I recently purchased a 342PD in good used condition....
At 10.8 ozs. with CT grips , I really have grown to enjoy it as a CCW...but not as a plinker...

My question is:
What metal did they use to make the frame?
I know the cylinder is titanium, but there is a lot of mixed opinions on the internet about the metal in the frame.
Some opinions say it's aluminum....some say scandium...

If anyone is in the know, I'd appreciate the real scoop...

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Travel light..stay aware..

The frame is scandium and aluminum. By the way, I fear it does not weigh 10.8 oz with crimson trace grips.

According to my gunsmith's scales, it weighs 10.75 ozs. empty...
YSMV (your scales may vary)...

__________________
Travel light..stay aware..

That would be a 340. The 342 has a conventional aluminum frame and a titanium cylinder.

The 342PD and 342ti had titanium cyls and scandium/aluminum alloy frames and weighed next to nothing. IIR, the only lighter .38spl was the 337PD.

And my CT LG-105's weigh about the same as similar size wood grips.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

Scandium wasn't introduced until the 340. Scandium is what it possible to go from .38 Special and .44 Special to .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum (329).

Check pages 238-239 in SCSW3 or the old consumer catalogs.

On the grips, I would bet you're right. The lightest would/should be the Hogue Bantams that were the original grips on the 342PD.

My understanding is that a frame identified as Scandium is an aluminum alloy with a bit of scandium mixed into it. I don't know for sure; either way, it is a lightweight revolver with plenty of recoil to it-

That's correct. S&W alloyed a very small amount of scandium into the aluminum, but it made a big difference. Instead of punishing yourself with .XX S&W Special recoil, you could really punish yourself with .XX S&W Magnum recoil!