Please explain revolver frame classes

[learnedmonkey]

I've noticed that revolver discussion often involves the kind of frame the revolver is, like j-frame, k-frame, etc. I figure this has to do with categories of size and shape and other physical details, but some googling hasn't yielded into any information about what makes one a j-frame and what makes another one something else. Could somebody clue me in please? Thanks much!

 

[ChristopherG]

J is little (like pocket-gun little).

K is medium (like the revolver the security guy at the plant carries).

L is a little bigger in some dimensions than K, though the same in grip dimensions (cause cops shooting 357s shot their Ks loose)

N is big (like Dirty Harry's 44 mag)

One caliber can come in more than one frame size (such as .38/.357, which comes in all four). If you look at the descriptions on S&Ws web site, they call them 'small (j), medium (k,l), and large (n). There's now one extra-large, which is an X (the .500 S&W); there used to be an even littler 'i-frame', but the j replaced it.

 

[jar]

As above, these are the modern S&W frame designations.

Colt's designations are even more confusing since they often sold a particular model with sever different frame designations. Over time, the design and demensions of several frame sizes changed. That means that now you need to know if it's a New or Old D frame Colt. For example, IIRC, the Detective Special was made on three different frames over the years.

 

[Majic]

The same also applies to S&W as there is a J-frame and a magnum J-frame.
Dan Wessons have a small frame, a large frame, and a supermag frame.
The various companies have their own terminology so you have to know which company you are dealing with to know what to call their various frame sizes. Generically small, medium, and large will suffice.

 

[Lord Grey Boots]

Note that with S&W's frames:

J frame will hold 5 .357 rounds
K frame will hold 6 .357 rounds
L frame will hold 7 .357 rounds
N frame will hold 8 .357 rounds.

 

[Henry Bowman]

So . . . what happened to M?

 

[learnedmonkey]

Many thanks all! Since my first priority once I find work and get my student loan payments stable is a revolver, this is quite helpful.

 

[rde]

Thanks for the question and the responses. Was seriously wondering about this myself since I have absolutely zero experience with revolvers. Just autoloaders. J frame sounds like a consideration I need to make. (now that I know)

 

[JohnK]

Note that with S&W's frames:

J frame will hold 5 .357 rounds
K frame will hold 6 .357 rounds
L frame will hold 7 .357 rounds
N frame will hold 8 .357 rounds.

And the X frame is the biggest of them all and holds 5 rounds.

 

[M58]

Some of the Letters are used only at the factory before the gun gets it #.
Also the stainless guns have an in factory letter.
Give up yet??!

 

[Majic]

To muddy the water further,
The L-frame holds either 6 or 7 rounds of .357 depending on model.
The N-frame holds either 6 or 8 rounds of .357 depending on model.

M58
The E, F, H, and G will really confuse them.

Henry Bowman,
The M-frame never made it to the modern numbered series. Those little .22's died out as pre-war guns when the .22's were added to the HE frames.

 

[RWK]

Over three years ago, I posted a very similar inquiry on TFL. This thread -- http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=7781&highlight=M+Frame -- provides very comprehensive answers from experts such as Mike Irwin and C R Sam, including "what happened to the M Frame?".

Regards.

 

[BluesBear]

We did this recently http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41362

There was a S&W M frame. It was the short lived .22 frame.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"It was the short lived .22 frame."

Which command collector interest, and prices, far out of proportion to their status as line production guns.

 

[Nightcrawler]

And the X frame is the biggest of them all and holds 5 rounds.

Five rounds of .500S&W Magnum. I wonder how many .357 chambers you could fit in there? 10 maybe? Hee hee.

 

[BluesBear]

I want a Custom 4" X-frame in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. 15 shot?

 

[Gewehr98]

BluesBear, that would be *almost* perfect.

But it needs one more thing. Either Magna-Porting, or a muzzle compensator.

 

[BluesBear]

Here's a pic of the elusive S&W M-frame.

 

[Jim March]

No, here's what you do with the X-Frame:

Set it up in 22Magnum. With three barrels . And three concentric circles of cylinder bores with three (selectable) firing pins.

Get it yet? About 15 shots in the outer circle, maybe 11ish the next inwards, 7 or 8 (?) in the inner.

AT LEAST 30 shots total. Betcha more is possible.

Oh ya. HELL ya. "Magazine? It don't got a magazine, ossifer!"

 

[BluesBear]

Jim,
Are you referring to something like the one Oleg used?



Of course yours has an extra barrel.

 

[Tropical Z]

Id like to see A drawing of each of theses frames laying on top of the next biggest size.Anybody have one?