jetrefueller
Regular
- Location
- Northern Ontario
Hi guys can anyone tell me what year the first 357 Magnum was on the market? Also is it correct that S&W was the first to manufacture this cal?
S&W 357 Magnum
- Thread starter jetrefueller
- Start date
Stolen from some site.....
Elmer Keith reported his testing of an early batch of .38-44 ammunition through a five inch .38-44, and Phil Sharpe, noted ammunition expert of the 1930's also worked with the new .38 with the end result being both a new gun from Smith & Wesson and ammunition from Winchester as the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935. The new sixgun was nothing more than the .38-44 with specially heat treated cylinder and frame and chambered for a new cartridge that was one-tenth of an inch longer than the .38 Special and named, of course, the .357 Magnum.
Elmer Keith reported his testing of an early batch of .38-44 ammunition through a five inch .38-44, and Phil Sharpe, noted ammunition expert of the 1930's also worked with the new .38 with the end result being both a new gun from Smith & Wesson and ammunition from Winchester as the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935. The new sixgun was nothing more than the .38-44 with specially heat treated cylinder and frame and chambered for a new cartridge that was one-tenth of an inch longer than the .38 Special and named, of course, the .357 Magnum.
tbg@sasktel.net
Member
- Location
- Historic Battleford
.357 Magnum
It was some 68 years ago, on April 8, 1935, that the very first “.357 Magnum” revolver was completed by Smith & Wesson and presented to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. It was a seminal moment. The .357 Magnum was the first American cartridge of any kind—handgun, rifle, or shotgun—to bear the label “Magnum.” It was the first of many-to-come, extra-power cartridges to be based on a slightly lengthened version of a previously standard load. For more than two decades after its introduction—until eclipsed by the .44 Magnum—it was the most powerful handgun cartridge produced anywhere in the world, and even today it is still the largest selling and most widely used of all the many handgun cartridges to bear that evocative “Magnum” label.
It is a great cartridge, and substantially more pleasant to shoot than the 44, Clint Eastwood's freehand rendition notwithstanding. Added to this is the ability to plink with the .38 in a .357 firearm, and the popularity is well deserved
It was some 68 years ago, on April 8, 1935, that the very first “.357 Magnum” revolver was completed by Smith & Wesson and presented to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. It was a seminal moment. The .357 Magnum was the first American cartridge of any kind—handgun, rifle, or shotgun—to bear the label “Magnum.” It was the first of many-to-come, extra-power cartridges to be based on a slightly lengthened version of a previously standard load. For more than two decades after its introduction—until eclipsed by the .44 Magnum—it was the most powerful handgun cartridge produced anywhere in the world, and even today it is still the largest selling and most widely used of all the many handgun cartridges to bear that evocative “Magnum” label.
It is a great cartridge, and substantially more pleasant to shoot than the 44, Clint Eastwood's freehand rendition notwithstanding. Added to this is the ability to plink with the .38 in a .357 firearm, and the popularity is well deserved
jetrefueller
Regular
- Location
- Northern Ontario
Thanks for all the info guys it's great to have access to a terrific site like CGN
Yes, at that time they only made one model 357, and when they started making more models, this one became the model 27.
The .22s were the same way. I have a .22 I purchased new in 1953. It is simply called a "K22." That was because it was made on the heavy K frame. When they added new models this one became the model 17.
When you take the side plates off those guns and look at the works, they look like a high quality, heavy duty watch.
The .22s were the same way. I have a .22 I purchased new in 1953. It is simply called a "K22." That was because it was made on the heavy K frame. When they added new models this one became the model 17.
When you take the side plates off those guns and look at the works, they look like a high quality, heavy duty watch.
Has anyone ever actually measured the difference between the two??
You'll find its more like 1/8th of an inch not 1/10th.
Tex
Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I believe this month's issue of Shooting Times has some information about the origins of the .357 in a reprint of a Skeeter Skelton article.
