bluetopper
Member
What was the longest barreled J Frame 38 Smith ever produced. Was there ever a target J frame 38 made?
Thanks.......
Thanks.......
Longest Barrel J Frame 38?
- Thread starter bluetopper
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Smithhound
US Veteran
While not a factory option (at least I've never heard of it) a few years ago the family of an old fellow came into my friends shop to sell his collection, many nice pieces and many that he had 'cobbled', to me it seemed he had mentally slipped over the years, he had mutilated a few highly collectable guns.
One that caught my eye was an older M38 humpback that he had fitted with a 6" barrel. It was truely the stupidest looking thing I'd ever seen. What he was thinking was light years beyond me.
I did get the pick of the litter out of that deal, an original near mint 25-2 that had been treated to an excellent trigger job and some other mod's, the most accurate handgun I own.
Since J frames are made to be a concealable item I can't see any sense in a target model, just defies logic.
RD
One that caught my eye was an older M38 humpback that he had fitted with a 6" barrel. It was truely the stupidest looking thing I'd ever seen. What he was thinking was light years beyond me.
I did get the pick of the litter out of that deal, an original near mint 25-2 that had been treated to an excellent trigger job and some other mod's, the most accurate handgun I own.
Since J frames are made to be a concealable item I can't see any sense in a target model, just defies logic.
RD
OP
bluetopper
Member
If my memory serves me correctly I once saw a J frame with a four inch barrel and adjustable sights?
Smithhound
US Veteran
That would be about the most 'practible' length, I believe the M50 may have come with a 4" but don't have books with me. It really doesn't make sense to have a firearm designed for concealment with a long tube.
I wish I'd have had my camera with me for the M38, the word Awkward did not do it justice.
RD
I wish I'd have had my camera with me for the M38, the word Awkward did not do it justice.
RD
Smith357
US Veteran
S&W made the Model 60 with a 5" tube.
S&W markets the M60 with 5-inch barrel, shown in previous post, as target revolver for folks with small hands. I use one as a very multi-purpose, light-weight carry revolver. Common carry load is 357 mag handload pushing 158 grain SWC at 1,200 fps and that would work fine for just about anything I will ever need it for, either at point blank range or out to at least 75 yards. It is my carry revolver on hunts were a carry revolver is allowed -- weighing only 30 oz loaded I almost totally forget it is there. Under a vest and in a holster inside waistband, it neither gets in way or rifles or shotguns or gets messed up. I CCW it on auto trips, it lays on nightstand, it rides inside backpack (where legal). I could even use it on handgun hunts where legal, if for some reason, I did not want to carry heavy 357 loads in a Ruger Blackhawk or heavy 44-40 loads in a Ruger Vaquero.
Niklas
Niklas
Alk8944
US Veteran
You specify .38, but not which cartridge. You also specified "J" Frame so that limits the time frame to post 1961. The possibilities are:
.38 Regulation Police, longest barrel 4".
.38 Special Model 36, longest barrel 3".
Yes, there are target-sighted J-Frame guns in .38 Special, a Chief's Special variant.
If you want to include .357 Magnum J-Frame guns then the options are greater. There are target-sighted Model 60 revolvers in a 3", under-lugged barrel, and the Model 60-18 which is the only J-Frame revolver other than the Model 35, a .22 cal, to have a barrel longer than 4". Another poster attached a photo of the 60-18. This is the only production I, Improved I or J-Frame S&W ever to have a barrel longer than 4 1/4" in standard production with the noted exception of the .22-.32 Target/M-35 already mentioned.
.38 Regulation Police, longest barrel 4".
.38 Special Model 36, longest barrel 3".
Yes, there are target-sighted J-Frame guns in .38 Special, a Chief's Special variant.
If you want to include .357 Magnum J-Frame guns then the options are greater. There are target-sighted Model 60 revolvers in a 3", under-lugged barrel, and the Model 60-18 which is the only J-Frame revolver other than the Model 35, a .22 cal, to have a barrel longer than 4". Another poster attached a photo of the 60-18. This is the only production I, Improved I or J-Frame S&W ever to have a barrel longer than 4 1/4" in standard production with the noted exception of the .22-.32 Target/M-35 already mentioned.
redcoat
Member
Long-barrel J-frame
I own a S&W Model 30-1, Serial No. 785XXX, with a 4" barrel, adjustable sights, and the most beautiful blued finish I've seen on a J-frame. The caliber is .32 S&W Long. The frame is a round butt, and the grips, which I'm not sure are original to the gun, are diamond magnas. While I have fairly large hands and have trouble with the small-frame magnas, my lady friend can shoot this little beauty with amazing accuracy.
I own a S&W Model 30-1, Serial No. 785XXX, with a 4" barrel, adjustable sights, and the most beautiful blued finish I've seen on a J-frame. The caliber is .32 S&W Long. The frame is a round butt, and the grips, which I'm not sure are original to the gun, are diamond magnas. While I have fairly large hands and have trouble with the small-frame magnas, my lady friend can shoot this little beauty with amazing accuracy.
Alk8944
US Veteran
Yes, they did, the .22-32 Target/Model 35. Read above posts.
Phoenix357
Member
M60 w/5"
This is my first post here and I've been trying to find out if the M60 with the 5" barrel is still in production? I was told that they made 'only so many' and are not cataloged. When I go to the SW website it appears that they do not offer the M60 in 5" anymore.
Would you or anyone know anything more about whether this revolver is still in production?
Thank you for any info. Jim
S&W made the Model 60 with a 5" tube.
This is my first post here and I've been trying to find out if the M60 with the 5" barrel is still in production? I was told that they made 'only so many' and are not cataloged. When I go to the SW website it appears that they do not offer the M60 in 5" anymore.
Would you or anyone know anything more about whether this revolver is still in production?
Thank you for any info. Jim
First, welcome to the forum.
I don't know if they are still a current item or not, but they are quite common in the local gunshops here. New too. They don't seem to sell too well here, maybe due in part to CCW being pretty common here these days, and them being too long for that use for most folks desires.
S&W recently discontinued it.
They only made "so many", because those so many didn't sell well. Which means it's probably a good one to buy.
I wish they made a 4" fixed sight J frame. They could sell at least 2 of those.
amd6547
Member
That 5" M60 is a revolver I really want...
I have a 4" J frame with fixed sights that is my usual woods gun. They make a light weight belt gun that is easy to shoot well with the slightly longer sight radius. I frames with longer barrels are fairly common as well as the police style holster rigs. I suspect that pre-WW2 many LEOs were carrying I frames and their Colt counterparts in 38 S&W as belt guns.
Chop
Member
I have a Model 60-4 and a Model 36-6 that are both 3", J frame, with adjustable sights, .38 Specials. The Model 60 is very accurate. They both balance well and are a nice size for medium hands.
Chop
Chop
Yurko
US Veteran
Smithhound:
While you may think a 6" "defies logic", for those of us with small hands the L & N frame guns are just unwieldy. Even the K frame is a bit on the big side. A J frame fits perfectly. And why should I be limited to only snubs?
What works for one doesn't necessarily work for all.
While you may think a 6" "defies logic", for those of us with small hands the L & N frame guns are just unwieldy. Even the K frame is a bit on the big side. A J frame fits perfectly. And why should I be limited to only snubs?
What works for one doesn't necessarily work for all.
daddy bear
Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2010
- Messages
- 332
- Reaction score
- 284
Have seen 6' j frame .22s. Wish I could run across the 5" 60. jack
Last edited:
Which 4" J fixed sight are you carrying?
Similar threads
- Locked
