We performed polarized Raman scattering studies on 0.4 nm diameter single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) grown inside the pores of zeolite crystals, using several different laser lines (1.92 less than or equal to E-laser less than or equal to 2.71 eV). The strong diameter-selective resonant behavior of typical SWNTs (1 < d(t) < 3 nm) is not observed. The Raman spectra instead show a complicated profile that reflects the sp(2) carbons phonon density of states superimposed on the characteristic SWNT Raman features. We show that the behavior of typical SWNTs can be used qualitatively to analyze the radial breathing mode (RBM), G-band and D-band spectra of the 0.4 tun diameter SWNTs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.