Chamfered Cylinders - Any advantage?

[ImDrRichard]

I was thinking of having this done for the look on my 629-6, but before I do - is it just cosmetic? Why did some earlier revolvers come with chamfered cylinders?

Thanks-

Rich

[BE Mike]

The chamfered cylinder holes aid in the use of speed loaders.

[gr8]

eh? Since the cylinder will not be that few thousands longer after the changes the rounds will merely have more room to slide back and forward inside the chambers.

Notice a revolver designed with the recessed chambers has a smaller gap between the recoil shield and the rear of the cylinder than those not recessed.

[zephyr]

Do you mean the holes or the cylinder itself?

If the chamber holes then it is done as said above, to ease insertion, generally for speed loads.

If you mean getting the front of the cylinder chamfered, that is done to make insertion of the revolver into a holster easier. Sometimes the stock flat face of a cylinder can get hung up on insertion and the chamfering makes reholstering easier.

[ken158]

Unless you are into speed reloading for a reason, it is my thought that it is as a waste of money to reduce the value of your gun. I would never buy a chamfered cylinder gun on the used market.

[Fishinfool]

I am going to assume you mean as you said, the cylinder face, and not the chamber holes. Easier holster insertion, as stated. I also believe fluted cylinders and chamfered cylinder faces were first used as methods of reducing cylinder drag caused by fouling, especially with black powder.

Larry

[amazingflapjack]

Most of the above is incorrect. Chamfering greatly eases the use of moon clips and speed loaders-has nothing to do with most of the other things mentioned. It takes the square edge off of the very top edge of the cylinder bores, and if anything, enhances gun value. If you have a moon clip gun, the difference is dramatically better.

[UncleEd]

Originally Posted by amazingflapjack

Most of the above is incorrect. Chamfering greatly eases the use of moon clips and speed loaders-has nothing to do with most of the other things mentioned. It takes the square edge off of the very top edge of the cylinder bores, and if anything, enhances gun value. If you have a moon clip gun, the difference is dramatically better.

This.

And also most chamfering is not very noticeable as the
chamber edges are ever so gently broken so as not to
be extremely sharp edged.

Interesting to comments here, the Ruger Match
Champion has, or at least did, chamfered chambers
and a tapered outside dimension, or at least did,
to the cylinder with rounded corners at the front
face.

[mike campbell]

Originally Posted by ImDrRichard

I was thinking of having this done for the look on my 629-6, but before I do - is it just cosmetic? Why did some earlier revolvers come with chamfered cylinders?

Thanks-

Rich

Seems pretty clear the OP is talking about the front edge of the cylinder and not the chamber mouths.

"Cylinder" is used twice...."chamber" is not used at all.

So, apart from cosmetics, the only practical value I see would be in holstering as some have mentioned. Putting a "black powder chamfer" on the leading face of a cylinder is a common cosmetic feature of custom single action guns.

[cmj8591]

I think chamfering the face of the cylinder would be a waste of time and money. If you were talking about chamfering the charge holes, then that is a modification that can be useful. It is good on guns using moon clips mostly, as it keeps the mouth of the cartridge from getting hung up on the rear of the cylinder when loading.

[Tom S.]

Originally Posted by cmj8591

I think chamfering the face of the cylinder would be a waste of time and money. If you were talking about chamfering the charge holes, then that is a modification that can be useful. It is good on guns using moon clips mostly, as it keeps the mouth of the cartridge from getting hung up on the rear of the cylinder when loading.

Chamfering the front of the cylinder aids in putting the gun in a holster, especially if it is new/tight holster.

[ImDrRichard]

Originally Posted by zephyr

Do you mean the holes or the cylinder itself?

If you mean getting the front of the cylinder chamfered, that is done to make insertion of the revolver into a holster easier. Sometimes the stock flat face of a cylinder can get hung up on insertion and the chamfering makes reholstering easier.

Yes - that's what I mean. Is it only for reholstering ease?😳

[wogentry]

I believe that is referred to as beveling the cylinder as opposed to chamfering the charge holes. Colt SAA aficionados discuss the cylinder bevel amongst the different eras quite often. I’d have to go back and look but didn’t the old time S&W single actions have a nice rounded bevel? And yes I believe it aids in reholstering and doesn’t scar up the leather interior of the holster.

[zephyr]

Originally Posted by ImDrRichard

Yes - that's what I mean. Is it only for reholstering ease?��

For a swing out cylinder revolver I think yes, that is the only reason.

I have one Sokol custom 66 that this was done on before I got it. It does seem to help a bit on reholstering but not so much that I would pay to have it done.

For single action revolvers it seems like it may have had additional intentions, although it seems opinions are mixed are whether it had any real value. Google "black powder chamfer" for more info.

[smoothshooter]

Originally Posted by ken158

Unless you are into speed reloading for a reason, it is my thought that it is as a waste of money to reduce the value of your gun. I would never buy a chamfered cylinder gun on the used market.

Most of the chamfered cylinders I've seen showed only minimal removal of metal. It doesn't take much to make a difference with speedloaders. I have one that has been done, and most people looking at it in detail don't even notice it.
I plan to do 3 or 4 more of my revolvers as soon as I get the time and am in the mood at the same time.
I can't tell it has any negative effects on my gun.

[BE Mike]

I have a S&W 629-3 so I was a little confused. Mine has the front of the cylinders "chamfered". I saw that images of the 629-6 doesn't have that feature. It is a cost cutting measure, I'm sure. I'd say having the front of the cylinder "chamfered" would be pretty much cosmetic. I can't say (I'm not a collector) whether or not it would detract from the gun's value.

[CH4]

I think it looks cool!

The front of the cylinder on my 625-6 MG is chamfered, but not to the same degree as my 629-2 Mountain Revolver.