Are cylinders interchangeable?

[stock]

I have a 27-2 8-3/8" where the cylinder has taken on a bit of a plum hue while the rest of the gun is still the deep blue finish.
I am thinking about fixing this and was considering having the cylinder reblued.
Another thought occurred, for about the same price I could get a new cylinder. My question is, what are the tolerances on cylinder length? Would it be a straight swap or am I likely to change barrel gap?
Thanks for any info.

Stock

 

[Mountainbear]

Short answer is that the cylinder needs to be fit. I believe beyond checking the barrel to cylinder gap, the extractor (if you put the old extractor in the new gun) may need to be fit, and if you use a new extractor already fit to the new cylinder, the timing may be off. Just have the one that came with the gun reblued. As long as its structurally sound, you'll save yourself hassle.

 

[H Richard]

It can be done, but may or may not fit and lock up without fitting. I was fortunate, and installed a 38 Special cylinder to my 5" Pre Victory which was 38 S&W. I used the existing extractor rod and extractor and everything fit and worked fine. Had I used a new extractor rod and extractor it would have probably need to be fitted.

 

[dfariswheel]

When installing a different cylinder, it requires carefully fitting and gaging.

Among the adjustments and things to be checked are:
Barrel/cylinder gap.
Head space.
End shake.
Timing.
Alignment.

Just because a cylinder will close into the frame and seems to have good barrel/cylinder gap is NO sign it really fits, and most non-fitted replacements DON'T really fit properly in all respects.

 

[stock]

Thanks everyone for the info. I will take your advice and get the cylinder blued.

stock