Terminology: Round Butts and Square

by
posted on December 7, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg

Older revolver catalogs used to list two basic butt shapes for their products—round and square.This actually meant slightly different things in the literature of the two big pre-World War II gunmakers—Colt and S&W.

For Colt users, round butts involved a light rounding of the lower corner of the revolver butt, front and back. Smith & Wesson's use of the term involved rounding the corners and slimming the back strap.

Further, the Springfield product enjoyed a slenderizing of the front strap, so much so that you needed a different length mainspring screw on the two different K-frame guns.

Just thought this might be interesting to a few.

Latest

IHTOG French MAS49 1
IHTOG French MAS49 1

I Have This Old Gun: French MAS-49

Despite being early adopters of several semi-automatic rifles for military use, the French army took several decades to work out a standardized semi-automatic rifle for general service use. The rifle that finally came to being was the MAS-49.

Polite Society Industries Launches with Complete Suppressor Line

"An armed society is a polite society," goes the famous quote, which is also the inspiration behind Polite Society Industries, a new suppressor manufacturer that now has a complete line available to consumers.

NRA-ILA Names Smith & Wesson Official Partner of the 2026 NRA Gun Bus Battleground Tour

Iconic American firearms maker Smith & Wesson will join NRA-ILA on the road as nation's leading firearm group turns out voters ahead of the 2026 midterm.

A New Armed Citizen Survey That is Endlessly Fascinating—and Politically Incorrect

The 2026 National Firearms Survey conducted by William English of Georgetown University estimates that armed citizens in America use their guns 2.2 million to defend themselves or others.

Review: Heckler & Koch VP9CC

HK’s new VP9CC offers VP9 features in a micro-size pistol.

Former Barnes Bullets CEO Randy Brooks Passes Away

Randy Brooks, former president and CEO of Barnes Bullets, passed away on Aug. 27 peacefully in his Mona, Utah, home.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.