You could say the same thing if Elmer had started with the 45 Colt. Tighten the cylinder bore and strengthng the frame and there might never have been a 44 mag. Both required modifications to existing firearms.
Not really, the path is quite clear. He did start with the .45 and the guns weren't strong enough for what he was trying to accomplish. It couldn't have happened any other way.
The large frame Ruger .45 did not come about because Ruger wanted to build a stronger .45 to explore the cartridge's potential. It came about because when the .45 debuted, they were only two years from consolidating all Blackhawks into the large New Model frame.
