The title is somewhat self explanatory. If Smith started making new 6-shot .38 Spl, or even .357 Magnum, small framed short barreled revolvers, would you buy one? Let's say something as similar as possible to a 442 and/or 642, but with a 6 shot cylinder. And, yes the frame would have to be stretched as necessary to support this.

Yes, but it would have to be a 32 to fit six shots with a j-frame, or a something closer in size to an alloy k-frame.

I'd buy either.

I would definitely buy one. Not sure if it's even possible, but if not then S&W should introduce a frame size between a J and K to make it work.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Not in .38, in .22 it works fine. It would put the cylinder lock over a chamber & making it bigger would just result in a K frame that already exists.

S & W tried to go the small frame, 6-round .38 Special direction (perhaps because of the Detective Special?) with the C frame. About 5000 were made but nearly all destroyed (perhaps a few dozen exist today).

If you were SWCA members, you may have been able to handle one at a past annual gathering.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I voted yes because I do have a 6 shot J frame. And it's not a .22

But it is not a .38 either

No way they can cram a 6 shot .38 spl cylinder into a J frame.

And even if they did. I would not buy one.

So I guess my answer to your(real) question is no.

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Expect the unexpected

It even works in the I Frame

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"Acta non verba"

When I find a .32 H&R 'right', I'll grab it. As to your question, send Kimber an email that you'd like to see their K6 in an ALLOY .38 format. I did.

Now there us a piece if Smith history i did not know. Thanks for bringing it up.

I'd have to see what they came up with but I'd probably buy one.

Kimber kind of did what you are saying with the K6. Bigger than a J but smaller than a K. Six shots.

Its a nice gun but ugly. I own one and like it but am a Smith guy at my core.

Why can Taurus make a 6 shot light frame 38+p (856 UL) and S&W can’t?
That also goes for the Colt Cobra 6 shot 38+p revolver. Sold my 642 and 360j and got both. Shame on S&W.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve owned 16 S&W guns over the last 50 years and enjoyed them all. Just Sayen.

Be SAFE and Shoot Often!

Of course I would. Why not?

No.
Because I have no use for one or the desire to own one.
I have 3 - 5-shot J-frames and I'm happy with two of them.
I've never shot the third one.

I just bought an M&P 45 Shield M2.0 so if I feel the need to carry more than 5 shots I'll carry this one. .

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Kenny
Endeavor to persevere.

I would buy a 6 shot on a 442 frame, in 32 Long. OK, maybe 32 H&R "Mag"!

Best,
Rick

Yes, I would buy a six shot J frame. I have been wanting a model 632 for quite some time. Only have seen one. I think 327 federal magnum would be a great self defense round. Plus having a extra shot would be nice.

Buy a six shot J frame? Yep, I already bought three of 'em, here's one...

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Rossi too - their model 461 is a 6-shot 357 that is pretty much the size of a Colt Detective Special.

If Colt, Taurus, and Rossi can all do it, why not S&W?

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Here is my 6 shot J frame. A 431PD in 32 H&R Mag.

Pretty much equivalent to 38 sp+P

Below it is a picture of my 242TI. It's a 7 shot 38 Special. But it's an L frame so bigger than a J frame. But with a Titanium Cylinder in an Aluminum frame, it's no heavier (19 oz).

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	431pd carry.jpg (53.4 KB, 2491 views)
	242-ahrends.jpg (152.7 KB, 2508 views)

I have a 6 shot J frame..
In 32 S&W Long.
M30-1

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

I'd certainly be in the market for one, though I assume it would have to be a little bit larger. Something Kimber K6s sized isn't bad at all. Or at the very least they could offer new short-barreled K-frames with fixed sights again.

Absolutely!
There are examples out there that work quite well. Taurus model 856, Rossi 461/462, and of course, the Colt Detective Special and related models are in that size class. Yep, they aren't exactly like a J-frame - I had a D-Special in the late 70s, an 856 the first time Taurus brought them out several years ago, and currently have a 462, a dam nice little gun, by the way, and they are a little bigger. I don't see that as a problem, however.
I realize S&W tried the C-frame Model 73 and it didn't work due to the placement of the cylinder stop and notch. I'm kind of surprised that they built it the way they did with an offset that they didn't use on any other frame. Interesting, though, that the Rossi design internals are essentially cloned from S&W, and they made the 6-shot revolver work, putting the notch where S&W "should" have placed it.
{If anyone has some history behind the C-frame design, I for one would love to read about it.}
Since I buy guns these days because I want to and not because of any other reason, I would certainly grab a J (or C) size S&W 6-shooter.

I didn't have all of that history but I answered yes just because I would - if S&W can''t make a 6 shot J frame then they can call it something else if necessary but it would definitely get my attention.

This is a very old Colt Cobra - to me it feels like a 6 shot J frame - and yes, I know it's weird with Hogue stocks but they're way better than the original Colt stocks and I have happily carried this gun with these Hogues on there - but it's not a pocket gun set up this way:

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Come and take it!!

Don't see how you could get 6 .38 Spl. rounds in a conventional sized J Frame. In order to do that you would have to make the cylinder a larger diameter and that in turn would hurt its concealability.

You could do it with smaller caliber rounds but that would hurt effectiveness of the revolver's stopping power.

No way S&W can make a 6 shot 38 with a frame diameter cylinder. Now a 6 shot alloy 327 Federal J frame would be nice. I just don't want to pay the prices that the few that do exist command.

I don't think that the 327 gives up much to the 38 special.

You could put 5 shots around the circumference and 1 more down the middle. Would need some design changes... and a second barrel.

For carry I wouldn't buy anything bigger than my 638.
I would love to have a 2 inch J frame 22 with adjustable sights, but not for the price they want. I have a 4 inch and love it.

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The 431PD and 432PD make excellent carry pieces, and a 32 H&R Mag with a 100 gr XTP at over 1000 FPS doesn't give up anything to a 38 Special.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

While I was searching for my 640Pro, I ran across a 632Pro. Passed on it as I was not looking for another caliber to load.
Given the chance again, I won't hesitate.
Maybe someone out there that did not miss the chance will show us theirs & opine upon it's virtues???

The .327 Federal pushes a 115 grain HP at nearly 1300 fps out of a short barrel which is about all the recoil most could handle in an airweight J-frame and the 6 shot would be nice. You can also shoot .32 H&R Mag, .32 long, .32 short, and I believe even .32 acp out of it but with .38 ammo being much cheaper and readily available the idea never really took off. I don't reload and am done with buying guns that take expensive, hard to get ammo.

I have an older 649, and I enjoy shooting it. I carry it when I don't want to leave brass on the ground. I don't see a need for one extra round.

6 rounds of 38 won't fit in a J, ever. You can't get around physical limitations. Taurus, Kimber, Colt...they are a larger frame opening and cylinder, that's why they can fit 6. S&W would have to build another all new frame size between the J and K, or bring back one of the discontinued frames. The question is, is there enough of a market for a whole new series in between the J and K to warrant the costs...in reality probably not. Not for one more round. The J can fit in a pocket, once you go larger than that and have to carry on your waist, going to a K isn't a big deal.

I've been thinking about .327 magnum for a while, but would stick with a snubby .38 Spcl +P, if S&W made a 6-shot j frame in that caliber. I'd have to see how well it was engineered and survived reliability and wear testing before I'd actually lay down money for one, however. With peak gun sales, I'd think many gun manufacturers are looking for competitive ideas to capture a growing market.

I think Colt had that covered since around 1926 with the Detective Special. Not much larger than a J-frame, but with six up in .38 special. This is the one I own, manufactured in May, 1959.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

What he said - I carry my 432 in the summer, and a 3" 31 RB with a fitted 32 Magnum cylinder when it's a little cooler. The 432 weighs 13.5 empty, and 15.5 loaded - tough to beat.

I own 3 S&W .32s and a Colt Agent 38. I like them all. With standard velocity 38, the Agent is a great carry piece. I don't recommend +P.

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SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

Under the conditions that you set, no. I do have a six-shot J-frame, and I am quite fond of it, but it is in 32 S&W Long

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Let's be careful out there

Yes in 327

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-Matt

Kimber makes one K6S 357 magnum. Side by side next to my 442 it’s almost the same size.

S&W could make one. It would be different. They
could just name the Frame different.

S&W won't of course, they don't even listen to us
on the "Wish List" Threads, to bring back easy to
Manufacture Revolvers, such as the Mountain Gun
for example.

I like my Model 637 38Spl. If I can't hit something
with 5 shots there's something wrong.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Nope. Absolutely no interest in a J-frame size six shot .38. As mentioned, physical size limits would require a larger frame and cylinder. So S&W would simply be making a Detective Special. I already have one of those.

I voted "Yes", but I lied. Let me explain...

Like so many others here, I would love to see S&W come out with a 6-shot 2" J-frame snub revolver in .38 Spl... but we all know that's been tried and it's not possible. So the next best thing would be a 6-shot 2" J-frame in .32 caliber with multiple modern round options... sort of a Model 30-1 brought back to life (including stainless and lightweight versions of course). That would be sweet!

But would I buy it? That's a whole 'nother question with two competing sides.

On the one hand, I've vowed never to buy another brand new S&W revolver ever again. For me, 100% older used pre-IL/pre-MIM S&W revolvers and all-metal semi-autos is the way to go.

On the other hand, the good wife has been asking more and more about carrying. She has been fully licensed to carry for many years, but has never felt the pressing need until recently.

What would be the perfect starter carry gun for her? In my mind, a lightweight .32 caliber revolver would be ideal.

There ya go.

Tauris is advertising a 6-shot, .38 SPL +P 2" revolver in the new issue of American Rifleman but it's difficult to judge the frame size.

Why are so many people stuck on the size?
Did y'all forget that the J-frame was stretched to fit the .357 round? Reinforced it, too.
And re-contoured to fit a lock.
The same principle applies to stretch it some more to add another round. It ain't that hard.

I already own one.

Yup you ca stretch it more and fit another 38 round. But,only if you stretch it enough that it becomes a K frame.

Get a set of calibers and check it out.

Some manufactures make a near J frame 6 shot J frame diameter cylinder. But their chambers are farther towards the center. S&W can not move their chambers towards the center without reducing the size of the ratchet, which means moving the hand inward, which means making the trigger and hammer narrower. It also means moving the barrel down in the frame and redesigning the yoke to clearance the lowered barrel in the frame. Simple HUH?

PS it also means a heavier double action trigger pull because the ratchet is actually a gear so it takes more leverage. Just like on a bike when the rear gear is smaller it is harder to petal than when it is larger.

I have a six shot J Frame Model 31-1 in 32 S&W Long that's accurate and fun to shoot. I don't think that I'd carry it for anything but sport, but my chronographed 115 grain cast bullets are on the heels of the 32 H&R Magnum while staying within max load data in the major manuals.

I guess if I needed a sixth shot, I'd just carry this Model 10 no dash.

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	S&W Mod 10 2 Inch.jpg (167.3 KB, 78 views)

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Keep your powder dry.

Okay, I think the way I phrased the question caused some confusion. What I'm talking about is a 6-shot .38 snub nosed revolver in as small a form factor as possible.

I don't know exactly how Smith technically specifies it's frame size, and if the cylinder aperture is fixed for a given letter named frame class, but I was talking about stretching a j-frame to fit a 6 shot cylinder. If this fits the description of a C-frame, that's what I'm talking about. They haven't done this almost 50 years, so maybe it's time for another shot.

YUP...

Me too!

I'd probably buy one, because the K6s doesn't fit my hand quite right, while S&Ws do.

Not sure I wonder then If the Cylinder would have to be bigger and be a little heavier in 38 special. Would it be harder for pocket carry in 38spl with bigger cylinder. A Taurus and colt D frame seem to be a some what bigger but the D frame I always felt it was between J and k. I wonder how they would hold up with timing issues IF there would be any going to the extra shot in 38 special. I no 686 7 shots I think are ok but it’s a totally different working of internals and frame. I do have 351 c that was Tuned by Teddy Jacobson it is pretty sweet but the cylinder smaller because of a 22 Magnum. I guess for a belt gun the bigger or the extra shot as they say would be pretty cool but pocket carry not sure that’s in 38 spl Like opening a can of worms I guess.