the ABC's of revolver sizing...

[PT1911]

so, the process of distinguishing revolver sizes with letters is just confusing to me.. I am hoping for some responses that will

One- break them down into what is what
two- explain any reasoning for this strange naming system
three- give other opinions regarding this subject...

 

[Hoxviii]

I don't know the premise behind the nomenclature, but here's what S&W has had:

I frame: tiny gun, .32, hasn't been made in quite a while.

J frame: Current smallest offering, (ie model 442)

K Frame: Medium frame revolver, (model 19)

L frame: Hybrid heavy/medium frame. Heavy frame with medium frame grip (686)

M frame: 7 shot .22- original Lady Smith concept, hasn't been made in 80 years or so

N frame: Original large frame revolver. .44 spec originally, then .38/44 which evolved into the original .357 and the "registered magnums" (27, 29)

X frame: Extra large frame with medium frame grip (.500 S&W magnum, .480, .460, etc)

No real rhyme or reason to the naming. Just something that you pick up from messing around with them.


Then colt had their own lettering system, which doesn't jive with the S&W system at all.

 

[Dimis]

with S&W just remember the further down the alphabet the bigger it gets
thingster explained the rest

 

[schmidtundveßon]

Here's more detailed list:

C: Experimental small 6-shot .38 frame (never produced)
E: Stainless steel version of J-frame
F: Stainless steel version of K-frame
G: Stainless steel version of N-Frame
H: Stainless steel version of L-Frame
I: Small frame
Improved-I: Slightly beefed up I frame
J: Small frame (5 shot .38)
J-Magnum: Beefed up J-frame for .357 Magnum
K: Medium frame (6 shot .38)
L: Medium Magnum frame (6 shot .357 Magnum)
M: .22 Ladysmith circa 1900
N: Large frame (6 shot .44 Magnum)
X: eXtremely large frame (.500 Magnum)

 

[PT1911]

wow.. that is extremely confusing.. hopefully I will become smooth enough in revolver speak to allow frame sizes to roll off my tongue without giving them a second though.... I somehow doubt it though.. what ever happened to small, medium, and large? LOL