S&W Ladysmith
Encyclopedia
The S&W Ladysmith and LadySmith are a series of handgun
s 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 revolver
s and semi-automatic pistols in .38 Special
(S&W Model 36LS), .357 Magnum
(S&W Model 60LS and S&W Model 65LS) and 9mm Parabellum (S&W Model 3913LS).
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, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
adopted a revolver very similar to the Model 65 Ladysmith, but without the moniker. (This was prior to the 1986 FBI Miami shootout.)
in the novels of Elizabeth Peters.
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 8 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 activated to bring the pistol back to its original mode. The original 3913 has been popular with law enforcement officers that need to carry their primary sidearm concealed.
It is very flat but still shoots comfortably enough to use with confidence.
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.
Smith & Wesson produced a version of the 3913LS, but without the script "Ladysmith" logo, as the 3913NL. It was presumed that this version was for male shooters who liked the racier lines of the 3913LS, but were not wanting their pistols to have the "Ladysmith" logo.
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
s manufactured by Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson is the largest manufacturer of handguns in the United States. The corporate headquarters is in Springfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1852, Smith & Wesson's pistols and revolvers have become standard issue to police and armed forces throughout the world...
starting early in the 20th century. Early models, branded Ladysmith, were .22
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
.
Starting in the 1980s, under the slightly modified LadySmith moniker, S&W manufactured several short-barreled revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s and semi-automatic pistols in .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
(S&W Model 36LS), .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
(S&W Model 60LS and S&W Model 65LS) and 9mm Parabellum (S&W Model 3913LS).
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, the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
adopted a revolver very similar to the Model 65 Ladysmith, but without the moniker. (This was prior to the 1986 FBI Miami shootout.)
Notable models
- Smith & Wesson Model 60 LadySmithSmith & Wesson Model 60The Smith & Wesson Model 60 revolver is a 5-shot snubnosed revolver that is chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum calibers. Like nearly all other "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers, it has a swing-out cylinder, and features an exposed hammer...
—known as the "Chiefs Special LadySmith"; J-frame, .38 cal., 5-shot revolver - Smith & Wesson Model 65 LadySmith—; .357 Magnum, , medium frame, 6-shot revolver
Miscellaneous
A Ladysmith is carried by Amelia PeabodyAmelia Peabody
Amelia Peabody Emerson is the protagonist of the Amelia Peabody series, a series of mystery novels, written by author Elizabeth Peters. Peabody is married to Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson and has one biological child, Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson, who provides a parallel voice in many of the...
in the novels of Elizabeth Peters.
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 8 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 activated to bring the pistol back to its original mode. The original 3913 has been popular with law enforcement officers that need to carry their primary sidearm concealed.
It is very flat but still shoots comfortably enough to use with confidence.
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.
Smith & Wesson produced a version of the 3913LS, but without the script "Ladysmith" logo, as the 3913NL. It was presumed that this version was for male shooters who liked the racier lines of the 3913LS, but were not wanting their pistols to have the "Ladysmith" logo.