What does "pinned & recessed" mean?

[Hellbore]

I gather, from searching, that pinned means there is a pin stuck through the body and barrel, to prevent the barrel from unscrewing. That makes sense.

What I can't seem to find is what a recessed cylinder is. Looking at pictures of "pinned & recessed" S&W wheelguns, I don't see anything different about the cylinders. I have a Ruger Redhawk and I don't see the difference.

What is recessed on the cylinder? What does recessed refer to? A drawing or picture illustrating the point would be nice. I have searched here and on Google and I can't figure it out.

 

[Steve F]

Recessed means that the back of the cylinder is counter bored the same diameter as the cartidge rim and is as deep as the cartridge rim is thick.Hope that helps

 

[steveno]

in a "recessed" S & W the case head is flush with the back of the cylinder.

 

[Hellbore]

Oh, ok, that makes sense.

Does that make the gun work better or just look nicer? (with the cylinder shut, you wouldn't see the brass rims like you do normally right?)

 

[Steve F]

It doesn't work any better,but does cost more to make,so they don't do it anymore,and yes to your question of not seeing the brass.

 

[Tacoma]

In therory, it adds strength to the system by surrounding the case rim. Especially comforting with magnum calibers in case of a case rupture. It's worth noteing that S&W used recessed cylinders were very common on .22 and 357 mag etc but were not used on 38 special.

 

[Hellbore]

I noticed the cylinder is recessed on my Ruger Single Six .22LR but not on my Redhawk .44 mag...

 

[thatguy]

The chambers on .22 rim-fire revolvers are commonly recessed. Ruger and Colt never recessed any center-fire calibers and S&W only did it with the 22s and the center-fire Magnums. Really makes small difference but I still miss it.

 

[steveno]

because the priming compound is in the rim of the 22 lr all 22 revolvers are going to be recessed in case of a blowout. "pinned" , "recessed" , "4 screw" are more of an indicator of a time frame when S & W had some people that really cared how a revolver was put together. these indicators aren't necessary now nor were they then to make a quality revolver. I have a M-57 (made in 1987) that doesn't have these indicators and it is every bit as good as the K-22(made in 1972) and the K-38(made in 1960).

 

[thatguy]

Opinions vary. I have a 24-3 made in 1983 that looks like crap next to my N frames from the early 1970s I don't things got better later on.

 

[pythonguy]

Hey Hellbore,

I think pinned and recessed means you put a screwdriver in the barrel. I just tonight picked-up my S&W model 27-2 that i bought on gunsamerica.com from Don's Firearms. It is in really nice condition, pinned and recessed with a deep blue. Here is a quick pic, unedited of it.

 

[mjb]

S&W used to make their revolvers like that until 1982.

 

[pete f]

On a rimfire, the recess help prevent the brass from obdurating out of round on the rim when struck but the firing pin, but helps force the impact of the strike into the primer mixture, at least that is the theory.

on centerfires it actually hinders function in someways because if you fail to keep the recess clean, gunk will gather and then cushion the blow of hte hammer against the primer. it is easier to clean a flat surface like an unrecessed cylinder, the recesses do look better.