Smith & Wesson Ladysmith

The S&W Ladysmith (later styled LadySmith) is a series of handguns manufactured by Smith & Wesson starting early in the first decade of the 20th century. Early models, branded were chambered in .22 Long. Starting in the 1980s, under the slightly modified "LadySmith" moniker, S&W manufactured several short-barreled revolvers and semi-automatic pistols.

Smith & Wesson Ladysmith
A Smith & Wesson Model 642 LS Ladysmith
Type	Revolver or pistol
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1902–1986
Used by	FBI
Production history
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Variants	Model 631LS Model 36LS Model 60LS Model 65LS Model 642LS
Specifications
Barrel length	2 in (51 mm) to 3.5 in (89 mm)
Cartridge	.22 Long .32 H&R Magnum .38 Special .357 Magnum 9mm Parabellum
Action	Double Action Revolver Semi-auto Pistol
Feed system	5-round cylinder (.38 revolver) 6-round cylinder (.32 revolver) 8-round magazine (9mm revolver)

History

Smith & Wesson has produced firearms over the years in several standard frame sizes. M-frame refers to the small early Ladysmith frame.^[1] Later LadySmith small revolvers were made on the somewhat larger J-frame, the standard S&W small-frame revolver.

The tiny M-frame .22" hand-ejector Ladysmith revolver was produced from 1902 through 1921, and later diminutive revolvers were termed LadySmith, capitalizing the "S".^[1]

Models

• Smith & Wesson Model 36 LadySmith (AKA: Chief's Special LadySmith): a blued steel, small frame, 5-shot, .38 Special revolver.
• Smith & Wesson Model 60 LadySmith (AKA: Chief's Special LadySmith): a stainless steel, small frame, 5-shot, .38 Special or .357 Magnum, revolver.^[2]
• Smith & Wesson Model 65 LadySmith: a stainless steel, medium frame, 6-shot, .357 Magnum revolver.
• Smith & Wesson Model 631 LadySmith: a stainless steel, small frame, 6-shot, .32 H&R Magnum revolver.^{[note 1]}
• Smith & Wesson Model 642 LadySmith: a small frame, 5-shot, .38 Special, hammerless revolver with an aluminum frame and stainless steel cylinder.

Miscellaneous

A Model 631 LadySmith 32 Mag stainless steel revolver

Notes

1. The Model 631 with a total volume of 5457 units, was produced only in 1990 of which only 190 received the "LadySmith" moniker.

References

1. Boorman, Dean K. (2002). The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms. Globe Pequot Press. pp. 44–46, 87. ISBN 978-1-58574-721-4.
2. Hartink, A.E. (2003). The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books. pp. 225–230. ISBN 978-0-7858-1871-7.

External links

• Smith & Wesson homepage