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Was that truly the planning for the design or was that policy developed after the fact?
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Bill Jordan lobbied Smith & Wesson heavily for the creation of the Combat Magnum based on the criteria I previously mentioned. Besides the target options, he wanted a non-tapered barrel and shrouded ejector. The added weight helped reduce muzzle flip to some extent. It was not an "after the fact" idea or something the marketing folks at Smith dreamed up. At the time, the .38 Special M&P (pre-model 10) dominated the LE market. He wanted something lighter and handier than the 3 1/2" .357 Magnum (Pre-M27) or 4" Highway Patrolman (Pre-M28).
A couple of things in the 1960's exacerbated the situation and ultimately lead to the development of the L-Frame guns released in early 1980. The first was the popularity of the K-Frame .357's in the civilian market and the subsequent use of mostly magnum ammo and high round count of same in those guns. The second was the advent and subsequent popularity of extremely high velocity light bullet (110 & 125 grain) loads such as those originally developed and marketed by SuperVel.
Bruce