Model 66-1 recessed but not pinned??

[Model29-26.5]

I've seen a couple of these recently.
Recessed but not pinned?
Could these be replacement recessed cylinders or did they go through a period of recessing without pinning?
Both of these were/are 66-1's.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

NOPE.........S&W typically used up existing parts during a change-over......Not rare as it happens all across the S&W lines.

 

[Breakaway500]

Some call them "transitional": pin..no counter bore...and no pin but counterbored. I recently bought one factory engraved with counterbored cylinder,but no barrel pin. S&W using up what they have on hand.

 

[Model29-26.5]

NOPE.........S&W typically used up existing parts during a change-over......Not rare as it happens all across the S&W lines.

Ok. Thanks.
I posted this by mistake twice as I'm having sign in problems with my iPhone.
Keeps wanting me to sign in and it looked like there was no post the first time.

 

[murphydog]

The "transitional" guns almost always have the recessed cylinder and unpinned barrel. They probably made more cylinders than barrels for whatever reason.

 

[toddimusnimski]

The "transitional" guns almost always have the recessed cylinder and unpinned barrel. They probably made more cylinders than barrels for whatever reason.

Interesting! I've always assumed that the barrels were installed into the frames and then the whole assembly was drilled/machined together to accept the pin. But then I see ads for NOS barrels with the notch already in the threads to accommodate the pin. So were barrels and frames prepped separately? Hmmm...

If barrels were indeed pre-drilled for the pin, I wouldn't be surprised to see numerous pinned-ready barrels from that era that the factory installed into frames after they stopped drilling them for the pin. No way to tell unless the barrel is removed.

Todd

 

[Model19man]

They were cut for pins before assembly which led to the conclusion that the pin was not necessary.

 

[Engine49guy]

A revision change usually denotes a new different part change.
If the order came down to delete the barrel pin alone it would not warrant a revision change as no new parts have changed.
When the supply of recessed cylinders was exhausted the new non recessed cylinders were installed and the revision advanced to 66-2 denoting the new different part.
Btw the same thing with many other models,
I have a late production 27-2 that is not pinned but has a recessed cylinder.
Also had an opportunity to remove the barrel on a 19-5 years ago which had no barrel pin but the barrel was cross cut for a pin.

 

[stansdds]

S&W did not waste parts, so when an engineering change came along, older parts would often be used until the parts supply was exhausted. There seem to be a good number of magnum revolvers that has recessed chambers, but non-pinned barrels. I am not surprised to read that at least some of those barrels still had the notch for the pin machined into the barrel shank, but were fitted to non-pinned frames.