Need To Settle A Bet...

[statelineblues]

I have had a long running "disagreement" with a friend of mine, and am hoping to get it resolved here - or at least get my $ from him!

The Smith & Wesson K models - was the same frame used on the .38 and the .357, or did S&W reinforce the magnum frames (i.e., the Model 13 or 19) to handle the more powerful loads?

Thanks!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Best I know it's the same frame. If it was different they would have called it a different frame model.

 

[mete]

I think they were the same . However it can be very difficult to tell if a maker has different specs. They could use different type of steel or different heat treatment or subtle differences in dimensions. For example when the Savage 99 came out in 308 Win there were changes in material to handle the higher pressures but nothing visible IIRC.The Marlin 1895 went through similar changes as did the S&W M29.

 

[rbernie]

At one point along in the past, I asked the same question. Old Fuff indicated that the frame dimensions were the same but that the metallurgy (ally and heat treatment) were different.