K frame 38 vs 357 cylinder metallurgy?

[Alk8944]

A lot of folks “claim” to have been the reason for the Model 19 but the stimulus can easily be attributed to Evaluators Unlimited.

Kevin

There are not " a lot" of people claiming responsibility for the Model 10/Combat Magnum, only one! This was William Jordan of the Border Patrol who encouraged Col D.B. Wesson, then President of S&W, to produce a K-Frame .357 Magnum that would be principally intended to shoot .38 Special, but would be strong enough that a moderate amount of .357 Magnum ammunition could be fired by Law Enforcement Officers of all types for duty use without fear of failure of the guns due to the more than double the pressure of .38 Special ammunition as loaded at that time.(prior to +P loads) Direct responsibility for the Combat Magnum revolver was solely in the hands of Col. Wesson. Jordan merely made a strong request/suggestion.

 

[steelslaver]

I have used a hardness tester on both frames and cylinders and found no difference. BUT there is a lot more to steel than hardness. A piece of steel can be in a pearlite. martensite or bainite state and register the same hardness, yet have a different yield strengths

 

[StrawHat]

There are not " a lot" of people claiming responsibility for the Model 10/Combat Magnum, only one! This was William Jordan of the Border Patrol who encouraged Col D.B. Wesson, then President of S&W, to produce a K-Frame .357 Magnum that would be principally intended to shoot .38 Special, but would be strong enough that a moderate amount of .357 Magnum ammunition could be fired by Law Enforcement Officers of all types for duty use without fear of failure of the guns due to the more than double the pressure of .38 Special ammunition as loaded at that time.(prior to +P loads) Direct responsibility for the Combat Magnum revolver was solely in the hands of Col. Wesson. Jordan merely made a strong request/suggestion.

Bill Jordan spoke to Carl Hellstrom, president of S&W.

Kevin

 

[Model29-26.5]

I had read or heard in videos about the model 19 becoming available “due to advancements in Metallergy” and heat treating I think but I guess not.
The only real difference, then, is a slightly longer cylinder and a shrouded cylinder rod. They could’ve made a 357 magnum in a K frame years before. I wonder why they didn’t until a lot later if there was no difference?

 

[sjmjax]

I suspect it was demand.
Police departments were a major market. Political decisions and public relations probably prevented adoption of magnum caliber weapons for standard issue.

Departments like Highway Patrol agencies could go with large frame revolvers.