identifying frame and designation question

[victorcharlie]

Pardon my ingorance, but how can I tell a K frame from an L frame from a N frame.  Or, how can I tell by looking which is which?  I've looked at Smith's web page but still have to cross reference model numbers to frame designations and I'd like to be able to tell by looking.  Any tips?

[John Traveler]

S&W started their long and distinguised side-swing out cylinder revolver line just over  a century ago with the design finalized as the "military and police" model in .38 special caliber or the K frame size as we know it today.  It was the basis for the S&W models 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 64, 65, 66, and 67 models in blued steel, stainless, and aluminum alloy.  Variants exist in .22 LR and .32, and 9mm  calibers.

The N frame got started as the "new century" model which became the .44 frame size, and is noted for it's thicker, beefier cylinder and frame dimensions compared to the K frame.  It formed the basis for various models including M1917, M20, M21, M24, M25, M27, M28, M29, M57, and thir variants in blued and stainless steels.  The cylinder and frame proportions are distinctly larger than the K frame in both standard (.38, .357, .41,.44, and .45) and magnum calibers.

The L frame started with the 486, 586, and 686 series in .357 caliber.  Beefier than K frame, but sharing the trigger and grip sizes with K frame.

I guess what it comes down to is familiarity with seeing enough of these guns to spot the frame/cylinder proportions, and identifying details of the barrel, sights, and grips.

HTH
John

[Dee]

Open the cylinder, and right at the hinge in side the yoke it is stamped there. Model # and frame size. Frame size will sometimes be in the form of a serial #, but will have a J. K. L, N, or some of the newer ones in the number. They have been doing this ever since I can remember. I'm 56.

[Hammerdown]

Hello
In Early 1980 S&W introduced the model 586. This was considered an L frame configuration, as the front of the frame where the barrel screws into was a little longer than the Previous smaller K-frames, making it more durable for magnum cartridges, and in appearence more steel was used in this area which made them appear larger than the smaller K-frames.The 586 was the first-L-frame made in this frame size and later the 681 and 686 joined in stainless finish.The introduction of the L-frames was S&W's last effort to attract sales to Police daily carry weapons that weighed less thanthe Larger-N-frame revolver's but had more durability to handle the Magnum recoil at repeated frequency. Sadly the Bottom feeders were quickly catching on do to more fire power, and the L-frame was not widely accepted by most Police agencies .Like a previous Poster stated swing open the cylinder and check the crane area for model numbers. They were the following for-L-frames. 581-586-681-686. The 581 and 586 were available in Blued steel and Nickel finishes. The 681 and 686 were stainless steel finishes. They often have full under lug barrels but should not be confused with some smaller K-frame models that has this full under lug as well. Regrads,Here is an early L-frame 586 with a 4" barrel and a later dash one series with the special order Champion front adjustable sight with a 6" Barrel. Regards,  Hammerdown