It has come to my attention that Brownells no longer has L or N frame taps.

I have
N frame tap and die and K frame tap and die
I also have a .500-36 or 1/2x36 tap and dies for J frames
and a .5625-36 (9/16-36) for L frames

You can order fairly inexpensive .500-36 taps and dies (1/2-36) on Ebay for use in J frames

You can also get fairly inexpensive 9/16-36 or .5625-36 taps and dies on Ebay for use in .562 L frame.

I made a .670-36 die from a piece of 1/2 A2 tool steel. I drilled it and tapped it with my Brownell's tap then, made 4 reliefs in it, split one side and installed an adjustment screw. Ran the tap back in it then hardened it in my HT oven. I also made a tap by turning piece of W1 tool steel to .670, tapered the tip a bit then ran a Brownell's die over it, then used a ball end mill to put some reliefs in it, machined a 3/4 square head on it and used my digital heat treating oven to hardened and tempered it. Both work to chase threads. I don't know how well they would cut new threads, but they should.

I will loan out the home built set if someone needs them. They are currently on way to a member now though.

A K frame Die is now a $120 at Brownells. The tap is now $72

I could would make a set to loan out if someone wants or needs to chase threads

I will no longer loan out my factory taps and dies until they become available again. Sorry

4Drental does rent out a both K and N frame taps, But not dies

They also rent out a barrel shoulder cutter for setting back barrels as well as forcing cone cutters

Big thread diameters - barrel to frame?

Yes, Major diameter on barrel shanks

N frame .670. L .562, K .540 and J&I are .500 and all of them are 36 to the inch

These are all for the one piece barrels
L frames with 2 piece barrels which are different at .638-36

I also have measured an X frame, but don't know if I have it written down anywhere.

Interestingly enough, Newer Colt Pythons also use the .562-36.
Identified by having one pin holding front sight, older Pythons had 2 pins holding front sight and used .5634-32

In theory a newer Python barrel should thread into a L frame. I have re threaded 2 of them to .540-36 and stuck them on K frames

Well that cost me $200.....I ordered the K frame set from Brownells because I know I have projects coming up. Thank you for the heads up!

Man, has Brownells been sold, or is this the classic case of the 3rd generation just ruining a great company by doing what they learned in business school?

I've been dealing with them since the 80s, and in the last 8-10 years I haven't been quite so happy. They sell lots of retail accessories that you could buy from Cabelas, and all the latest tacticool, but it seems they rather resentfully keep the more popular gunsmith supplies tucked away on the website (though usually out of stock) and are slowly dropping some of the more obscure (but still necessary) items, these taps being an example.

One could always have some N frame tap and dies made up by a custom die making company and resell them. I imagine that Midway did that at some point and has run out. I sent in a request for 20 taps and dies for N frames, to check cost

If your stuck you can and only want to chase threads I will lend you the home built set. Or you can rent the tap from 4d, then tap a piece of annealed tool steel and harden it to make a die

I got a response

12 or more .670-36 for N frames
Dies $127.40 each
Taps $66.00 each

1 tap $300, 1 die $256

If you're thinking of putting together a group buy, I would be in for an N-frame tap and die set....1 of each.

I am thinking that is there is enough interest, when I start a good money job in Feb I should order 12 of each. That would be about $2300. The tap s for $66 apiece is better than what Brownells sold them for, but the die is kind of high. I might put out a few more feelers

I would be in for an "N" frame set of one each tap and die

Ok so I send my deposit to Who? Im in.

__________________
"I'm feeling MUCH better now"

I have some more request for quotes out. If I do this, I will spring for the cost, then resell without a profit to guys here. Karma is a good thing. If someone else wants to do it , go for it. I will provide all the info I have. I already have dies for everything but, X frame and L frames with liners

After talking with some one who just finished using my homemade N fram3 tap and die set, I ordered 2 pieces of A2 round stock. Some 5/8" which I will make turn to .670 and thread with my N frame tap, the put some reliefs cuts in and square heads on before I harden it in my HT oven. The other piece is 1 1/4" round and I will drill and tap it to .670, put some reliefs in and harden.

They will certainly work to clean up frame and barrel threads.

I don't know about cutting brand new threads. When I make a barrel I usual turn to dia. Make a pass or 2 cutting threads on the lathe, then chase them with a tap. I used my home built one that way to make the barrel for my 45 revolving carbine and it worked fine.