Quote:
Originally Posted by zzsdx2
How do you tell an I frame from a J frame -- I have a early cheif, small trigger guard, flat latch, ser 85## trying to know as much about it as I can?
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I frames are for the 22/32, .32 and 38 S&W cartridge and have the shorter cylinder/frame window used before the war up until 1961 when they were also made on the 1/8" longer J frame.
The difference: Chiefs Specials are for the 38 Special and are J frames with longer cylinder and frame window 1st made in 1950. Early Chief's Special J frames, 1950 thru about 1952 were called Baby J frames by collectors because they had the smaller trigger guard and 1/8" shorter grip frame which was the same size as the I Frames of the period. About 1953, all J and I frames were updated with the current and more familiar larger, egg shaped trigger guard and longer rd butt grip frame and current style square butt.