S&W Recessed Cylinders?

B

baddarryl

New member
What is meant by recessed and non recessed cylinders and which is preferable? Applicable to the Model 17. Unsure about others. Thank you.
 
Non-recessed cylinders are revolvers where the rims of the rounds are stopped by the flat face of the cylinder. At one time all/most of the S&W revolvers had a recessed boring of the thickness of the rims machined into each chamber, allowing the rounds to be flush with the face of the cylinder. The practice of recessing the chambers was abandoned by S&W a few years ago. Those guns with the recessed chambers are considered to be "nicer" than the current guns. However, it was a matter of aesthetics, not necessity.
 
Even Ruger had recessed cylinders, this is from a 1967 Ruger Super Blackhawk.


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I don't care for recessed cylinders for a couple of reasons:

The first is that it is more difficult to clean. I don't like residue in the corners and it is time consuming, and requires tools, to totally clean the extractor star.

The second is that it makes it more difficult to tell the revolver is loaded. Later model S&W's you can see the case heads from the side of the revolver, with recessed heads you have to open the cylinder or point the revolver at your forehead to see the bullets.

Back in the days of balloon head cases the cylinder recesses improved safety, but since all cases are solid heads, I don't see the need.
 
At one time all/most of the S&W revolvers had a recessed boring of the thickness of the rims machined into each chamber, allowing the rounds to be flush with the face of the cylinder. The practice of recessing the chambers was abandoned by S&W a few years ago.
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Only magnum and rimfire calibers were recessed. Recessed chambers for magnums were dropped around 1982 but are still in use for rimfires. Pinned barrels (for both) were dropped at the same time. I like the older P&R models for all the non-practical reasons, but agree with slamfire's assessment.
 
In case anyone is wondering WHY recessed cylinders were used. It's because balloon head cases were predominant during that time and they benefited from the extra case support.
 
"In case anyone is wondering WHY recessed cylinders were used. It's because balloon head cases were predominant during that time and they benefited from the extra case support."

In the case of Smith & Wesson, I'm pretty sure that was never the case, as only Magnum cylinders were recessed, and as far as I know, none of the Magnum cartridges were ever loaded with balloon head cases.

All used solid-web head cases.
 
In the case of the rimfires, recessing provides an extra margin of safety against rims blowing out. A small one, but a real one, to be sure.

In the case of magnums, it was just a small "custom" looking touch that added to the class of the revolver. Magnums got all the deluxe features (at least in the early years), because they were the flagship models of the line.
 
The point of recessing the chambers was, as 44 AMP pointed out, to provide extra case head support for cartridges that were deemed at higher risk for case-head separation. Because of the relative weakness of rimfire cases, the practice of recessing rimfire S&W revolver continues to this day. I suspect that because magnums were much higher pressure than anything previously made for a revolver when they debuted that their chambers were recessed as an extra safety margin. As time went on, it became apparent that this was unneccessary and thus it was eliminated on magnums in 1982 as a cost-saving measure.
 
The second is that it makes it more difficult to tell the revolver is loaded. Later model S&W's you can see the case heads from the side of the revolver, with recessed heads you have to open the cylinder or point the revolver at your forehead to see the bullets.
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NOT A GOOD PRACTICE!

NEVER depend on seeing cartridge rims to determine if the revolver is clear. Open the cylinder and look, muzzle down. Cartridges will be visible, the firing pin indentation, or lack of it, will identify loaded or fired cartridges.

Bob Wright
 
Pinned and recessed in a centerfire S&W is preferable because the guns of that era are prettier, put together better and are more likely to work as they should.
All round better in my experience.
 
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