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

[Brian41]

It can be confusing at first but after awhile you will begin to remember the different model numbers, what frame they are and the name some models have been given. Then they throw a wrench in the works and it's a pre-model number gun with just the name given that gun.
I've been buying and trading, shooting guns for years and I still get them wrong at times and forget some of the more rare model numbers.
Good advice given here already and you will enjoy the book and learn much there too.

 

[Alpo]

Wikipedia shows some Model 1's and Model 3's. Thanks

If Wiki mentions MODEL 1s and 3s, they are wrong.

When they made their first gun, around 1860, a little 22, they called it the NUMBER 1. Later they made a bigger framed 32 they called the NUMBER 2. Still later they made a bigger framed 44 called the NUMBER 3.

Then in the 1880s they stopped with the numbers and gave them names. Sometimes the names contained numbers, but that would be the year that gun was introduced, or the caliber - not a "Model Number".

1881 Double Action
DA32
Safety Hammerless
Military and Police
Perfected
32 Hand Ejector
22/32 Kit Gun

Etcetera.

In 1957 they started to give them MODEL numbers. And, as I said earlier, the smallest MODEL number I'm aware of is the Model 10.

 

[OFT II]

It's really very simple. Take the model 61 which ought to be stainless steel but isn't. Then there's the model 357 which is a 41, the model 41 which is a 22, the model 22 which is a 45, the model 45 which is a 22...............hmmmm, I better get out of here before I go nuts.

 

[chief38]

Except that the M frame was much smaller than the I frame.

M Frames are "Dinosaurs" and they did not even enter my mind when listing S&W Frame designations - but if you are being technical technical, of course you are correct.

 

[w-30dreamin]

If Wiki mentions MODEL 1s and 3s, they are wrong.

When they made their first gun, around 1860, a little 22, they called it the NUMBER 1. Later they made a bigger framed 32 they called the NUMBER 2. Still later they made a bigger framed 44 called the NUMBER 3.

Then in the 1880s they stopped with the numbers and gave them names. Sometimes the names contained numbers, but that would be the year that gun was introduced, or the caliber - not a "Model Number".

1881 Double Action
DA32
Safety Hammerless
Military and Police
Perfected
32 Hand Ejector
22/32 Kit Gun

Etcetera.

In 1957 they started to give them MODEL numbers. And, as I said earlier, the smallest MODEL number I'm aware of is the Model 10.

Thanks for the clarification. I'll remember that up until Model 10 they were numbers.

 

[w-30dreamin]

It's really very simple. Take the model 61 which ought to be stainless steel but isn't. Then there's the model 357 which is a 41, the model 41 which is a 22, the model 22 which is a 45, the model 45 which is a 22...............hmmmm, I better get out of here before I go nuts.

I thought I had a good start toward figuring this out,thanks for the confusing curve ball

 

[w-30dreamin]

It can be confusing at first but after awhile you will begin to remember the different model numbers, what frame they are and the name some models have been given. Then they throw a wrench in the works and it's a pre-model number gun with just the name given that gun.
I've been buying and trading, shooting guns for years and I still get them wrong at times and forget some of the more rare model numbers.
Good advice given here already and you will enjoy the book and learn much there too.

I'm sure I'll be the same way,after years still making mistakes,there is alot of info to take in.
Your right,great info given here and I'm sure I will enjoy having the book to make reference to.
thanks

 

[zzzippper]

I've understood that since I got my standard catalog. What I can't figure out what dimension is measured. Is it the trigger pull length? The length of the fraqme not counting the barrel? The length of the frame just behind the trigger guard?

A very easy way to remember is just like alphabetical order.

I J K L N X starts with the small frame and gets larger.

 

[rwsmith]

I use this a lot

Another page for you to consider.

Smith & Wesson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pete

The first place I start is looking is on this Wikipedia page that gives frames and model numbers and you can follow a link to the main article. Very handy indeed.