Did S&W ever make a .357 snub w/ a stainless cyl & al frame - not a Ti cly + SC frame

[warriorsociologist]

Hi All.

I've been leaning towards picking up a S&W 640 for pocket carry because I love the intangible "warmth" and polish good 'ol stainless steel has over the newer alloys. That said, I cannot ignore the weight difference between the 640 and say the 642 when it comes to pocket carry. I want a .357/.38, so it looks like the 640 and the 340 SC or PD are my only options (I don't care for the shrouded "bodyguard" style).

I used to pocket carry on occasion my 2-1/8" SP-101, but now I want something with no external hammer. I haven't rulled out the new "hammerless" sp-101, but I have a feeling that the 640 would still be easier to pocket carry that the SP-101. The only issue I have with the 620/60/and other .357 j-frames is their relatively thin forcing -cones - as compared to the SP-101...

Anyway, anyone know if there's a .357 version of the 642 out there that's not like the 340 (ti + SC)?

Thanks.

 

[ChristopherG]

The 'Scandium' frame is in fact aluminum. It's just an alloy that contains a very small percentage of Scandium (which is fantastically expensive in itself); without this strengthening element, the aluminum frame would not be able to take the torque exerted by the .357.

So the next question is, "did/does S&W make a scandium/aluminum alloy revolver in 357 with a stainless rather than a titanium cylinder?". And the answer is no, as far as I know; but I don't know why not. I mean, the 340PD is the perfect pocket gun, IMHO; but a stainless cylinder would be easier to care for, and the whole thing would weigh within an ounce of the classic airweights, I'd guess, which have proven a grillion times over to be great pocket guns.

 

[Tamara]

He's got a point: Goldilocks looked at the little Smiths and said "This steel one is too heavy for my pocket, and this AirLite beats me senseless with defensive loads, but this Airweight is just right!"

 

[warriorsociologist]

Hmmm... I wonder how much S&W would charge for a SS replacement cylinder?

 

[warriorsociologist]

Also...

regarding the "forcing cone issue," how many of you have owned model 60's, 640's, etc. that have seen a relatively high diet of .357? How have they held up? The reason I went with the SP-101 over a j-frame years ago was that I feared premature cracking, etc. in the S&W...