Been studying model numbers for years and still don't understand.
That's why I keep my Smith & Wesson Standard Catalog within reach.
That's why I keep my Smith & Wesson Standard Catalog within reach.
S&W names....slap my forehead..
- Thread starter rwsmith
- Start date
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha......
Sorry I couldn't type but I had tears in my eyes. They've attempted to get some consistency in name, but poorly executed. In third gen semi autos their code actually made sense telling caliber, type of mag, action , frame size and material...
Generally any gun starting with a 6 is a stainless steel version of a carbon steel gun, but please don't hold me to any of this
5 can be a carbon steel anything, usually
ex. My 686 is a stainless version of a steel 586
My 5904, the 4 means the frame is alloy, but then the slide is stainless?
MOST newer J frame revolvers, if they start with a 6, they are stainless.
If all this doesn't make sense before you buy anything, look it up to see what you are getting because you sure can't tell from the model number.
Let me see, you borrow the 6 from the 5906 and add it to the 42 to make it stainless, then carry the 9 and....Uhh, wait maybe you subtract the 6 from a 4566.. Ah, forget it. I'll just shoot them.
Old Corp
Member
I've often wondered if there was, long ago, a smoky meeting room at S&W where daily or weekly meetings occurred and product names were bounced around. Did the person with the name that was decided on get anything?
Supposedly there's a actual story on how 'Highway Patrolman' was selected, but I don't recall it.
There's a few I'm sure more than me wish we could've seen....I mean how neat it would be to have a M658, a M618, and more recently, an M&P Auto in 10mm?
Supposedly there's a actual story on how 'Highway Patrolman' was selected, but I don't recall it.
There's a few I'm sure more than me wish we could've seen....I mean how neat it would be to have a M658, a M618, and more recently, an M&P Auto in 10mm?
Bill Bates
Member
Some of my favorite are the:
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
and the .22, .32 and .38 Masterpiece
.357 Magnum
.44 Magnum
and the .22, .32 and .38 Masterpiece
OP
I believe that is understatement......
Have you ever seen a really nice limo that you can't even tell what kind of car it is? I saw one that was a greyish green, very understated. I THINK that it was carrying some wrestling stars downtown for a match from the airport.
S&W may be that way.... Not a name, a number. No Bobcats or Talons or any vicious animal. No fighter jet names. Not even nature name like Adirondack, Sonoran. or patriotic names like 'Liberty' or 'Patriot'. It kind of gives the impression that it is 'serious business' rather than a showpiece.
Have you ever seen a really nice limo that you can't even tell what kind of car it is? I saw one that was a greyish green, very understated. I THINK that it was carrying some wrestling stars downtown for a match from the airport.
S&W may be that way.... Not a name, a number. No Bobcats or Talons or any vicious animal. No fighter jet names. Not even nature name like Adirondack, Sonoran. or patriotic names like 'Liberty' or 'Patriot'. It kind of gives the impression that it is 'serious business' rather than a showpiece.
nicky4968
Member
The government was involved. They said firearms couldn't have just a name, they had to have a model number.
The K frames were numbered 1-, beginning with model 10, the M&P in .38 Special.
The N frames were numbered 2-, beginning with the model 20, the .38-44 Heavy Duty, with non-adjustable sights.
That much made sense.
The J frames got 3- numbering.
In the J frames you also had the 38, 49, 42, and 40. Gosharooni.
Then the Chief's Special came out in stainless and was given the designation of model 60.
The 6- became the nomenclature for stainless pistols.
The model 22 is in .45 caliber.
The model 45 is in .22 caliber.
Then they went to 3 and 4 numbers.
As I said, the government was involved, so it just is a mess now.
BTW, the first Smith was the model 1, a pocket pistol.
The 2 was a belt pistol.
The 3 was a "horse" pistol (you needed to put it on your saddle).
Then there was a pistol in between 2 and 3, called the 2 1/2. Smith gave up numbering in the 19th Century.
(All this history comes out of the fuzzy part of my brain. I am often sore 'tafused on the Smith numbering system, but I think I am at least 45% right).
The K frames were numbered 1-, beginning with model 10, the M&P in .38 Special.
The N frames were numbered 2-, beginning with the model 20, the .38-44 Heavy Duty, with non-adjustable sights.
That much made sense.
The J frames got 3- numbering.
In the J frames you also had the 38, 49, 42, and 40. Gosharooni.
Then the Chief's Special came out in stainless and was given the designation of model 60.
The 6- became the nomenclature for stainless pistols.
The model 22 is in .45 caliber.
The model 45 is in .22 caliber.
Then they went to 3 and 4 numbers.
As I said, the government was involved, so it just is a mess now.
BTW, the first Smith was the model 1, a pocket pistol.
The 2 was a belt pistol.
The 3 was a "horse" pistol (you needed to put it on your saddle).
Then there was a pistol in between 2 and 3, called the 2 1/2. Smith gave up numbering in the 19th Century.
(All this history comes out of the fuzzy part of my brain. I am often sore 'tafused on the Smith numbering system, but I think I am at least 45% right).
Last edited:
mrchuck
Member
Model 37 was named "Airweight" because it was made of a lightweight metal.
I give you that to a point. At some point after the great years with model numbers, though, the marketing departments of the various owners since have gone a bit nutso!
If folks just "love" the 50th anniversary of the RM, then I apologize in advance for saying it's simply a glitzy gimmick and not at all attractive. To commemorate the RM I should have thought a true special order "registered" revolver would have been appropriate. There have been other "commemorative" pieces I view through similar glasses: a bit too much gold and certificate, and a bit too little great gun.
The epitome of marketing in place of serious business, though, is the Emergency Survival Tool Kits, both in 460 and 500. Oh, and 44 mag, too, so they can continue to glom onto that icon.
So as not to slam everything modern I carry a 640 Pro and believe it to be "serious business."
Shift gears...
Why isn't the 610 a stainless 38 M&P? Why isn't there a 613? 614? 615? 619? I can't keep up.
... and today's "Victory"? Blasphemy!
Cheers,
Bob
Qc Pistolero
Member
Why they went to numbers instead of evocative names?Easy!Fashion.
At some point in marketting history,the companies feel like they ought to create something different to attract customers.They invent trends.In the '60's or so,the trend was to numbers.Looked cool in a conversation to say''hey guys,look at my new model 797;looks great hey?!''Was trendy.
But as far as I'm concerned,a Highway Patrolman will always pop an image of a policeman riding a cruise car or Harley with that 4'' .357 Mag hanging from his hip,cruising along that road showing that the law had to be respected and somebody was there to make sure it was.No numbered piece of iron props up such an image in my brains!Maybe I'm just too old fashioned.
Qc
At some point in marketting history,the companies feel like they ought to create something different to attract customers.They invent trends.In the '60's or so,the trend was to numbers.Looked cool in a conversation to say''hey guys,look at my new model 797;looks great hey?!''Was trendy.
But as far as I'm concerned,a Highway Patrolman will always pop an image of a policeman riding a cruise car or Harley with that 4'' .357 Mag hanging from his hip,cruising along that road showing that the law had to be respected and somebody was there to make sure it was.No numbered piece of iron props up such an image in my brains!Maybe I'm just too old fashioned.
Qc
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