Smith & Wesson held a commanding position in the early 20th century American revolver market, but Colt took the lead in the concealed carry niche. The S&W J-frame series helped the Springfield gunmaker get back in the game.

Introduced in 1950 with the Chiefs Special, the S&W J-frame has remained popular for its reliability, versatility, and compact size. Examples from every era of the platform's 75-year legacy can be found in upcoming Rock Island Auction Company auction events, where hundreds of new guns are offered every few weeks.

An early 4 digit serial number Smith & Wesson .38 Chiefs Special hammerless pre-Model 40 Centennial revolver.

I-frame

The S&W J-frame was preceded by the I-frame, a chassis developed for the .32 S&W Long cartridge in the late 19th century. The I-frame served as the foundation for a generation of small swing out revolvers like the 32 Hand Ejector, 32 Regulation Police, and 38 Terrier.

A factory engraved Smith & Wesson .38/32 Terrier pre-Model 32 revolver.

In 1927, Colt released the Detective Special, a small frame DA revolver that could chamber the potent .38 Special round. The platform gained an audience with undercover officers and civilians looking for a hideaway gun that packed a punch. Smith & Wesson found themselves lagging behind.

In the years after WW2, Smith & Wesson worked to develop their own .38 Special DA revolver designed for pocket and ankle carry. While the snub nose Military & Police (later the Model 10,) was built on the K-frame, was perceived as slightly too bulky to fill this niche, I-frame revolvers like the Terrier were viewed as underpowered. The J-frame presented an ideal middle ground.

Fitz Specials became the prototype for what would go on to be called the Colt Detective Special. This stunning example sold for $22,325 in RIAC's December 2024 auction.

The Chiefs Special

According to Michael Helms of the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation, the initial 20,000 J-frame revolvers employed upgraded I-­frames as the company continued to develop and finalize their new chassis. The J-frame was slightly larger and sturdier than its predecessor. The I-frame could chamber six shots compared to the J-frame's 5, though its shorter cylinder and lighter build made it incapable of handling .38 Special or .357 Magnum.

The new J-frame design was unveiled by Smith & Wesson president Carl Hellstrom at The International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in 1950. The S&W J-frame was well received, and a contest was held to name the new revolver. After a vote, "Chiefs Special" won out. The spelling on packaging and advertising has varied over the years between singular, plural, and possessive, but the gun that would later be dubbed the Model 36 is a classic by any name or designation.

A Smith & Wesson .38 Chiefs Special carried by Washoe County, Nevada Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant Robert F. Washburn.

The Chiefs Special featured a stainless frame, an exposed hammer, a 2 or 3 inch barrel, and initially only a round-butt frame. Square-butt examples would follow several years later. The Chiefs Special achieved its goal by offering a slightly smaller and lighter .38 Special concealed carry option compared to the Colt Detective Special, but Colt was already a step ahead of their competitor.

A classic example of the S&W J-frame that started it all, this Model 36 revolver includes a 2 inch solid rib barrel.

The Cobra, a six shot revolver based on the Detective Special, was also released in 1950. The gun's lightweight aluminum material, dubbed "Coltalloy," offered a weapon that was only 15 ounces unloaded. Smith & Wesson would quickly respond.

Foundational Models of the S&W J-Frame Family

In 1951, Smith & Wesson released the "Chiefs Special Airweight." Later designated the Model 37, the gun is essentially a Chiefs Special with an aluminum alloy frame, with only the barrel and cylinder crafted from steel. Weighing less than a pound unloaded, the revolver was the first in a long line of S&W J-frame models to receive the "Airweight" designation.

A factory engraved Smith & Wesson Model 37 Airweight.

Close combat expert Rex Applegate suggested Smith & Wesson offer a version of the Chiefs Special with a concealed hammer and a grip safety. In 1952, the Centennial was born, honoring the company's 100th year in business. Released the same year, the Airweight Centennial offered a lighter-weight version of the platform with an aluminum frame.

An exceptional example of the Centennial J-frame, this gold-plated Pre-Model 40 was shipped to Rex Firearms in New York Smith & Wesson's exclusive distributor of engraved guns in the 1950s.

The Bodyguard was released in 1955 and became one of the most popular lines of the S&W J-frame family. The initial gun, later called the Model 38, was aluminum-framed and featured a shrouded hammer that could be drawn without snagging on a pocket, jacket, or pant leg.

This early Smith & Wesson Model 38 Bodyguard revolver sold at RIAC for $1,880 in May of 2022.

In 1957, Smith & Wesson changed to a less creative but more concise numbering system for its naming conventions, including the J-frame family. The Chiefs Special was named the Model 36, the Chiefs Special Airweight the Model 37, the Bodyguard the Model 38, the Centennial the Model 40, and the Airweight Centennial the Model 42.

(Left) A Smith & Wesson Chiefs Special Airweight (pre-Model 37.) (Right) A S&W Model 37 revolver.

1965 saw the release of the Model 60, or Chiefs Special Stainless. Based on the Model 36, the Model 60 was the first S&W J-frame produced entirely of stainless steel. This made the revolver less prone to rust and offered greater durability in harsh conditions, including the humid jungles of Vietnam. The model saw immense popularity, with buyers from the military, law enforcement, and civilian market waiting months to acquire the revolver.

This engraved Smith & Wesson Model 60 J-frame revolver sold for $4,313 at RIAC in December 2017.

Death of I-Frame

The I-frame would be gradually phased out, with several of its notable models being replaced with S&W J-frame variants, including the Terrier, or Model 32. The J-frame iteration would typically have an added "1" in the model number to distinguish the two versions, as exampled by the Model 32 and the Model 32-1. This was also the case with the Model 34 "Kit Gun," a popular Smith & Wesson .22 revolver. The new J-frame variant was called the Model 34-1 and continued the success of its I-frame predecessor.

This "pinto" Model 34-1 S&W J-frame revolver, serial number M200000, sold for $3,819 at RIAC in December 2023.

The S&W J-Frame Evolves

Most initial S&W J-frame models were offered in .38 Special, but new chamberings became available as the family expanded. Models 631, 632, 331, and 332 were designed for .32 H&R Magnum. The Model 940 is chambered in 9mm. In 1996, the Model 640 became Smith & Wesson's first J frame designed for the mighty .357 Magnum.

Developing a J-frame that could withstand .357 Magnum pleasures required improved metallurgy. In addition to an integral frame lug, the J Magnum frame has a longer cylinder and a cylinder frame to accommodate .357 Magnum cartridges. Today, the Model 60, 660, 640, 640 Pro Series, 340PD, 360PD, M&P 340, and M&P 360 are all offered in .357 Magnum.

Two S&W J-frame revolvers. (top) A Model 642-1 Airweight chambered for 38 Special +P. (Bottom) A Model 940 chambered for 9mm.

The AirLite line made the S&W J-frame lighter than ever before. Employing a scandium-reinforced aluminum frame, a titanium cylinder, and stainless steel barrels, models like the 342 AirLite weigh as little as 12 ounces unloaded. The AirLite series continues to thrive today in a host of models.

A Model 342 Airlite, one of the lightest J-frame revolvers.

The Bodyguard and Centennial

Two of the most popular S&W J-frame variants today are the Bodyguard and Centennial lineages. Building off the success of the Model 40 and Model 42 Airweight, the Model 640 offered a Centennial-style revolver with a stainless steel frame, with a .357 Magnum option released in 1996. The Model 940 could chamber 9mm. The Model 34 and M&P 342 were built with a sturdy scandium alloy frame. Two of the most popular recent examples are the Model 442 and 642 Airweight revolvers.

A S&W Model 442 Airweight, a popular J-frame in the Centennial line.

Four years after the Model 38, a new Bodyguard with a carbon steel frame was developed and dubbed the Model 49. 1985 saw the release of the robust Model 649 that would eventually be offered in .357 Magnum. 11 years later, the Model 638 presented a balanced version of the .38 Special classic Bodyguard design with an updated aluminum frame. The M&P Bodyguard is the most recent no-frills iteration of the original design and also one of the company's best sellers.

The Model 649 ".38 Bodyguard Stainless," a S&W J-frame well suited to personal defense.

The S&W J-frame Today

By the 80s and 90s, the semi-automatic pistol began to eclipse the once dominant revolver in the handgun market, including the concealed carry segment. Smith & Wesson embraced the trend and developed compact options like the M&P shield (which used the classic “Military & Police” designation of its revolver predecessor.) Despite this shift, the company continues to maintain and innovate its wheelgun lineup, with the J-frame remaining a cornerstone.

A Model 637 chambered in .22LR, one of the latest popular S&W J-frame revolvers.

In today's competitive handgun scene, the J-frame revolver still appeals to those who want a lightweight purse, pocket, or ankle gun that's intuitive and hassle-free. The wheelgun has a simple manual of arms compared to its pistol competitors, its heavy DA trigger pull offers a straightforward safety mechanism, and it’s less prone to feeding issues. For value, dependability, and ease of concealment, the Smith & Wesson J-frame checks all the right boxes.

A modern version of the classic J-frame, this factory engraved and gold inlaid Smith & Wesson Model 36-10 Texas Hold'em Edition revolver sold for $2,875 in December 2021.

Michael Helms, a renowned Smith & Wesson historian, estimates between 5 and 6 million J-frame revolvers have been sold since the platform's 1950 debut. The J-frame was designed to be versatile, and today the platform can be found in a vast range of chamberings, configurations, weights, and price points. With nearly 50 variants listed on the company website, the S&W J-frame revolver looks like it has a bright future ahead.

A Model 317, one of the newer S&W J-frame revolver options.

S&W J-frame revolvers for Sale

Smith & Wesson wrote the book on modern wheel guns, and the 75-years legacy of the J-frame revolver testifies to the company's continued innovation in the market. From five shot .357 Magnum powerhouses to eight shot .22s, the S&W J-frame meets a wide range of concealed carry and self-defense situations. The finest examples from every decade of the platform's impressive history can be found at Rock Island Auction Company.

An engraved example of the original J-frame model, the Chiefs Special revolver of Kansas City Police Chief Bernard Brannon sold for $3,819 in August 2024 at RIAC.

For revolver aficionados, subscribe to the Rock Island Auction newsletter for new gun blogs and gun videos covering some of the most famous smoke wagons on the market, like the Colt "Cop and Thug" revolver, the Colt New Service revolver, the Colt Python, S&W M1917, the S&W K32, the S&W Model 53, the S&W Model 500, the S&W Model 296 AirLite Ti, the S&W Model 29 and other famous variants of the .44 Magnum, the  Mateba Unica 6, the Webley-Fosbery, and more!