Author Archives: RDoug

Did you take Wednesday’s quiz? If so, how do you think you did after that little lesson on classic collectible Smith and Wesson revolvers? Hopefully, if I did my job, you learned what is meant by S&W “pinned” barrels, “recessed” cylinders, and “dash” and “no-dash” models. As you may recall, a pinned barrel has this:

While this is an example of a nonrecessed cylinder:

And this is an example of a recessed one:

You may recall that recessed cylinders are almost flush to the recoil plate:

While nonrecessed cylinders require a gap to accommodate the protruding cartridge rim:

I then gave you a quiz with which you could test yourself. Just by identifying the year and caliber of any S&W revolver made from 1905 on, you should be able to use that information alone to tell if the revolver has a pinned barrel, a recessed chamber, both, or neither. Below is the answer sheet, with correct answers highlighted in red and underlined. Also included with each question is a note as to what makes that answer correct. Here you go:

1. Model 10-5 with uncommon 6-inch barrel; .38 S&W Special; 1969 or ’70
   a. Pinned Barrel (NOTE: correct period for pinned and recessed Smith and Wessons, but wrong caliber for a recessed cylinder — no .38 S&W Special revolvers sported recessed cylinders)
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both
   d. Neither
   
2. Model K-22 “Outdoorsman”; .22 LR; 1938
   a. Pinned Barrel
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both (NOTE: correct period for pinned barrels, and S&W recessed .22 LR cylinders starting in 1931 with the K-22 Ourdoorsman)
   d. Neither
   
3. A no-dash Model 57; .41 Magnum; 1968 or ’69
   a. Pinned Barrel
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both (NOTE: correct period, and S&W recessed cylinders on all Magnum revolvers — .357 S&W Magnum, .41 Remington Magnum, and .44 Remington Magnum)
   d. Neither
   
4. WWII “Victory” Model M&P; .38 Special; 1944
   a. Pinned Barrel (NOTE: correct period for pinned and recessed S&W, but wrong caliber for a recessed cylinder — no .38 S&W Special revolvers sported recessed cylinders)
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both
   d. Neither
   
5. Model 10-5 with common 4-inch barrel; .38 S&W Special; 1966 or ’67
   a. Pinned Barrel (NOTE: correct period for pinned and recessed S&W, but wrong caliber for a recessed cylinder — no .38 S&W Special revolvers sported recessed cylinders)
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both
   d. Neither
   
6. Model 60-7 “Ladysmith”; .38 S&W Special; 1994
   a. Pinned Barrel
   b. Recessed Cylinder
   c. Both
   d. Neither (NOTE: starting in 1982, and finishing the following year, S&W transitioned all their revolver lines away from pinned barrels and recessed cylinders)

Now that you’re knowledgeable on classic collectible Smith and Wesson revolvers, have fun hunting for one to add to your own collection.

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