SMITH AND WESSON FRAME SIZES

[williamlayton]

Now this may seem to be an ignorant question but, it has me a little confused.
I am a friend of Smith @ Wesson so I am not picking at them.
I understand the frame size thingy from a caliber and weight need but some of the frame sizes do not seem too fit into this criteria.
Can someone distinguish, for me, the different sizes and the reasons for them.
I will elaborate if necessary but I am confused.
Blessings

[Graybeard]

From smallest to largest they are: J, K, L, N, X.

Once upon a long time ago I think there was an I  which was kinda J size as well but it's long since gone.

The J is what the original rimfire and .32s were made on and it then got expanded use in .38s and now even in .357 magnum. It's small and designed for easy concealment.

The K is the next step up and was designed to be a lighter and easier to carry gun for cops than the original .357 magnums on the larger and heavier N frame as it was too big for the hands of some folks and a real burden on the hip.

The L came along later when sustained use of heavy hot .357 magnum loads began to take a toll on the K frame guns. It's intended to be not much more bulky or heavy yet is stronger and more able to take sustained use of hot loads.

The N is the original .357 Magnum size and was what had been used for the .44 special and .45s prior to the introduction of the .357 magnum and was what the first .44 magnums were built on.

The newest is the X made necessary when S&W wanted to outdo the rest with the .500 and .460 S&W magnums.

[drdougrx]

HO GB,

O was colt (the DS).

[Graybeard]

Ya know Doug I think you're right. I think the one I was thinking of was an I not an O. I'm going on memory and for a fellow with CRS that's not good.  But S&W definitely did have a small one now discontinued.

[drdougrx]

I have a soft spot for the DS even though I don't own one....I'ma .380 guy.  The only sw j frame I own is a fancy engraved texas hold'm edition m36 and a 4" , square butt kit giun w adj sights.  Very sweet!!!

[Mikey]

I think the 'I' and the 'O' frames are Colt designations.  I believe the 'I' frame is/was the small to medium frame revolver like the Detective Special, and the 'O' frame I believe is the 1911.  Mieky.

[Graybeard]

That's a D frame in Colt I think Mikey.

[drdougrx]

This wouldn't be so confusing if Colt would just become an American company again and make guns the way they should be made.  Fools.....can you tell I'm a little POd at Colt. Idiots...ok...I'm thru....jerks....ooops....slipped...

[williamlayton]

Thanx boys.
This did confirm--for me--that others support this confusion called CRS.
You answers did put a bit of conclusion on my thoughts--irregardless of the questions of who and what frame designation.
Thanx &
Blessings

[SHOOTALL]

I once had an I frame S&W it was the 32 cal .

[Graybeard]

I think part of the confusion over the I frame is that BOTH S&W and Colt used that designation. S&W used it for a small frame and Colt for a large one.

[superdown]

I have what may be an obvious question . what is a kit gun i know their generally small and that some come in 22lr and 32h&r ? what is the kit part of them ? thanks ,Justin

[SHOOTALL]

hunters and fishermen carried a kit and a small gun was often included , thus, S&W coined the kit gun

[superdown]

thanks for the info,that's petty cool . Justin