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S & W frame question....
Old hickory
Member Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭✭✭
Is the Smith and Wesson model 13 revolver on the N frame or the K frame?? Thanks in advance....
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Is the Smith and Wesson model 13 revolver on the N frame or the K frame?? Thanks in advance....
As the above two said, K Frame.
If the number started with "2" as in Model 24, 27, 28, 29 it is an N-frame.
This is a general formula that usually works.
For future reference, if the number started with "1" as in Model 10, 13, 15, 17, 19 etc. the gun is a K-frame.
If the number started with "2" as in Model 24, 27, 28, 29 it is an N-frame.
This is a general formula that usually works.
The Smith and Wesson naming convention you mention actually works 100% of the time. Admittedly some of these particularly numbered models are either scarce or are more commonly known by a name other than the two digit one, but:
Smith models 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 and 19 are all K frame.
Smith models 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28, and 29 are all N frame.
The "problem" is that there are a bunch of K and N frame guns of more recent manufacture that don't follow this naming convention. IE, Smith has made more than 20 different types of K/N revolvers since it came out with the two digit naming system!
The guns starting with the digit "6" are all stainless, and many of the N-frame and other models use analogous numbers. For example, the 624, 627, and 629 are stainless versions of the N frame models 24, 27 and 29, respectively. The 617, 650, and 651 are stainless versions of the K frame models 17, 50, and 51. The 639 is a stainless model 39 (9mm auto), etc.
But this doesn't always apply. For example, the model 610 isn't a stainless model 10 (that would be the model 64), its a stainless revolver in 10mm!
If you aren't sure, its pretty simple to look it up. In general, if you're familiar with Smith guns, its pretty easy to determine what the frame is just by looking at the gun. Smith only makes five frame sizes:
J, small frame; used in 5-shot .38 snubnose and other small revolvers. Most popular for concealed carry.
K, medium frame; typically used in .38/357 revolvers, but also .22, etc. Historically this was the standard military/police revolver for many many years.
L, medium-large frame; used in slightly beefier .357 revolvers. Shares grips with K frame.
N, large frame; most commonly magnum revolvers, eg 357, .41, 44 magnum.
X, super large frame; for "super magnum" eg .460SW magnum, .500 magnum. Also shares grips with K frame.