I saw a nickled Combat Masterpiece today that didn't have recessed chambers. The SN puts it as 1952 manufacture. The cylinder was numbered to the gun; looked like the right typeface...so not an obvious fake. The extractor star was blued and not cut either. It belongs to a friend and he says it shoots like a dream. Although the nickel if rough, the gun itself is in great shape and is very tight.

Am I missing something here? Were the Combat Masterpieces not recessed? Is this a replacement cylinder?

I'll try to get pics if they'll help.

Only magnums and .22s were recessed.

No .38SPL Smiths were ever recessed. They only recessed the magnums and .22s. Combat Magnums like the 19 which is a .357 Magnum would have recessed cylinder holes. HTH

__________________
Dick

Thanks, gentlemen.