I apologize that this list is not all inclusive. I am posting it because of a few requests. People purchase a revolver and it has a model number, which can be found if you swing the cylinder open and then look at the portion of the frame just below the barrel, the link that holds the cylinder covers this area when the cylinder is in place. The number is stamped on the frame and often has a dash and another digit behind the model number. The problem is that Smith & Wesson has a lot of model numbers – which is why I quit updating this list some time ago, as I became completely tired of looking up yet another series of digits that someone at Smith & Wesson dreamed up.

Older revolvers were also named, so I have listed those for reference.

When looking for a holster, though, the holsters are most often listed by frame size. As one lady asked me, “Ok, I have a 642, what’s that?” Smith & Wesson used to list frame sizes and I think they went back to it in the latest catalog. Meanwhile, if you know the model number and barrel length, you can then use the frame size and barrel length to get a holster that will fit.

In the small frame revolvers, some have shrouded hammers or are hammerless (there’s a hammer but it’s completely inside the frame). Note if you have one of these as some holsters have straps to secure the gun and the strap won’t always work with these models.

If you happen to be purchasing grips, they are also listed by frame size with one exception. The X-frame uses L-frame grips. For grips, you also need to know if your gun has a squared-off grip frame or a rounded grip frame. Place the bottom of the grip on a table and look at the metal frame (may need to take the grips off to see it) right at the bottom, farthest away from the barrel. If it slopes down and curves as it meets the bottom horizontal part of the frame, that’s round butt. A pronounced, squared-off angle is square butt.

J-frame (Small frame): 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 49, 50, 51, 60, 63, 317, 331, 332, 337, 340, 342, 351, 360, 442, 631, 632, 637, 638, 640, 642, 649, 650, 651, 940, 22/32 Kit Gun, Chiefs Special, Centennial, Bodyguard.

Bodyguard models: 38, 49, 638, 649 (shrouded hammer).
Centennial models: 40, 42, 332, 340, 342, 351, 442, 632, 640, 642, 940 (hammerless).
Exposed hammer models: 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 43, 50, 51, 60, 63, 317, 331, 337, 360, 631, 637, 650,
651, 22/32 Kit Gun, Chiefs Special. 

 
K-frame (Medium frame): 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 45, 48, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 617, K-22 Outdoorsman, K-22 Masterpiece, Military & Police, Combat Masterpiece, Combat Magnum.

L-frame (Medium frame, slightly larger than K-frame): 296, 386, 396, 581, 586, 647, 648, 681, 686, 696.

N-frame (Large frame): 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 57, 325, 329, 520, 610, 624, 625, 627, 629, 657, 38/44 Heavy Duty, 38/44 Outdoorsman, 1955 Target Model.

X-frame (Extra-Large frame): 460, 500.