Why was the L frame discontinued?

[Zaydok Allen]

I was under the impression that the N grip frame was a bit bigger than an L. But what do I know.

Ah, and I see that is correct. That's what is kind of funny to me. I believe the X. Frame guns have the same grip frame size as the Ks also, don't they? It looks a little funny when you remove the grip on an X frame.

 

[1911Tuner]

I was under the impression that the N grip frame was a bit bigger than an L. But what do I know.

It is.

The K grip frame size was in such demand, that Smith even whittled it down on a few of their N-Frame round butt guns...notably the discontinued .44 Magnum Mountain model.
It made the big .44 easier to handle, but recoil with their old Magna stocks was brutal.

 

[wgp]

I used to have a Smith that was one of the Lew Horton special production runs, and if memory serves it was a 3" .41 mag that married the 6-round N frame to an L frame round-butt grip. It was stainless but I can't recall the model number. It hurt to shoot it and I sold it, probably a mistake in hindsight. I bought a used 696 several years ago and don't mind losing one round to reduce the overall bulk of the gun. They must be a bit rare, the one I have is the last one I've seen for sale.