#1 .357 Magnum

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larryofcc

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It is said that the pre M27 .357 Magnum is the # 1 .357 revolver, but I personally think the 1st model Combat Magnum is right up there with it. Both are beautiful revolvers. I own both, and favor my 1956 vintage Combat Magnum. Big Larry

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I have an M28 and a M19 - pretty much the same two guns.
Love 'em both, but which is "best"? Depends on what you'll be doing with them.
For range and ultra comfortable target shooting, the N-frame takes the honors.
For carry, SD, and woods shooting, the K-frame gets the nod.
Just my opinion of course.
 
RKmesa said:
Truth spoken... Those folks that posted so far - those are beautiful revolvers.:D

Here's a the 35th numbered Combat Magnum (K260035). It was a little on the beat-up side, so I sent it to Phil Quigley for a bit of a commemorative make-over:

Pre%2019%20K260035%20R%20on%20Box.jpg


Pre%2019%20K260035%20on%20Box.jpg
Click to expand...

To whom did it letter to originally? I am thinking you got a letter? Big Larry
 
I was a LEO firearms instructor in 1983 and an officer came for his annual qualification and he had a Combat Magnum with serial # K 260065 and it was all correct including the unaltered grips and in excellent condition. I offered to trade him a new 586 for it and he declined. I tried to get that revolver every time I saw him until he eventually retired a few years later. We used flap holsters at that time and it protected the grips. Never got that one and still mourn that lost chance. Oh, the reason he would not trade was because he would need to buy a new holster and I offered to buy him several, but no luck.
 
Love the KT-357 Model 19 Combat Magnum !

The K Magnum is alot easier to wear on the hip and CCW as a snub compared to the N frame.
Its Achilles heel is a thin forcing cone at the 6 "O" clock position which can crack with lighter faster 110 grain Magnum loads.
CIMG6913.jpg


In comparison the N frame is a bigger and heavier gun being originally designed for calibers starting with the number "4",
(Compare the size difference between these two cylinders)
The larger N frame cylinder does spin up slower so is a bit easier for DA trigger control and the added weight reduces recoil which can be stout in a K Magnum,
 
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Engine49guy said:
Love the KT-357 Model 19 Combat Magnum...
...In comparison the N frame is a bigger and heavier gun being originally designed for calibers starting with the number "4",
(Compare the size difference between these two cylinders)
The larger N frame cylinder does spin up slower so is a bit easier for DA trigger control and the added weight reduces recoil which can be stout in a K Magnum,
Click to expand...
I always though the the N-frame 357 came first - a.k.a. the Registered Magnum - all the way back in the late 30's.

As I understand the history, the K-frame magnums came much later when Bill Jordan, and then the NYPD, persuaded S&W to build a 357 magnum on the frame that they had been using for the 38 specials. I believe that wasn't until over 30 years later - sometime in the ear.ly 1970's
 
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BC38 said:
I always though the the N-frame 357 came first - a.k.a. the Registered Magnum - all the way back in the late 30's.

As I understand the history, the K-frame magnums came much later when Bill Jordan, and then the NYPD, persuaded S&W to build a 357 magnum on the frame that they had been using for the 38 specials. I believe that wasn't until over 30 years later - sometime in the ear.ly 1970's
Click to expand...

The Registered Magnum .357 (N frame) was the first, which came out in 1935. The .357 Combat Magnum (K frame) was introduced in 1955
 
In "Blue" .357s I have a 6 1/2" Registered Magnum (Safe Queen),a 2 1/2 and two 4" 19s, a 4" transitional 27-3 (recessed); a 4" 28 and............. three 586s a 6" and two 4" guns; one with a factory round butt.

If I could only have one; it would be the 4" round butt 586....... the grip frame and trigger reach of the K-frame; while a bit smaller and lighter it still has the strength of the N-frame to handle full bore .357s all day.
 
Personally, the ONI/FBI 4-inch round butt was the best of the K Frame Magnums. It's only drawback was the thin section of barrel shank at the 6 o'clock position which could be damaged with Magnum rounds that had short bullets that did not seal up the B/C gap that extra fraction of a second, often resulting in a crack at that weak 6 o'clock position. Although it was/is much less likely to be a problem with 145 grains and up, the 110 and 125 Magnums were all the rage back in the 70s when the problem seemed to become widespread after the Newhall and other incidents which caused LE to begin to do all training with Magnum carry ammo rather than training with 38s, and reserving Magnums for qualification and carry.

Fortunately, we now have the newest 66/19s with the 2-piece barrel, which are stronger and which have thick steel all the way around the barrel shank. And, the weapons have round butts, making concealment that much easier.

We really do have access to the best guns available these days!
 
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