I suspect the barrel dimensions for an N part are not compatible with a K/L frame. There are several experienced S & W gunsmiths here that may confirm this.
However, there are several nice L frames with that barrel contour such as the 686 SSR.
Aside from the cosmetic issues after fitment, the existing barrel would have to be turned down and re-threaded to .540"x36tpi for a K-frame, or .562"x36tpi for the L-frame. The smaller frames (k, L) would also have a different extractor location and profile, so the shroud, as you indicated, would also need to be modified.
It would be easier and much less expensive to just buy a K or L slab sided barrel and have it fit to the frame of your choice.
one on eBay right now
We can't post direct links to active auctions here.
Any competant gunsmith should be able to custom fit the barrel to your specifications.....for a small fee, of course.
I personally would buy the slab sided barrel from Power Custom and have them do the work....they've been building PPC revolvers, and other fine custom guns for a long time.
The one thing you need to look at first is if the barrel shank is long enough to reach the cylinder face of your donor revolver. If not, then forget about using that barrel because now you are adding having the barrel turned and getting the ejector rod shortened
If it is long enough and you re-thread the barrel, there is no technological reason why this can not be done with the proper application of cash
There might be some cosmetic reasons. The chamber circle of a 8 shot N-frame is bigger in diameter than a 6 shot K-frame, so the top of the barrel may not gracefully line up with the top of the frame
As you alredy know the ejector rod area will have to be opened up.
While I seldom suggest to folks to not do their projects, I have to agree that this would probably go smoother if you just have Power Custom or Cylinder & Slide (or any of the PPC builders) install a new slab sided barrel
If the reason is to use the V-comp, they can make that happen.
BTW, there are 3" Smith & Wesson V-com barrels in existance. You might be able to trade yours, though I know that means more time
Myself, I have been thinking about the V-comp for shooting pins and recently acquired this one
![]()
I just set up a 2nd cylinder for the
revolver that is now chambered in 9x23 Winchester (and all of it's shorter brothers). The moon clips for auto loading cartridges are much thicker than those for revolver cartridges and should provide significantly faster reloads
The one thing you need to look at first is if the barrel shank is long enough to reach the cylinder face of your donor revolver. If not, then forget about using that barrel because now you are adding having the barrel set back and getting the ejector rod shortened
If it is long enough and you re-thread the barrel, there is no technological reason why this can not be done with the proper application of cash
There might be some cosmetic reasons. The chamber circle of a 8 shot N-frame is bigger in diameter than a 6 shot K-frame, so the top of the barrel may not gracefully line up with the top of the frame
As you alredy know the ejector rod area will have to be opened up.
While I seldom suggest to folks to not do their projects, I have to agree that this would probably go smoother if you just have Power Custom or Cylinder & Slide (or any of the PPC builders) install a new slab sided barrel
If the reason is to use the V-comp, they can make that happen.
BTW, there are 3" Smith & Wesson V-com barrels in existance. You might be able to trade yours, though I know that means more time
Myself, I have been thinking about the V-comp for shooting pins and recently acquired this one
![]()
I just set up a 2nd cylinder for the revolver that is now chambered in 9x23 Winchester (and all of it's shorter brothers). The moon clips for auto loading cartridges are much thicker than those for revolver cartridges and should provide significantly faster reloads
The one thing you need to look at first is if the barrel shank is long enough to reach the cylinder face of your donor revolver. If not, then forget about using that barrel because now you are adding having the barrel set back and getting the ejector rod shortened
If it is long enough and you re-thread the barrel, there is no technological reason why this can not be done with the proper application of cash
There might be some cosmetic reasons. The chamber circle of a 8 shot N-frame is bigger in diameter than a 6 shot K-frame, so the top of the barrel may not gracefully line up with the top of the frame
As you alredy know the ejector rod area will have to be opened up.
While I seldom suggest to folks to not do their projects, I have to agree that this would probably go smoother if you just have Power Custom or Cylinder & Slide (or any of the PPC builders) install a new slab sided barrel
If the reason is to use the V-comp, they can make that happen.
BTW, there are 3" Smith & Wesson V-com barrels in existance. You might be able to trade yours, though I know that means more time
Myself, I have been thinking about the V-comp for shooting pins and recently acquired this one
![]()
I just set up a 2nd cylinder for the revolver that is now chambered in 9x23 Winchester (and all of it's shorter brothers). The moon clips for auto loading cartridges are much thicker than those for revolver cartridges and should provide significantly faster reloads