[Alpo]

By the way. The I frame, which was a 6-shot 32, was also made as a 5-shot 38 S&W. Then they decided to make it in 38 Special, but the hole for the cylinder wasn't long enough - the 38 Special being a longer cartridge than either the 32 S&W Long or the 38 S&W. They basically stretched it a tad. Same size top strap to trigger. Same thickness. But the distance from recoil shield to barrel is a little longer. They called the new frame size the J. So the J is a 32 caliber frame. The 38 caliber-size frame was/is the K.

Just so you know.

So when they started making the J in 38 Special, they also made all the old I-frame calibers in the new J frame, and discontinued the I frame. Depending on how old your gun is, it could be built on the I frame or on the J frame.