need a little "learning" what is - - - -?

[Five-O]

Hi all. Newbie here (but I'm an oldie in years) I would like to know what is a "J" and "K" frame? And what is a square butt?
Thanks, hope these are not dumb questions, after all, I was a cop when wheel guns were department issue, but either we didn't talk about frames or can't remember. lol
Eddie

 

[Drail]

J frame is the smallest frame size currently produced by S&W. K frame is a medium size, for .38 Spl. and some other calibers. L frame is a beefed up K frame for use with .357 use. N frame is the large frame generally in .41, .44 Spl and Magnum, and .45 Colt and ACP. Square butt has a flat square bottom on the grips. Round butt has a generous radius on the bottom. You need one of each.

 

[rcmodel]

J = Small 5-shot .32 / .38 Special like a Chiefs Special, or your .32 Hand ejector.

K = Larger 6-shot .38 Special like a Model 10 police duty weapon or .357 Model 19, 65 or 66.

Round vs Square butt?
See the sticky right above your question.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=356710

rc

 

[sidheshooter]

You need one of each.

The man knows how to give advice...

 

[Five-O]

rcmodel said:
J = Small 5-shot .32 / .38 Special like a Chiefs Special, or your .32 Hand ejector.
K = Larger 6-shot .38 Special like a Model 10 police duty weapon or .357 Model 19, 65 or 66.

Great! Ok, so my off-duty Chiefs Special AirWeight that I still have has a J frame. My then service revolver, a .38 Model 10 had a K frame. Good to know.
Now, do these classifications pertain only to S&W handguns?

Thanks all for the quickie lesson
Eddie

 

[rcmodel]

Yes. S&W only.

Other companies use different frame designation letters, or none at all.

Colt for instance used letters like D, E, O, P, etc. after WWII.

rc

 

[sidheshooter]

That said, folks will often use, say, K-frame like "band-aid" (in a generic sense) to refer to similar sizes from other marques-particularly Taurus.

For example, I have a Rossi .44 special that I consider "K-framed", even though that is exclusively S&W's designation.

BTW, that chief was/is the definitive J frame and that old 10 would just have to be the prototypical/definitive K frame example, IMHO.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A picture is worth a Thousand words:

 

[Five-O]

rc, I forgot to thank you for that link you provided. What a wealth of information! It's a keeper for me.
Thanks!
Eddie

 

[BCRider]

Erm.... N frames also came in the .357 sizes as well. Namely the Model 27 and the Model 28 Highway Patrolman.

Five-O, I feel for you. I've almost worn out my fingers google'ing for "smith wesson model ##" umpteen times per week whenever I see or read about yet another gun that sets me off.