The first time I encountered an overhung crank system (ie, the connecting rods and pistons outside of the end bearing I was stunned. IR made it work for as many years as they made compressors the T-30 type (60 some years?).
They made a design choice, few if any other mfgs did. It worked well. Easy access if you needed to work on the Con Rods or Pistons.
45D has provided real world tests to back up his statements. Everything he has stated has proven to be reality even if I had a hard time getting it.
Now what an engineer would work out today if he was given the project to compare the two designs? None of us can say.
We do know the Open Top will take a conversion cylinder with some hot loads and a top strap will not.
We also know a comparable S&W 500 comes in at 5 lbs. That is with the latest in Materials and design. I saw one guy refuse to shoot his friends 4 inch.
The limit is recoil tolerance not what style support system is there.
And the aspect of an SA Top Strap that does not have a swing out cylinder vs top strap that does. A design and build on the Open Top design and its weight with modern materials would be a fun thing to see.
In a bit of stupidity I got to proof test the 47 Walker with a double charge of Unique. The 47 Walker did just fine.
They made a design choice, few if any other mfgs did. It worked well. Easy access if you needed to work on the Con Rods or Pistons.
45D has provided real world tests to back up his statements. Everything he has stated has proven to be reality even if I had a hard time getting it.
Now what an engineer would work out today if he was given the project to compare the two designs? None of us can say.
We do know the Open Top will take a conversion cylinder with some hot loads and a top strap will not.
We also know a comparable S&W 500 comes in at 5 lbs. That is with the latest in Materials and design. I saw one guy refuse to shoot his friends 4 inch.
The limit is recoil tolerance not what style support system is there.
And the aspect of an SA Top Strap that does not have a swing out cylinder vs top strap that does. A design and build on the Open Top design and its weight with modern materials would be a fun thing to see.
In a bit of stupidity I got to proof test the 47 Walker with a double charge of Unique. The 47 Walker did just fine.