Posted on 05/24/2005 11:09:16 AM PDT by Jack Black
Among the many excellent handguns available perhaps none is so beloved by so many as the classic Smith & Wesson N-Frame.
The N-Frame is the biggest traditional frame size available in a Smith & Wesson handgun. It dates back to early in the last century when it was offered as a military and police pistol in various guises, including the legendary Triple Lock. Originally offered in .38 Special and other old-school calibers it began its rise to flagship and icon with the introduction of the .357 magnum. One can argue, did the calibers make the gun or did the gun make the calibers? Following on the great and popular .357 - THE standard police caliber for much of the 20th Century - the ever popular .44 special was "magumized" and turned into the legendary .44 Mag. Filling the percieved gap between these two the .41 Mag was introduced and quickly became a cult favorite that some feel is the "just right" size for the N-Frame. The older but still popular .45 Colt and .45 ACP have continued to be chambered in the N-Frame as well.
Aside from being chambered in a variety of the most popular and very powerful handgun rounds generally available the N-Frames have achieved their popularity in part because of the wide variety of configurations they have been offered in. Major variations include he square and round-butt frames, blued and stainless finishes and barrel lengths of staggering variety. These include 2.5", 3", 3.5", 4", 5", 6", 6.5", 7.5", 8.3" and 10", with the four and six inchers being the most popular.
Recent years have seen some innovations and deletions in the product line. All N's are now round butt, but square butt grip styles are still available. Blued guns have mostly disapeared, although the occassional special edition will still feature Smith's beautiful bluing. Rubber ergo grips predominate.
Perhaps the most controversial feature is the inclusion of an intergal lock behind the cylinder release. Many old time users dislike the presence of this rather unnecessary feature, somewhat forced on S&W by a combination of bad laws, Clinton-era threats and ever increasing litigation threats from land shark lawyers everywhere.
The N frame has moved from ubiquitous police side arm to being more often owned by civilians. It remains a perennial favorite of hunters as backup, and the choice of a surprising number of individual citizens for both open and concealed carry.
The N-frame lost it's position as the biggest and baddest handgun a while ago. Smith finally bowed to the inevitable and introduced the super-jumbo sized X frame and the awesome .500 magnum.
But the N-frame remains what it has been since it's introduction. A supurb, large but not bulky, handgun, built to excellent standards of fit and finish and chambering a variety of useful and powerful cartridges. As long as a need for such a gun exists the big N-frame will no doubt continue to find favor.
The standard of standards: 6" N-Frame .44 Mag model 629.
50 years of the Smith & Wesson .44 Mag.: it's hard to believe, but the gun that started it all is no more
Guns Magazine, Feb, 2005 by John Taffin
Works for me. Nicely done!
Lately, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ).
Howdy Jack!
I'm picking up a 4" Nickel Model 27-2 this afternoon. It joins another 27-2, several Model 25's, a 29, a 57, a .38/44HD, a Highway Patrolman, a 625JM, a 1917, and a 3rd Model HE 1926 in .44 Special.
I think that's all, but I can't remember...:)
Yea, guns always cheer me up.
What fillibuster ?:o)
Just went plinking last Thursday with my grandfathers old N frame 38 snub revolver that has a square butt. It's a big old beast compared to the little J frames, that I have and HEAVY vs the 340 scandium widgets. Dropped in some light wadcutter target loads and at about 15 feet it made a nice "almost" one hole group (lousy shooter threw one) on the paper plate I was using for a target. Very smooth and alledgedly it has a flat spring vs a coil spring that makes it one very smooth double action little gun that can be adjusted for a very "light trigger pull" and still have reliable hits on the primers ....... I think it's an older M10, it has the additional screw at the front of the trigger guard where it meets the bottom part of the frame....., very goo condition, in a S.D. Meyers holster to boot .......:o)
So there was a fillibuster eh ?
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Short%20Look%20at%20Snubs.htm
That's it I'm buying stock in Ron Peterson Inc !
The pre-war Smiths had the incredible "long action" that particularly in the K and N frames were beyond smooth. They do use a flat spring, and the screw on the front of the grip frame is the "strain screw" and you can change the pull by messing with it (or filing it down a bit), but go to far and you'll have FTF's. (Don't ask me how I know this.)
Found a 1958 Mod 27 8 3/8th at the old J. Bland to boot.
Gun's Gifts and Gadgets is out of business !?!?? Awwwww....what about the gun room on central ? Is that still up an running ?
GG&G is now Precision Arms (new owner). The Gun Room has been gone quite some time, unless I'm thinking of something else.
I make her some nice custom loads and she can shoot it all day long without any discomfort.
I do have a large supply of .44 spcl brass around and even loaded to the max they are pussycats out of that big stainless steel N-frame.
I do love an early gun porn thread, and what's this I hear about a filibuster?
Oh, the pubbies caved again? yawn....
L
Yep..........no suprises from the polidiot pond today or tomorrow I suspect.
I have a few 44 mags and specials and as I get up to fish in Alaska every year I used to carry my 12 gauge slung across my back while fishing. When I got tired of that rig I went to a Bowen Ruger Bisley in 500 Linebaugh. That was a beast and reasoning aside I decided to go with a revolver using the garrett hammer heads in 310 or 330 gr flavors. Well the S&W's cylinder is too short and Mr Garrett warns against using his pills in the S&W anyway so I went with a plain old inox 5.5 inch Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag and stuff it with the Garrett 44 mag 330gr hardcasts.
I'm looking at the belt mountain solid 330's for it also. Here in the lower 48 I carry a 329PD that Bowen modified the sights on for me...stuffed with hornaday factory 240gr HP's. I got a better sight for my needs than the hiViz thingie that comes on em.
Still I am one S&W 696 and Charter Arms Bulldog Pug fan for the 44 special. I use a the CCI blazer GDHP 200 gr for that.....sweet , very accurate and a favorite plinker.
I have my eye on a new redhawk in the .454 Casull w/ a few custom features as I can stuff it with 45 colt for lower 48 or "light plinking" and when the pucker factor is high and I'm low on the food chain I'll make sure it is packed with the 454's.........it's a plan. !
A buddy of mine gave me a whole 5 gallon bucket full of mixed .44 brass a couple of years back. I got about 600 mags and 500 or so spcls out of it, so I load 'em both.
I like both the Speer and the Hornady 200 grainers for the spcl. For the mag I go with the 240 grainer Speer Gold Dots. I've been using Bullseye for so long I can just about set up the press in my sleep, but I picked up a few pounds of Unique when a local gun shop closed up so once I run out of Bullseye I'm going to try that.
The same buddy and I split a thousand lot of 7.62 LC brass. I top that one with the Sierra 168 grain BTHP match over 42 grains of Reloader 12. It's wicked accurate out of my NM M1A., although my buddy swears by Accurate powder for his.
That reminds me, I need to clean up some .45 brass, I think I'm down to my last thousand or so rounds!
L
I have put 14K full house rounds through my Redhawk over the period of 23 years. I keep track 'cause I load my own. Can any S&W surpass the 200 round mark (magnum loads) with out stretching?
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/images/M329SW.jpg
This ain't mine but is a clone of what was done to my 329PD. I't a very good , lite, easy to carry CHL rig with a IWB Kramer thumbreak stuffed with the 44 specials 200gr Gold Dot Hollow Points.
That load yer using for the M1A sounds very close to the older Federal Match load. I have a case of those stashed away for use with my TRW / M1A. Scary accuracy.
Working up a dream rifle, or two or six........two current projects are a 375 H&H and the other is a 6.5x55......ideas ?
Well yes I think Smiths can do many more than 200 rds without any damage. I don't think they are as robust as the Redhawk though. That thing is a beast. It just doesn't have the feel of the Smith though.
I've enjoyed the .44 Special for some time. When I was with the ECSO back in the late 70's I carried a 4" 29 with warm .44 Spc. Today I carry a 3" S&W 396 in a Ken Null SMZ holster. It feels like you're not carrying anything. Only use 200 gr Gold Dot Blazer in it. Sent it back to the factory because the shroud loosened up, hope that isn't going to be something I have to do on a regular basis.
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