If S&W made this "H-frame" would you buy it?

[Bob79]

I'm looking at if Smith-Wesson made an "H-frame" and I use "H" because they have had an "I" frame, and I wanted to introduce something new. Now looking at the current J-frame configuration for a 432PD, it has an aluminum alloy frame, stainless cylinder, stainless barrel insert, and weighs in at 13.5 ozs. The gun is 6.5" long, about 4.0" tall, about 1.25" wide at the cylinder, and has a 1.875" barrel.

Now my "proposed H-frame" would be chambered in 22 mag (6 shot)or 32 H&R mag (5-shot), black or silver/gray finish, enclosed hammer or "bodyguard" style only. It would be made of the same materials and set up as the above 432PD.

J-frame cylinder length...1.625
H-frame cylinder length...1.375

J-frame cylinder width...1.25
H-frame cylinder width...1.05

J-frame barrel length..1.875
H-frame barrel lenth...1.75

These changes above in dimensions seem easy enough for them to change, plus you could reduce the frame size somewhat, in the height and length. Lets say they reduce it by only 5% in terms of the frame (minus the barrel and cylinder).

This 5% reduction in the frame size coupled with the above changes in the cylinder and barrel would create the following overall size comparison:

J-frame length=6.5"
H-frame length=5.875"

J-frame height=4.0"
H-frame height=3.75"

J-frame width=1.25"
H-frame width=1.05"

Weight, if you figure a 10% reduction would make the H-frame 12oz vs 13.5oz (and if they did make one with Ti cylinder it would be about 10-10.5oz).

So, would you buy it if they sold it?

LETS SAY FOR THIS TOPIC'S PURPOSE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE LOCK, THAT WAY YOU WILL ONLY BE INFLUENCED BY THE GUN ITS SELF AND NOT S&W'S POLICIES.

 

[Brian Williams]

Yes if it was with out the lock, Yes if it was made with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel.
Sounds like the proposed NAA in 32H&R. I would want it for a woods plinker to go with a rifle I have in mind, a lightweight singleshot either based on a 410 breakopen or a Remington mod 4 chambered in 32 H&R.

 

[jdkelly]

Not with the lock!

Respectfully,

jkelly

 

[rhubarb]

Nope.

The two reasons I see for a small-framed gun are concealment of a defensive gun and for comfort for small handed folks on a range gun. I ain't got small hands and I don't consider 22 mag nor 32 mag defensive rounds.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Something like the Taurus Instant Backup (now mysteriously defunct) would be great from S&W, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. That would still be an "I" frame, rather than your "H".

I think the most exciting thing you'll see in your direction for some time is the newest from NAA. (Please, please, let them show it at the 2006 SHOT Show...) It's not DA, but that aside it sounds extremely cool. After all the certainty from naysayers that there would never be a modern breaktop, this will be sweet.

The gun is being chambered for 32H&R Magnum. I understand that there are a variety of less powerful cartridges which it will safely fire.

It is a single-action configuration, like the minis, but will sport a full trigger guard.

It is a break-top design.

With a barrel of 1 5/8", overall length is approx. 5 1/4"; different barrel lengths will doubtless be available. As a point of reference, this is approx. the same length as a 22WMR mini (with the same size barrel).

Overall height is approx. 3 5/8" allowing for at least a three finger grip. As a point of reference, this is approx. ¾" higher than a 22WMR mini.

The width of the piece is slightly greater than 1 1/8". This dimension is driven entirely by the geometry of a 5-shot configuration and the material properties of 17-4ph stainless steel. Otherwise, the frame width is approx. ½", which will be increased by the girth of the grips, likely to the 1 1/8" dimension (above).

http://www.naaminis.com/sandy120105.html

 

[Standing Wolf]

If I want a lock, I'll go to the hardware store.

 

[gunfan]

I've proposed resurrecting the "I" frame to Charter Arms.

Nick, (Charter's CEO) is seriously considering it! It should have either a 5 shot 9mm Parabellum/.380 Auto (with moon clips) cylinder. If it is in .32 H&R Magnum, it will hold 6 rounds of the ".32 caliber trio" (Mag, Long and S&W) or 9 rounds of 22 WRF Magnum/WRF. with a 2" or 3" barrel (your choice).

Massad Ayoob is going to discuss this with Nick at the SHOT show in February. We'll see what Nick has to say after that.

Sorry, S&W turned me down when I suggested the same idea to them. Oh well, it is their loss!

Scott

 

[Barrel First]

Actually, there already is an 'H' frame; it's the 'L' frame in stainless steel.


Model 586 = L-frame
Model 686 = H-frame
Model 36 = J-frame
Model 60 = E-frame
Model 29 = N-frame
Model 629 = G-frame
Model 19 = K-frame
Model 66 = F-frame

...BF

 

[Bob79]

686 is an L frame.

I just suggested calling it an "H" frame because if I said "I" frame then people would say "they already made that". I just wanted it to come across that it would be smaller than a "J" frame.

A lot of people also seem to be hung-up on the lock issue also.

A lot of confusion with this post I guess. Mod's should just delete it.