How long can a snubnose be?

[Sergei Mosin]

When does a revolver cease being a snubnose? How long a barrel can it have and still qualify as a snubbie?

 

[Barry the Bear]

I always felt that 3 inches and less qualified as a snub.

 

[BobWright]

So far as I know there is no legal criteria for a "snubnose." Purely an arbitrary term. In fact, "snubnose" is a fairly recent term, replacing the old terms "stubnose" "hide-out" and "sneaky Pete." All dime-novel terms from the detective novel writers.

Bob Wright

 

[WestKentucky]

In modern lingo, it's either a 2" or the shortest barrel length offered for the model. Most often used on small framed guns. Its purely arbitrary but I would not call a 3" a snub nor would I call a mountain gun a snub.

 

[X-Rap]

I'd say 2.5" would be the threshold but I wouldn't call a 3" full sized either.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Panzerschwein]

If you believe in yourself, it can be as long as you want it to be.

Just kidding. It's actually 3" and under, or less, or more, depending on who you ask.

 

[heyjoe]

to me 2.5 inches

 

[Radagast]

2.5 inches. Pocketability is my criteria. 3 inches is an IWB belt gun in my mind.

 

[silicosys4]

Depends on the size of the frame
I have an N frame with a 2 3/4" barrel that is definitely a snub nose.
Generally I agree, 3" or under.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

I have a 3" SP101 and it certainly isn't a snub whereas the 2.25" certainly is. I feel 2.5" is the point where the lower barrel length limit of simply "short barrel" belongs. "Snub" should be used for barrels too short for a round to achieve proper velocity for consistant h.p expansion. There, I gave an actual reason

 

[bannockburn]

For me a snubnose revolver would have between a 2 to 3 inch barrel.

 

[SeanSw]

Totally subjective but for me 3" is the draw. I think a full size ejector rod is the most reasonable cut off point.

 

[Blacksmoke]

"Pocketability" varies according to the era the clothing was made. For example, my great uncle carried a 4 inch barrel Police Positive in his suit trouser hip pocket in a slim holster. I guess trousers were cut fuller in the 1950s and with larger pockets. Nowadays, it is hard to get more than a Chief's Special or a Bodyguard in the pants made.

I claim under 3 inches makes a Snubby.

 

[MikeJackmin]

I say it's proportional to the frame size. A 3" J-frame is not as nearly as snub-nosed as a 3" X frame.

This one is just a quarter-inch shy of three inches. Looks pretty snubby to me:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-conten...827_01_smith_wesson_460es_x_frame_rev_640.jpg

Maybe the cutoff should be when the length of the barrel that extends from the frame exceeds the length of the cylinder. Yeah that's it.

 

[BobWright]

Blacksmoke said:

"Pocketability" varies according to the era the clothing was made. For example, my great uncle carried a 4 inch barrel Police Positive in his suit trouser hip pocket in a slim holster. I guess trousers were cut fuller in the 1950s and with larger pockets.....................

When a local sporting good emporium moved from downtown to an east Memphis location, they uncovered some old pocket holsters. These were made with a rectangular backing of very heavy stiff leather, with rounded bottom corners. The pouch was much lighter leather and more or less shaped to the revolver. On the outside of the pouch was sewn a leather tab with a button hole in it. The wearer stuffed the holster into his hip pocket and buttoned the tab to the button on the pocket of his trousers.

This, of course brings to mind an old story:

A reporter went to a small rural to town to cover a political meeting. Arriving slightly late, he saw the meeting was already over, with a few men left standing around.

"What about the rally that was supposed to be here tonight?" he asked one of the bystanders.

"Broke up early. Fellow made a motion that was out of order." one man offered.

"What kind of motion was that?" asked the reporter.

"Toward his hip pocket," was the laconic reply.


Bob Wright

 

[BobWright]

I believe the first time I ever saw/heard of a snubnosed revolver was in reading the comic strip Dick Tracey by Chester Gould. Later Jack Webb, as Sgt. Joe Friday, used the term often. This on the old radio program Dragnet.


Bob Wright

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I always thought about two inches, but The Snubnose Files lists the longest one as the Ruger SP101 with a 3 1/16" barrel.

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

I think at this point a question arises....is the monster Ruger Alaskan with a 2.5" barrel a snubnose?

 

[AZAndy]

Since I have a couple of three-inchers, I have to vote for 3". I'm self-centered like that.

 

[buck460XVR]

The definition of snubnose probably fits right in with what caliber is adequate for bear.......

 

[P5 Guy]

32 caliber or less, under two inches.
38 caliber two to two an a half inches.
44 or 45 caliber three inches.

 

[mavracer]

Small frames need to be under 3" a large frame could be 3" IMHO
IE a 3" M60 isn't but a 3" M29 is.

 

[Iggy]

Mine is a tree and a haff inch N frame. You gotta a problem wid dat Bucko?

 

[Zebraranger]

I consider the 2-3/4" Security Six a snubby.

 

[susieqz]

i thot it had to be a gun you couldn't hit anything with, so 3'' doesn't qualify