Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

I don't know what different "frame" types on revolvers denote.

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

Smith & Wesson denotes their revolver frame sizes with letters.

J frame - small frame

K & L frame - medium frame

N frame - large frame

X frame - extra large frame

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/w...tegoryId=15703

hope that helps

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

Thanks a lot! It does help.

And I here I was trying to see the shapes of the frames resembling the letters they're named after.

You read things like "The new N frame absorbs recoil much more efficiently than the old J frame, so..." and I am left scratching my head! I guess an 'N' would compress pretty well......

:stupid laugh:

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

The larger the frame, the more recoil it will absorb.

Hence what you posted is correct.

BUT the caveat is, normally speaking the larger the frame, the larger the caliber it will be shooting.

For example, you won't find the S&W 500 on any frame BUT an X frame. The other frames would not be able to withstand the punishment the frame would be expected to absorb.

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

Yeah you knocked it out of the park in your original post, I understood immediately.

But before that, I was totally in the dark. Browsing the classifieds, I was left scratching my head....

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

Years ago I was shooting a friends gun that was a 44 built on a 357 frame according to him, after putting a few dozen rounds through it the gun literally shook apart in pieces.

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?
 

The S&W J frame was originally used for a 5 shot .38 special snub nosed revolver. Models 36 and 60, I think.

This was the smallest .38 revolver.

K and L frames were used for the .38 special that cops carried for many years prior to getting semi-autos. The standard side arm for uniformed officers.

Re: Can you please explain what L frame, J frame, N frame, I frame.....mean?