Random thought. I,J,K,L....N......X frames. Ok I sort of get the jump to X frame as those are sort of the monster guns so to speak and the big jump signifies this, but why the jump from L to N frame?

Inquiring minds want to know.

....I won’t speak of those Z frame abominations...I say good day to you sir.

I think that S&W M frames are obsolete .32 cal small frame revolvers marketed as "Ladysmith" (though the Ladysmith name has been used for numerous products other than the 32 M frame revolver). These revolvers were dropped by S&W sometime before WWII. It had a standard round butt before most S&W models were offered with it.

So similar to the I frame. Small frame, small caliber obsolete designation? I’d just never heard of it.

There was also a “C” frame. Unbelievably rare. 6 shot .38 to compete with Colts Detective Special.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik..._%26_Wesson_Model_73

https://gunvalues.gundigest.co...sson/12480/model-73/

Well I learned something today. Never even heard of an I-frame before!

My grandfather had an I frame Smith. He gave it to a cousin who was a cop. Decades later, my dad asked his cousin if he'd sell it "back" to him, but he refused.

Cute little revolver. I think it was a .32, but I am not certain.

M frame was the Ladysmith, a tiny little .22 Long (Not Long Rifle.) revolver.
Allegedly discontinued when Mr Wesson found out it sold well to Ladies of Commercial Virtue.
More likely because it is fragile. A lot of them out there with cracked forcing cones from smokeless LRs.

I learned a couple things today. Thanks all.

M frame and C frame. Interesting stuff.

Thanks all
Chris

I have one I-frame. It's a .22/.32 Hand Ejector, also known as a .22/.32 Heavy Frame Target. They were also called a .22/.32 Bekeart, after Philip Bekeart.

Bekeart was a big S&W dealer in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and he came up with the idea to build a .22lr target revolver on the .32 caliber frame. The gun was designed with longer target extension grips for a larger and more comfortable feel in the hand. These guns also had an adjustable rear target sight, and a target front sight.

In 1911, he contracted with S&W to build just over 1,000 of these guns. They became very popular and S&W introduced them in 1915 as a regular cataloged model.

This one shipped on January 26, 1929 to the Chapin - Owen Company in Rochester, NY.

There was no jump from L to N frame. The N frame came out LONG before the L frame.

Well, there's a conceptual gap, anyway. I'm just trying to figure out what the danged thing would be chambered for. 10mm, maybe? Some sort of elongated .40S&W, either with or without a rim?

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
There was no jump from L to N frame. The N frame came out LONG before the L frame.

Yep. I was just curious why the “bank of letters” had been used seemingly was missing M.

They didn't miss M, it was one of the first. Why they jumped around, who knows.

blindref, nice revolver! I don't think I could lay it down on a rock. Thanks for posting.

Was going to post that my S&W is an M36, but its a J frame, not an M...

Here is my 1950 "I" frame .32 S&W Long. This gun was unfired when I found it a couple of years ago (not true now).



Trooper Joe

Don’t think I mentioned it but both the Smiths in this thread are GORGEOUS.