The early 1930’s was a time of trouble and turmoil in the US. America was in the middle of the Great Depression and Prohibition was still in effect and with it came the inevitable gangster. Police at that stage were still armed with the 38 Special and it was a common problem at that stage that the 158-grain lead round nosed bullets were ineffective against the motorised gangsters where the bullets failed to penetrate car bodies or even the windows or body armor worn by criminals. During 1929 Colt came up with a solution in their 1911 chambered 38 Super Automatic firing a 130-grain jacketed bullet at almost 1,300 fps and being able to penetrate steel car bodies and body armor. At first Smit & Wesson tried to improve the 38 Special with heavier loads for their heavy N-Frame revolvers usually chambered in the 44 Special and 45 Colt revolvers. This cartridge was called the 38-44 Special and although it offered some improvement, it still lacked the necessary stopping and penetration power required, especially when police officers were outgunned by criminals using Browning Automatic Rifles or Tommy Guns. A solution was therefore needed and in 1935, gun writer Phil Sharp and Douglas B Wesson who was the grandson of Daniel Wesson came up with it. The 38 Special case was lengthened from 1.16” to 1.29” and this new development was called the 357 Magnum when launched and called by S&W as “The World’s Most Powerful Handgun”. The new 357 Magnum was extensively used by many US Law Enforcement agencies over the years. The rest as they say is history and the cartridge is still popular today and have been chambered by almost all handgun manufacturers. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 343).
The first specimen is a brass sub-caliber device, manufacturer unknown. 3-D was by 3-D Company Inc. which later became 3-D Investments Inc and 3-D Ammunition and Bullets, Doniphan, NE. The AP headstamp was by Arms Corporation of the Philippines, (formally Squires Bingham Co.). The headstamp also occurs on Strike-Three multiball loads produced by Code 4 Industries Inc., Mesa AZ. These loads have three lead balls in a blue plastic container.
The C.I. headstamp was by Cascade Cartridges Internacional, Mexico and was an early headstamp dating from the late 70’s to early 80’s. The DENVER headstamp was by Denver Bullets & Ammunition Inc. Denver, CO on cases made for them by Starline. The ELD headstamp was by Eldorado Cartridge Co. of Boulder City, Nevada, which was wholly owned by Poongsan Metal Corp. (PMC) of Poongsan, South Korea. It is loaded with the “STARFIRE” bullet.
The Glaser headstamp was by Glaser Safety Slug Inc. Foster City, CA. The Glazer cartridges were introduced in 1981 and the original loads contained shot in a matrix of liquid teflon. The Glaser headstamp was used during between 1981 to 1986 and was made in both 38 Special and 357 Magnum. The cases were produced by Starline. Herter’s was by Herter’s Inc. Waseca, MN. The HERTERS headstamp with 2 dots were by produced for Herter’s in Sweden.
Hydra Shok loads were by Hydra-Shok Corp., Watkins Glen, NY. Their bullets were also loaded in other calibers, but their own headstamp was only done in 38 Special and 357 Magnum. Cases were by Starline. The KTW headstamp was by KTW Inc. Lorain, OH, and later North American Ordnance Corp, Pontiac, MI. KTW was established in the late-1960s by Dr. P. J. Kopsch, Dan Turcus Jr. and Donald F. Ward who developed and produced a special Teflon coated penetrating bullet initially made from an alloy called Kennertium. The LE headstamp was for Leader Trading GmbH, Ratingen, Germany and originally produced by Giulio Fiocchi, Lecco, Italy. MEN was by Metallwerk Elisenhütte G.m.b.H. Nassau, Lahn, Germany. MF is for Military Small Arms Factory No.1, Footscray, Australia. The small ‘c’ was for cases produced for the commercial market.
MIDWAY was by Midway Arms Co. Inc., Columbia, MO. MMI was a triplex load by Multiple Munitions Industries Inc. Gretna, LA. MRP was done by CBC Brazil for Magtech Recreational Products, Las Vegas, NV. National Cartridge Co. Division of Firearms Management Inc. Atlanta, GA. Cases were in all probability done by Starline. NEVINS was done by Olin for Nevins Ammunition Inc., Boise ID although some were also done by Starline.
The Ron Laesser headstamp occurs on cases produced by Starline in the late 1980s for Ron Laesser Reloading Supplies, Batavia, NY. These were only sold as empty cases.
The R-P specimens with round lead and truncated lead are both multi-ball loadings.
SB was by Empresa Nacional Santa Barbara de Industrias Militares, SA Palencia, Spain The SNC headstamp is by Surveyor,Nenniger & Chevenert
STAR headstamp was by the Star Reloading Company, Indianapolis, IN, on cases made by Starline. The shot load on SUPER VEL case was for the Thompson Contender and is known as a “HOT SHOT” load.
TRA was by TRANSARMS Germany with cases by Squires Bingham PHILLIPINES The WAHIB headstamp occurs on cases produced by Starline in the early 1970s for WAHIB Arms, which was owned by Robert W. Hibbard. The company was named for the owner’s father and son, both named Warren A. Hibbard.
The specimen with what looks like a Phillips Screw is an Ultra Shock load made by Ultra Shock Defensive Ammunition Co. CA. The shot load on W-W SUPER case was for the Thompson Contender and is known as a “HOT SHOT” load.