I'll be taking my Smith to a local gunsmith tomorrow, but I thought I'd ask the experts here about this unusual wear on the cylinder.

The action seems to be unusually stiff for a '50's model Smith, so maybe it's related.

The wear pattern is uniform around the cylinder.

Thanks

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Professional Trainer

That wear is called a "turn line" and it's caused by the cyl. stop touching the cyl. as it rotates. Part of it is also caused when the cyl. is closed with chambers slightly out of battery, and then rotated to lock when the stop drops into its cut. There's not much you can do about it if you're going to shoot the revolver, and the only damage it does is cosmetic.

Larry

Thanks, but I understand what a turn line is.

This one is deeper and more prominent than any revolver I've ever owned.

The gun has a low round count, but what seems to me to be significant cylinder wear.

Here's another pic of what I'm referring to:

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Professional Trainer

Your turn line is a touch more pronounced than some, and if you're having a slight binding issue, it could be related to an ill-fitting cylinder stop, or one compelled by too strong a spring.

Many other possible explanations, some quite benign. Nothing wrong with having a competent gunsmith take a look, but in general, a turn line, even like this, is nothing to be concerned about.

Does the cylinder stop (bolt) have a sharp edge on it? Can you take a close up picture of it?

Thanks for the info and reassurance.

I intend to shoot this one in spite of its age and "collectability".

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Professional Trainer

I was working on a Model 10 that had the exact same kind of turn line, though without the stiff action you describe.

I detail stripped it and found someone had put a cylinder stop spring in that was too large and it was just driving the stop into the cylinder, grinding a deeper and wider turn line than normal.

Good shooter, though -- just needed a proper spring.

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Professional Trainer

That one's standing quite tall.

I would say that the cylinder stop either has a very sharp burr or your cylinder is not rotating true or symmetrically. From what I can see in your photo, the turn line in question here is not a normal one as it seems to have bad scratching and not just the normal wearing of the cylinder finish.

I would have a GS look at it before it gets worse.

Chief38

Thanks, gentlemen.

I'll try to get it to the gunsmith tomorrow.

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Professional Trainer

Late answer, but I bet the smith simply hones the bolt a little.

I agree with Chief, that is not normal wear. The bolt seems to be sitting high and may have a rough edge or burr. The gunsmith should be able to sort things out. Make sure he knows the action is stiff, because that is probably an additional symptom of the problem that needs to be corrected. Good luck.

Live and learn

My gunsmith said the the locking bolt needed reshaping.

He's also going to work on the action for match shooting.

After recently buying a Model 41 and being impressed with the action, I expected the older K-22 to be factory tuned. It's pretty far from it.

But he's done many of them, so I expect it will shoot well and the cylinder won't continue to be marred, just the normal turn line.

Thanks for the info, gentlemen.

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Professional Trainer

It's hit and miss sometimes with any era of build.

You mind that match-level action work tends to diminish ignition reliability?

By the way, I have seen these bad turn lines on a few Smith's in the past and have also experienced a couple of bad cylinder stops over the years as well.

Must have been assembled on a Friday at 4:30 pm!

Hope your GS fixes the problem.

Chief38