My first pinned and recessed S&W

J

jabba21

New member
I picked up this Smith & Wesson 19-3 a couple of days ago. It's not my first Smith revolver, but it is my first P&R Smith. This particular one is from 1971. I'd say the bluing is probably 95%. There are a few worn spots around the crane and end of barrel. It locks up tight and is very smooth though.

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Fantastic revolver. I am deeply in love with my 19-3 -- so much, that it forced me to move my 19-4 out and in to the hands of a guy who really, really wanted to buy it for his Dad, to replace a revolver that he was forced to sell years ago. Great gun karma on that one.

Love the stocks on yours -- great color to that wood.
 
Pined and recessed......

Almost by default, I came into posession of a 19-3 myself about 2 months ago. Having never owned a S&W revolver (I am an auto guy mostly), was confused about what "pinned and recessed" meant. I am now aware of the recessed cylinder....what makes it pinned? Forgive my lack of knowledge. LOL.

J
 
what makes it pinned

On the first photo just above the front of the cylinder you can see a small pin that goes across the width of the frame. This locks the barrel to the frame and keeps it from rotating in the frame.
SWEET 19
 
Up until 1982 S&W used a cross pin to help secure the barrel. See photo below. In 1982 they went with the crush fit and had a lot of trouble after that with barrels coming off, cracking, and all other manner of things.

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Before someone asks, the recessed refers to the counter bored chambers on the magnum and rim fire calibers. See photo below.

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Various magnum models dropped the pin at various times, same with the recessed cylinder. You can find pinned, non recessed guns and recessed, but unpinned.

586/581 and 686/681 models were never pinned or recessed.
 
Good deal, I had a Model 19 that was pinned and recessed and it was a very nice, a little wear on it, but nothing major.
 
The order to delete the pin and recess features came through at the same time in 1982. However, there were left over parts in inventory that were used up meaning you can indeed find some guns that were not supposed to be P&R with one feature or the other as older parts were used. In fact, it appears they ran out of pinned barrels for some models as many 4" 27-2s made 1980-1981 lack the pinned barrel which wasn't supposed to happen until the issue of the 27-3.

I have a 25-2 made in 1980 with a 6.5" barrel. This was supposed to be changed to a 6" barrel starting in 1979 so apparently some older barrels were being used up on this model.

When you have a large number of various models and boxes full of parts these things can happen.
 
Because the pinned and recessed features were (mostly) eliminated in 1982 or so and the Model 28 was discontinued around 1986, does it follow that Model 28s made from 1982 through 1986 were not pinned and recessed? I ask this because I can't recall ever seeing a Model 28 that wasn't pinned and recessed. Just curious.
 
Yes on the 28-3. But the model is rarely seen. I have never actually seen one in person. By that time revolver sales were slowing to a trickle.
 
Very nice Model 19 you have there.

It was my good fortune a few years back to encounter a guy who wanted to get rid of his p&r nickel plated Model 13. Smith k-frames are just great firearms. The p&r examples seem to be gaining some traction among enthusiasts.
 
What's the advantage/disadvantage of the recess? I would imagine the recessed version is maybe more ammo finicky?
 
Not really any advantage/disadvantage to the recess although the entire rim of the cartridge was encapsulated in the cylinder. The process was abandoned because more machining was required, thus more expensive to manufacture. A simple cost cutting measure.
 
Advantages to the recessed chambers:
kinda "cool", gives the loaded revolver a different look, for sure. They also tend to sit in there flush & snug, where with all the newer Smith & Wesson revolvers, the cartridges tend to move a bit fore & aft freely. (this is not a problem in any manner, as long as it doesn't annoy you)

Also an advantage in that you can refer to your revolver as "pinned & recessed" :p:D

Disadvantages to the recessed chambers:
a bit more work to clean them, it gives you a nice little area for crud & filth to build and perhaps some "sharper edges" if you go in there with a patch or soft cloth. There's also the fact that so many folks prefer the cool "pinned & recessed" older revolvers, you might see a bit of a premium for those that have them

Functionally, there's not a lot of obvious difference. Both work perfectly well.
 
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