Smith And Wesson J frame Round Butt grips

The Smith & Wesson J-frame Round Butt is the classic compact revolver frame renowned for deep concealment and reliability, defining pocket-carry excellence

The J-frame originated in 1949–1950 when S&W President Carl R. Hellstrom directed engineers to create a small revolver capable of firing the powerful .38 Special cartridge—stronger than the .38 S&W handled by the older I-frame (introduced 1896). The solution: lengthen the cylinder to 1.52" (from 1.25"), extend the frame window, switch to a coil mainspring, and designate the new design J-frame

The first J-frame revolver, the Chief's Special (later Model 36 in 1957), debuted at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in October 1950. It featured a 2" barrel, 5-shot cylinder, double-action trigger, and round-butt grip frame for superior concealability and comfort in small hands—making it an instant favorite for detectives, off-duty officers, and civilians

Square-butt variants appeared within ~2 years, but the round-butt configuration remained the most popular and iconic, especially in the classic Model 36 blued steel and Model 60 stainless (1965). The round-butt design prioritized smooth draws from pockets or holsters, low profile, and natural pointability

An aluminum Airweight variant (Model 37) followed in 1951, expanding options. Production of early J-frames used modified I-frames until full J-frame tooling stabilized

Today, the J-frame Round Butt endures in models like 442, 638, 642, and classics—America's benchmark snub-nose revolver for 75+ years, blending timeless ergonomics with unmatched defensive reliability

The grips are compatible with S&W J-frame Round Butt model:

• Smith And Wesson J-frame 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 43, 43C, 49
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 51
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 60, 60 LS, 63
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 242, 296
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 317, 326, 331, 332, 337, 340, 340 PD, 342, 350 PD, 351 PD, 360, 360 PD, 386
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 432 PD, 442, 442 Pro
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 631, 632, 637, 638, 642, 649
• Smith And Wesson J-frame 940