JamesArthur60
US Veteran
What's the significance behind lettering S&W revolvers, i.e., J, K L or X? I have a hard time remembering what my 686 is...I think it's an L frame.
Why "letter" revolvers?
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JamesArthur60
US Veteran
What's the significance behind lettering S&W revolvers, i.e., J, K L or X? I have a hard time remembering what my 686 is...I think it's an L frame.
Collectors put a lot of stock in the letters. Personally I don't care but I am a shooter and not a collector. I don't buy collector grade guns. I also don't care about date of manufacture. We are all different I guess. I have never researched a gun.
BlackSky
Member
It's simply a code system for different frame sizes. If you tell me the revolver is a J frame then I know it's a sub-compact size. A K frame means mid sized and an X means gigantic. K and L are similar with L having some dimensions the same and some dimensions slightly larger believe.
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Easy way to identify the frame size. Helps to identify proper replacement parts, grips, holster sizes, speedloader sizes, etc. There are probably other reasons, but those are what immediately come to mind.
deanodog - thanks for posting first
I had the same Brain fart that you did!
I had the same Brain fart that you did!
diamonback68
US Veteran
Without the letter designations what would you call them?
Let's see, Extra-Large, Large, Medium-Large, Medium, Small, can you imagine the confusion in the factory trying to keep up with that? "Was that a 100 Medium-Large or a 100 Medium and 100 Large guns boss?".
Let's see, Extra-Large, Large, Medium-Large, Medium, Small, can you imagine the confusion in the factory trying to keep up with that? "Was that a 100 Medium-Large or a 100 Medium and 100 Large guns boss?".
mm6mm6
Member
The VIN on the old Camaro with the hot engine had the combination letter/number code of Z28. It got to be so popular that Chevy just named the Camaro model the Z28.
Chris K
Member
As already noted, the significance of the letter is for frame size. This is not unique to S&W revolvers, as Colt uses letters too (but not the same letters as S&W). The most common are the J,K,L,and N----but there was actually an I size many decades ago (smaller yet than the J) and of course now the monster X frame for the .500 magnum. Did I leave any out??
Its also useful to know what frame size your revolver is when you go shopping for holsters, as many manufacturers make a generic holster sized to the frame + the barrel length----that is especially true of the cordura and other synthetic holsters----not so much the molded leather.
If my memory serves me right, the L frame designation came in when there was such an uproar about flame cutting (maybe mid-80's??) to the K frame .357s because of the heavy use of 125 grain bullets. I think the L frame is a heavier frame, cylinder, and barrel mounted on a K frame grip. S&W intent was to create a frame size between K and the big N frame .357s that would be easier to carry, fit the hand of the increasing number of female patrol officers, and would withstand heavy range use. Again, I am prone to frequent brain farts but that is what I remember from almost 25 years ago.
Its also useful to know what frame size your revolver is when you go shopping for holsters, as many manufacturers make a generic holster sized to the frame + the barrel length----that is especially true of the cordura and other synthetic holsters----not so much the molded leather.
If my memory serves me right, the L frame designation came in when there was such an uproar about flame cutting (maybe mid-80's??) to the K frame .357s because of the heavy use of 125 grain bullets. I think the L frame is a heavier frame, cylinder, and barrel mounted on a K frame grip. S&W intent was to create a frame size between K and the big N frame .357s that would be easier to carry, fit the hand of the increasing number of female patrol officers, and would withstand heavy range use. Again, I am prone to frequent brain farts but that is what I remember from almost 25 years ago.
Chris K
Member
P.S.-----yes, your 686 is an L frame. Another feature of the L's is the heavy full length underlug barrel.
Chris K
Member
zpartan------L frame, the 686 is an L frame.
29aholic
Member
Colt did the same thing with their guns. A Model P is the Colt SAA, and I believe a 1911 is an O-Frame. Dont remember the rest.
IIRC this was also done for 68 per standardization for ATF
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