Fluted and Unfluted Cylinders

Mehutch · #51 09-15-2020, 01:50 PM

I think they look special, what ever the reason, I like them.

See what I mean.

NYlakesider · #52 09-15-2020, 03:57 PM

I doubt (never say never) that I will have a flutless Rev in my accumulation. Who knows I might just win one in a gun raffle!

HOUSTON RICK · #53 09-15-2020, 08:20 PM

Unfluted cylinders look "cool". I wanted to buy a TALO Model 686, but lost patience.

Seamus O'Caiside · #54 09-15-2020, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOUSTON RICK

Unfluted cylinders look "cool".

I think that's the answer. It might be my imagination (I haven't kept records) but it seems to me that unfluted cylinders are most often seen on more-powerful guns. They really don't make the cylinders any stronger, but in the eyes of many people they make the gun look like it is a big, mean, powerful bruiser.

Mike, SC Hunter · #55 09-15-2020, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtcarm

Flutes were indeed developed to catch fouling on black powder revolvers to keep the cylinder from binding. IDK how well they worked

The higher prices of un-fluted S&Ws is due to their never having been produced in volume. I'm not sure there's ever been an un-fluted model that was a standard-catalog item. Pretty much all are either PC or limited production runs.

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25-7 in 45LC

oysterer · #56 09-15-2020, 10:10 PM

They do look cool I get it but I do not like them for reloading, just not used to it and like others have said: I don't believe it's good to have extra weight for the hand to labor turning.

I love best fluted and with a chamfer, that's the look I like

Charlie Foxtrott · #57 09-16-2020, 12:38 AM

To give certain smaller runs of guns a certain distinctive look. When I bought my model 25-7, I decided that I really liked it. The unfluted cylinder along with the matt blue (almost black) finish. I think it gives the gun a somewhat subdued, all business look to it.

Additionally I bought a 3" model 29-4 that has the unfluted cylinder which also gives it a very distinctive look. Which is probably why I bought a second one for a spare

jcs266 · #58 09-16-2020, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelslaver

I am in the camp that doesn't get the unfluted cylinders. But, hey if it floats your boat thats great. Choice is good.

I am also a 6 shooter guy. Don't have any 7, 8 or 9 shooters. My brain says empty at 6. Shot competition and a bunch of 6 guns. Fire six reload. I have some 5 shot revolvers, model 36, 37, 296 396 696 and of course my 500. Always kind of wondered if I got in a gunfight with a 5 shooter would I try to fire 6 times? Mental habits can be hard to break.

I'm the same way ref 6-shot revolvers. Sorry but a revolver has SIX shots. I bought my 4" 686 and intentionally selected the 6-shot over the 7-shot that was right next to it.

Now admittedly I do have a 7-shot 686+ but that's my one and only and if they'd had a 6-shot I would have chosen that, but I do LOVE the 3" bbl. Easily carried all day.

As to the subject at hand... I don't mind unfluted if I like the gun overall otherwise, but I would choose fluted if I had a choice.

CH4 · #59 09-16-2020, 12:23 PM

I like the look if it matches the barrel profile, e.g., full lug barrel as opposed to guns with unfluted cylinders mated to guns with fluted cylinders, such as my 627-5. To my mind unfluted cylinders:

are cheaper to manufacture
appeal to many who like the aesthetic

THE PILGRIM · #60 09-16-2020, 01:24 PM

Some of you guys are Way overthinking this one!
I like Unfluted just fine, own a couple, but it’s not a major factor in my Life!

S&WIowegan · #61 09-16-2020, 02:09 PM

Here's my take based primarily on my action shooting with revolvers,i.e. USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, etc. Stainless steel as used by S&W is softer than blue steel. The extra weight of unfluted cylinders hastens the peening that occurs at bolt notches. Competitors in bowling pin matches learned that blued guns peened way less than stainless ones when shooting heavy loads as fast as possible.

My most notable experience with peening happened during a USPSA match at PASA Park some years ago. I using a 6-shot 625 and shooting many stages in a day. Eventually. the peening got so severe the bolt would skip right over the notch resulting in an out of time revolver. I had to switch to a back-up gun to finish the match. After the match we managed to figure out what happened.

Lastly, I have a 4" 657 with an unfluted cylinder. A 6-shot N-frame revolver chambered for 10mm already has more steel in the cylinder than a 625. With no flutes the gun feels heavy as a boat anchor.