no way to modify or improve an existing version because there's nowhere in the rank table to put it. They'd have to start a brand new ranking system for it.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, they haven't used a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, or y frame sizes yet.

rc

 

[MMCSRET]

The "L" frame came out after the "K" and "N" frame designations and they stuck it in, so they can put it any where they want and call it what they want. There is not a requirement for obvious logic.

 

[Brian Williams]

and the X frame and the L frame have K frame sized grips.