Finally...elusive recessed cylinder

thedogdidit · Feb 12, 2026

Finally my search for the elusive recessed 45 cylinder is over. Been searching for what feels like forever, and bought 2 in a 24 hour period. One on fleabay, and one from our old friend TWRIGGEN.
My franken45 dragoon gets the 1st one.
MIGHT put the other in an original Vaquero that is gonna be slightly "pimped out" by Tylers. We'll see if that is where the other cylinder lands. Almost hate to see the drag line show up on there, but neither are gonna be safe queens.

Hondo44 · Feb 13, 2026

Congrats, I know the feeling when you finally find what you need to make your gun the way you want it. I felt the same way finding a fluted cyl for my SBH, don't like non-fluted cyls. And the Hunter grip frame and Bisley trigger.

thedogdidit · Feb 13, 2026

I like your SBH. There is def something to be said for the fluted cylinders. I hated the rollmarked one on my Bisley. So I also swapped it out for a fluted cylinder.
Before the cylinder swap she was "just there to be used in a trade for something better" before, but is one of my favorites now.
Didn't expect That one little change would have such an impact on how I felt about this revolver.

Randyzzz · Feb 13, 2026

I too have a Bisley with the rollmarked cylinder. Never cared for it although the gun itself is fantastic. Maybe it’s time to find a fluted cylinder…

MaxMan · Feb 13, 2026

Please e

thedogdidit said:
Finally my search for the elusive recessed 45 cylinder is over. Been searching for what feels like forever, and found 2 in a 24 hour period. One on fleabay, and one from our old friend TWRIGGEN.
My franken45 dragoon gets the 1st one.
MIGHT put the other in an original Vaquero that is gonna be slightly "pimped out" by Tylers. We'll see if that is where the other cylinder lands. Almost hate to see the drag line show up on there, but neither are gonna be safe queens.

Explain Recessed cylinder. Not sure what you are talking about. Revolver 101 clase here.

contender · Feb 13, 2026

"Explain Recessed cylinder."

The cylinder is cut to where the case heads are recessed into the cylinder. In the NM's,, there is no recess,, so the case heads are distinctly visible from the side.

thedogdidit · Feb 13, 2026

contender said:
"Explain Recessed cylinder."

The cylinder is cut to where the case heads are recessed into the cylinder. In the NM's,, there is no recess,, so the case heads are distinctly visible from the side.

Hondo44 · Feb 13, 2026

Recessed chambers: the case rim fits into a recessed groove at the rear end of the chamber; the bottom of the case rims are flush with the cylinder rear surface.

Non-recessed chambers: the cylinder length is shorter because the case rims stick out of the cylinder chambers.

BULL'S-EYE · Feb 13, 2026

Looks like you got it...

thedogdidit · Feb 13, 2026

BULL'S-EYE said:
Looks like you got it...

YES I did! Thanks for keeping my secret lol.
Ended up with two. The one in the pic is from sleaze bay.

thedogdidit · Feb 13, 2026

Hondo44 said:
Recessed chambers: the case rim fits into a recessed groove at the rear end of the chamber; the bottom of the case rims are flush with the cylinder rear surface.

Non-recessed chambers: the cylinder length is shorter because the case rims stick out of the cylinder chambers.

Thanks for coming to my rescue. I was way too busy working in the ER today to effectively give a detailed response. Thought that I was going to be able to circle back to answer the question, but never could. Can always count on you. Thanks again

thedogdidit · Feb 14, 2026

Randyzzz said:
I too have a Bisley with the rollmarked cylinder. Never cared for it although the gun itself is fantastic. Maybe it’s time to find a fluted cylinder…

View attachment 95143

I cannibalized my fluted cylinder from a 4 5/8" Vaquero 44 and placed it in the 44 Bisley. Then put a recessed 44 cylinder into the Vaquero. Very nice combo now

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

Randyzzz said:
I too have a Bisley with the rollmarked cylinder. Never cared for it although the gun itself is fantastic. Maybe it’s time to find a fluted cylinder…

View attachment 95143

Which grip frame is that one? RW? I can't tell if the frame is actually finger grooved, or if the panels are. It looks like it would be much more stable, and comfortable.

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

MaxMan said:
Please e

Explain Recessed cylinder. Not sure what you are talking about. Revolver 101 clase here.

Recessed on the left, non recessed on the right.

Randyzzz · Feb 17, 2026

thedogdidit said:
Which grip frame is that one? RW? I can't tell if the frame is actually finger grooved, or if the panels are. It looks like it would be much more stable, and comfortable.

It’s a RW called the BFG-L. Not a cataloged item, but Ronnie will make you one. The finger grooves are in the frame, and it really tames the .44MAG.

MaxMan · Feb 17, 2026

thedogdidit said:
Recessed on the left, non recessed on the right.

Thanks, I'm feeling smarter already. Now, advantages? Not just cosmetic but any substantial?

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

MaxMan said:
Thanks, I'm feeling smarter already. Now, advantages? Not just cosmetic but any substantial?

To me, the advantages are purely cosmetic. Just that little extra custom touch to make it how I want it to look. It removes that gap behind the cylinder. That "finished" look. If there is any mechanical advantage, I am not aware of it. I am beginning to snatch up recessed cylinders when I find them. I just got lucky and found a absolutely mint recessed 41 mag cylinder. Don't have a 41 mag to put it in yet, but hope to find a good deal on a 4 5/8". I have one 41 but it is a safe queen. Unfired 41 bisley with a fluted cylinder. Complete package.

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

Randyzzz said:
It’s a RW called the BFG-L. Not a cataloged item, but Ronnie will make you one. The finger grooves are in the frame, and it really tames the .44MAG.

Dang it Randy. Now I want one!!
Is your powdercoated aluminum? I really wish steel was an option for his frames.
Feel free to send yours to me to see if I like it.....I'll hold my breath until you do.

Randyzzz · Feb 17, 2026

thedogdidit said:
Dang it Randy. Now I want one!!
Is your powdercoated aluminum? I really wish steel was an option for his frames.
Feel free to send yours to me to see if I like it.....I'll hold my breath until you do.

It is aluminum, ceracoated in E100 black. The guy doing the coating sorta misunderstood what I was talking about- I said I didn’t want it glossy, so he made it matte. I shouldn’t have said anything. He did it for free as a favor so I can’t complain, and it looks and feels great IMO. If the bluing on the gun wasn’t perfect I’d have him do the whole thing matte. On the plus side, he did an old XR-3 frame at the same time and it looks like the old finish dead on. I may have him do that Liberty .45 in the same finish all over once I decide on a grip frame…Ronnie has a Super Blackhawk extended .300 with a Bisley trigger guard coming for me…that might be a contender.

I like the aluminum as it keeps the weight down.

Don’t hold your breath…cause this isn’t going anywhere.

MaxMan · Feb 17, 2026

S

thedogdidit said:
To me, the advantages are purely cosmetic. Just that little extra custom touch to make it how I want it to look. It removes that gap behind the cylinder. That "finished" look. If there is any mechanical advantage, I am not aware of it. I am beginning to snatch up recessed cylinders when I find them. I just got lucky and found a absolutely mint recessed 41 mag cylinder. Don't have a 41 mag to put it in yet, but hope to find a good deal on a 4 5/8". I have one 41 but it is a safe queen. Unfired 41 bisley with a fluted cylinder. Complete package.

sounds like a vicious cycle. I have a cylinder now I need a gun oh now I have a gun now I need the cylinder and on and on and on........................

Randyzzz · Feb 17, 2026

MaxMan said:
S

sounds like a vicious cycle. I have a cylinder now I need a gun oh now I have a gun now I need the cylinder and on and on and on........................

Heck…I’ve bought a gun because I had a box of ammo…

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

Randyzzz said:
Heck…I’ve bought a gun because I had a box of ammo…

haha me too!!

thedogdidit · Feb 17, 2026

MaxMan said:
S

sounds like a vicious cycle. I have a cylinder now I need a gun oh now I have a gun now I need the cylinder and on and on and on........................

You aint wrong. This is def an addiction. But at least it is one that is very rewarding. It has def become a passion. Very similar to my coin collecting, but a helluva lot more fun.

P.S. this revolver cycle that I described is not "the norm". I have this thing about me that prevents me from leaving ANYTHING stock. I am that guy that absolutely MUST personalize and customize everything I own. Hotrods, motorcycles, boats, and well....EVERYTHING.
I kinda wish I didn't have that gene. Be a lot cheaper for me.

Randyzzz · Feb 18, 2026

thedogdidit said:
You aint wrong. This is def an addiction. But at least it is one that is very rewarding. It has def become a passion. Very similar to my coin collecting, but a helluva lot more fun.

P.S. this revolver cycle that I described is not "the norm". I have this thing about me that prevents me from leaving ANYTHING stock. I am that guy that absolutely MUST personalize and customize everything I own. Hotrods, motorcycles, boats, and well....EVERYTHING.
I kinda wish I didn't have that gene. Be a lot cheaper for me.

We could be good friends. I have sold vehicles before because I realized that it would be a shame to modify a “survivor”, but if I couldn’t modify it, I didn’t want it. I can’t leave stock wheels and tires on anything I drive. Not to mention stereos, speakers, etc. I used to own a custom shop, built hot rods and custom Jeeps and did a lot of LS swaps. There’s not much of anything that can’t be made better with a little modding…

My Ruger Old Models are the first thing that I respect and enjoy enough to keep stock- even then I’ve succumbed to the temptation on some. Nothing that can’t be reversed, however.

Finally...elusive recessed cylinder

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