What ammo does a LadySmith use?

Description

Smith & Wesson designed their LadySmitm line of firearms specifically for women to use in self-defense. The streamline, lightweight, no-snag design of the Model 642LS LadySmith double-action revolver makes it ideal for concealed carry use. The internal hammer of the 642LS eliminates the risk of the hammer getting snagged on pockets, purses, or clothing when drawing the weapon in a self-defense situation. In a pinch, the hammerless 642LS will shoot through a coat pocket or handbag. The low profile, ramp front sight, and fixed notch rear sight also aid in the snag-free presentation of the weapon. The 642LS is double-action only, making it an extremely fast personal-defensive handgun to deploy in stressful situations, as there is nothing to remember to do except point and pull the trigger. The inherently ergonomic design, and smooth, wood laminate, finger-groove grips aid in the gun’s natural pointability. The Model 642LS is built on Smith & Wesson’s famous J-Frame, it has a 5-shot cylinder rated for +P .38 Special ammunition. Stainless steel and alloy construction resist corrosion caused by humidity and perspiration when the revolver is carried close to the body. The Smith & Wesson 642LS LadySmith Double-Action Revolver carries easily, deploys rapidly, and has enough firepower to handle any self-defense scenario. Made in the USA.

Smith & Wesson LadysmithTypeRevolver or pistolPlace of origin USAService historyIn service1900s–1986Used byFBIProduction historyManufacturerSmith & WessonVariantsModel 631LS
Model 36LS
Model 60LS
Model 65LS
Model 642LS
Model 3913LSSpecificationsBarrel length2 in (51 mm) to 3.5 in (89 mm)

The S&W Ladysmith and LadySmith are a series of handguns manufactured by Smith & Wesson starting early in the 20th century. Early models, branded Ladysmith, were .22 caliber. Starting in the 1980s, under the slightly modified LadySmith moniker, S&W manufactured several short-barreled revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in .32 H&R Magnum (S&W Model 631LS), .38 Special (S&W Models 36LS and 642LS), .357 Magnum (S&W Model 60LS and S&W Model 65LS) and 9mm Parabellum (S&W Model 3913LS).

Contents

History

Smith & Wesson has produced firearms over the years in several standard frame sizes. M-frame "refers to the small early Ladysmith frame". 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".

During the 1980s, prior to the 1986 FBI Miami shootout[citation needed], the Federal Bureau of Investigation adopted a revolver very similar to the Model 65 Ladysmith, but without the moniker.

Notable models

• Smith & Wesson Model 60 LadySmith: known as the "Chief's Special LadySmith"; J-frame, .38 cal., 5-shot revolver
• Smith & Wesson Model 65 LadySmith: .357 Magnum, medium frame, 6-shot revolver
• Smith & Wesson Model 3913LS Lady Smith: 9mm, compact frame, 8+1 pistol

Miscellaneous

The LadySmith version of Smith's model 3913 is referred to as the 3913LS. It has a stainless steel slide with an aluminum alloy frame. The 3913LS had a different look to the slide and frame, that appeared to some to be "racier". It is chambered for 9mm only. It has a 3.5 inch barrel and the magazine holds eight rounds. It is one of their third generation semi-automatic pistols that S&W refers to as a "traditional double action". This refers to a mode of operation wherein the first pull of the trigger is longer and heavier, and causes the hammer to rise from its resting position and then fall to strike the firing pin and fire the cartridge in the chamber. After the pistol fires that first time, the pistol is in what is called "single action", wherein the hammer stays cocked and subsequent trigger pulls are much shorter and lighter. The safety/decock lever on the side of the slide can be lowered which will (a) safely drop the cocked hammer, and (b) prevent the pistol from firing by disconnecting the trigger and by rotating a block between the hammer and firing pin. It is the firing pin block that makes dropping the hammer with the decocker safe, albeit somewhat unnerving. The original 3913 has been popular with law enforcement officers that need to carry their primary sidearm concealed.[citation needed] The Lady Smith is very flat because it has a single-stack magazine and only a single thumb safety on the left side compared to the two-sided ambidextrous safety on the 3913NL.

As of 2013, the only models still in production are the 60LS (currently chambered in .357 Magnum, which is different from the original "Chief's Special LadySmith" variant with the same model number) and the 642LS (chambered in .38 Special +P).

In popular culture

A Ladysmith is carried by Amelia Peabody in the novels of Elizabeth Peters.[citation needed]

A 9mm LadySmith is carried by the female lead character in Laurell K. Hamilton's bestselling Meredith Gentry novels.

A Lady Smith & Wesson is carried by Miss Parker in the television series The Pretender.

A LadySmith is a gun used by female character Andrea in the AMC TV series The Walking Dead.

A Ladysmith is carried in an opening scene by Will Smith's character "J" in the original Men In Black, prior to his absorption into the agency of that name.

References

1. The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms Dean K. Boorman, 2002, p. 44
2. The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms, Dean K. Boorman, 2002, pp. 45–46
3. ↑ 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.

   Does Smith and Wesson still make Ladysmith?

   No longer in current production, content is subject to change and is provided here for reference purposes only. Smith & Wesson J-Frame revolvers have had your back since 1950.

   How many rounds does a Ladysmith hold?

   It is chambered for 9mm only. It has a 3.5 inch barrel and the magazine holds eight rounds. It is one of their third generation semi-automatic pistols that S&W refers to as a "traditional double action".

   What ammo does a Smith and Wesson revolver use?

   38 Colt NP (New Police), or . 38/200, is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877.

   Why is it called a Ladysmith?

   On 11 October 1850, the name was changed to Ladysmith after Juana María de los Dolores de León Smith, also known as "Lady Smith," the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith, the Governor of the Cape Colony and high commissioner in South Africa from 1847 to 1852.