Recoil Shield Question

Handgunner00

Handgunner00

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Considering a vintage 27-2 with flawless bluing and a nearly invisible, hair thin cylinder turn line. Seller/collector opines this 27-2 may only have been factory test fired. But there is about a half inch streak through the center of the recoil shield that is down to the steel. See attached pic. Would it take more than test firing to produce this streak, or would test firing be enough?

Thanks.
 

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I do not see any brass imprints from cartridge case heads on the recoil shield, so that lends credence to the argument that it has not been fired since the factory test firing. The wear you do see is from the center pin and ratchet dragging during repeated opening and closing of the cylinder. Take a look at the front of the cylinder, you should see a faint burn ring around every-other chamber.
 
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You nailed it, stansdds, a fellow Virginian. There is a faint burn ring around every other chamber viewed from the front of the cylinder. Presume this evidence indicates a three-round factory test firing, which I have read was standard in years past. Therefore, as Tom suggests, the streak is most likely from routine cylinder openings. Thanks, guys.
Peter
 
While I do agree that the wear is from opening and closing the cylinder, to be honest it does look to be a bit excessive. Almost seems like the head spacing might not be right and there is too little space at the rear of the cylinder. Could also be a poorly fit or overly thick ejector star.
 
chief38 said:
While I do agree that the wear is from opening and closing the cylinder, to be honest it does look to be a bit excessive. Almost seems like the head spacing might not be right and there is too little space at the rear of the cylinder. Could also be a poorly fit or overly thick ejector star.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, due to human fitters, not all revolvers are blessed with nominal clearances. I agree, odds are this revolver has almost zero end shake. Either that or there is something under the extractor preventing it from fully seating. Given all the metal debris involved in manufacturing and fitting revolvers, debris or even a raised edge cannot be ruled out.
 
Humm, the heaviest wear seems to be while the cylinder is moving into the frame, rather than from rotation. Curious. Poorly fitted frame lug?

Might be the way the pic is taken, but the bolt seems to not be level with the breech face. Not an issue for a safe queen.
 
Yes the extractor star is clearly dragging on the breech face causing excessive wear. You can probably feel excessive friction when closing the cylinder.

Make sure the extractor rod is screwed in completely and tight. And that there's no pressure on the front end of the rod from contacting the front end of the shroud under the barrel when cylinder is closed.

Clean under the star for debris keeping it from fully seating in it's recess.

Feel the under side of the star for manufacturing tool cutting burrs on the sharp edges keeping it from fully seating in it's recess. Hone them off with a fine flat stone if found.

Lubricate extractor star shaft.

Check for burrs on the edges of the rear surface of the star and stone then off if found.

Touch-up the worn area with cold blue, open and close cylinder a few times and see if the excess friction still exists. Observe for new scratch marks in the cold blued area.
 
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Thanks all for your invaluable technical analyses of this recoil shield issue. With this thread in hand, I'll have my local gunsmith assess this 27-2 to be sure it is functioning properly.
 
The wear is from opening and closing the cylinder. While it is a bit more than usually seen, if the cylinder opens and closes smoothly without drag there is no problem. If the cylinder only shows burns around three, alternate, charge holes the gun has not been fired except the function-firing done at the factory.
 
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