Understanding S&W revolvers? frame types and model #'s ?

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w-30dreamin

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I posted this in the lounge as there are 3 different revolver areas and I didn't know where a question like this would fit in.
Since I've been a member here at the S&W Forum I have taken an interest in learning more about S&W revolvers. I have done alot of reading and am still confused.

Are there any good websites with pictures that show and hopefully explain all the different frame types and model #'s for revolvers?

I see so many frame types and model #'s it seems so confusing. J,K,L,N frames. Model #'s with single,double and tripe digits then a dash and one or two more digits.

Any help in furthering my revolver education is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Walter
 
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Try this:

Google "Smith and Wesson 586" press enter and select the Wikipedia website and read the story on the 586. Then just continue to modify your search criteria and see just how much into there really is out there.
 
Try this page - it can be helpful on S&W plus others.

Modern Firearms - Handguns

Scroll down the page past all the SA handguns - almost to the bottom on the left side - you will see S&W revolvers starting with J frames and continuing from there.


Pete
 
Last edited:
I like to read and study subjects that interest me. I probably spend too much time doing it. S&W revolvers are one of those areas. While I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as most here, I've learned a lot over the last few years.

If you see or hear an item mentioned that interests you, Google it. The internet is certainly full of foolishness, but it is also a great resource for information. As mentioned, the Smith & Wesson guide is also a great item to have. This site is the best source to just browse, read and learn.

Look at used guns at shops; the markings, numbers, engineering changes, features.

It is a very interesting hobby. The more you learn, the more you want to know. Learning only costs time. Wait until you start wanting to acquire specific models that attract your eye.
 
You are probably going to have to wait for your Standard Catalogue to arrive to get all your questions answered. You did order one, right? Amazon is your friend. But here is a minor start.

Any model number starting with a 6 is going to be stainless steel. Models 10-19 are blue K frames (medium) and blue and are all 38 special or 357. Oh, except for the Model 17 and 18 which are 22. Any number in the 20s is N frame (large) and also blue. They often have a corollary, as in a 29 (blue) or 629 (stainless). These are mostly larger calibers like 41, 44 special or 44 magnum, 45 ACP or Colt. Just to make it interesting, a lot of the blue guns also come in nickel. The J frame is smaller than a K. Lots of these are in the 30s or 40s model numbers and sometimes have the stainless (or aluminum) equivalent. The L frame is slightly larger than the K and built to handle the 357 more effectively. Examples are the 581, 586, 681, 686. There are many exceptions. Come to think of it, I probably shouldn't have started this answer, because I start thinking of more and more ... Did I mention SCSW? It comes with pictures :) Get me out of trouble before someone starts pointing out my mistakes!
 
Last edited:
w-30dreamin said:
I posted this in the lounge as there are 3 different revolver areas and I didn't know where a question like this would fit in.
Since I've been a member here at the S&W Forum I have taken an interest in learning more about S&W revolvers. I have done alot of reading and am still confused.

Are there any good websites with pictures that show and hopefully explain all the different frame types and model #'s for revolvers?

I see so many frame types and model #'s it seems so confusing. J,K,L,N frames. Model #'s with single,double and tripe digits then a dash and one or two more digits.

Any help in furthering my revolver education is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Walter
Click to expand...

On Youtube Hickcock45 has an excellent video on frame size.

 
Do y'all consider "Models" and "Numbers" to be the same?

In the original post he mentions that there are "single digit model numbers". Not that I'm aware of. Smallest Model Number I can think of is a Model 10.

There were, howsomever, NUMBER 1s, NUMBER 2s and NUMBER 3s.

But they were NUMBERS - not MODELS.

Does that make sense to anyone else, or has daylight-savings-time change-over rotted my brain?
 
diamonback68 said:
No website that I know of. You need to get a copy of the Standard Catalog of Smith&Wesson 3rd edition, it explains it all.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advice. I ordered a copy from ebay this morning.Shipped to my door for $33.47.
Can't wait for it to arrive.
 
cougar14 said:
Google "Smith and Wesson 586" press enter and select the Wikipedia website and read the story on the 586. Then just continue to modify your search criteria and see just how much into there really is out there.
Click to expand...

Great advice,thanks,lots of info there but wikipedia did leave me with questions.
 
Last edited:
coleslaw said:
I like to read and study subjects that interest me. I probably spend too much time doing it. S&W revolvers are one of those areas. While I'm certainly not as knowledgeable as most here, I've learned a lot over the last few years.

If you see or hear an item mentioned that interests you, Google it. The internet is certainly full of foolishness, but it is also a great resource for information. As mentioned, the Smith & Wesson guide is also a great item to have. This site is the best source to just browse, read and learn.

Look at used guns at shops; the markings, numbers, engineering changes, features.

It is a very interesting hobby. The more you learn, the more you want to know. Learning only costs time. Wait until you start wanting to acquire specific models that attract your eye.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comment,the internet is a great resource but sometimes it seems as if the info you seek is to spread out in different sites. The Standard Catalog of S & W should have most of the info I need to learn all in one spot.
Acquiring the models that catch my eye will be the expensive part.
 
Peak53 said:
You are probably going to have to wait for your Standard Catalogue to arrive to get all your questions answered. You did order one, right? Amazon is your friend. But here is a minor start.

Any model number starting with a 6 is going to be stainless steel. Models 10-19 are blue K frames (medium) and blue and are all 38 special or 357. Oh, except for the Model 17 and 18 which are 22. Any number in the 20s is N frame (large) and also blue. They often have a corollary, as in a 29 (blue) or 629 (stainless). These are mostly larger calibers like 41, 44 special or 44 magnum, 45 ACP or Colt. Just to make it interesting, a lot of the blue guns also come in nickel. The J frame is smaller than a K. Lots of these are in the 30s or 40s model numbers and sometimes have the stainless (or aluminum) equivalent. The L frame is slightly larger than the K and built to handle the 357 more effectively. Examples are the 581, 586, 681, 686. There are many exceptions. Come to think of it, I probably shouldn't have started this answer, because I start thinking of more and more ... Did I mention SCSW? It comes with pictures :) Get me out of trouble before someone starts pointing out my mistakes!
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing with the minor start here. Gets me pointed in the right direction for sure.
I did order the Standard Catalog of S & W. Found it on Amazon and was able to browse some pages,found it very informative,I learned stuff already. Went to ebay and found it cheaper.
 
Alpo said:
Do y'all consider "Models" and "Numbers" to be the same?

In the original post he mentions that there are "single digit model numbers". Not that I'm aware of. Smallest Model Number I can think of is a Model 10.

There were, howsomever, NUMBER 1s, NUMBER 2s and NUMBER 3s.

But they were NUMBERS - not MODELS.

Does that make sense to anyone else, or has daylight-savings-time change-over rotted my brain?
Click to expand...

Wikipedia shows some Model 1's and Model 3's. Thanks
 
Thanks to all for helping and contributing to this thread.

It's time for a morning shower and off to the range for some range time. Will check in later today.

:)
 
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