There may have been a time when a little extra steel in a cylinder was quite welcome. Now days, I don't know, probably just aesthetics. In any case I've liked the unfluted cylinders since my first Super Blackhawk a very long time ago.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

My point exactly

If so then all N-frame 357 revolvers should show increased wear over a N-frame 45ACP revolver, being the .357 cylinder is heavier, by virtue of it's smaller holes, than the .45's ?

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Exactly. I've got plenty with the "Classic" look. A little variety is nice.

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TALO 686+, 5" bbl.


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Waiting for the break of day

No one has mentioned this yet, so maybe it's just me. But I find that when using a speed loader my fingers extend just a bit past the bullet noses. Then I can use the flutes in the cylinder to help index the loader by feel much easier. Additionally, with the twist-type of speed loaders such as the HKS or 5 Star, the flutes make it easier for me to hold the cylinder still while operating the loader. So for practical reasons I prefer a fluted cylinder. As far as aesthetics, I'm agnostic. It's definitely subjective.

When you are turning your cylinder by hand, you can feel when the cylinder with an unfired round is on top.

PS The notch for the percussion caps in old pistols on the unfluted cylinders. All that just made them look more..........DANGEROUS!

Maybe I could order a center fire revolver with an unfluted cylinder with faux notches cut into the back.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I like flutes. After typing up a long reply explaining unfluted cylinders were illogical I decided my reply was too negative and it would be better to post the one way unfluted cylinders have been beneficial for me. My most used match revolver is an unfluted 3 7/8" 10 mm. I use an old Erinie Hill break front leather holster. Spring pressure forces its sides to grip the revolver. The forward edges of its sides slip into flutes as they are drug past. In contrast an unfluted cylinder smoothly slips forward out of its grip.

IMHO, THE ADDED STRENGTH AND WEIGHT IS SO MARGINAL, AS TO BE INCONSEQUENTIAL......

THE REAL GAIN IS IN APPEARANCE, FOR THOSE OF US THAT LOVE THE LOOK......

BELOW IS MY 8 3/8" M629, CLASSIC HUNTER......

Attached Images

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

On a 6 shooter, the flutes actually make the gun narrower at the area where the flutes are. This gives it an advantage when being holstered.

Me too. Looks like a Monday gun where they missed a step in the manufacturing process......

The flutes make reloading in the dark easier. You can feel the rotation and index the rounds going in quickly.

I was taught this back-in the-day at the academy. We had to do night firing with dump pouch reloads. Yes, it was in complete darkness and you’ve lost your night vision because of the muzzle and cylinder blast.

Plus, we were taught to keep the target in view and weren’t allowed to look down at the revolver when loading. In other words, we could quickly reload even blindfolded.

I think this was good combat training for a case when you could possibly be blinded by pepper spray, sand or even blood in your eyes.

This may be a lost skill. I still find myself practicing it.




Pecked out on my iPhone.

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Death? Smile back...

They exist to create that unsettled feeling in me that somehow I won't feel complete until I've filled a shelf in my safe with unfluted revolvers in all the calibers I already own...

THESE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES. I LIKE CYLINDERS SANS FLUTES ESP ON BLUED GUNS. IT NEGATES CONSTANT CLEANING OF THE FLUTES, THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THINNING OF THE BLUE ON SHARP EDGES.....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

People keep posting pics, but they just dont look right. Almost like someone lost the cylinder and stuck a craftsman socket in there to fool someone.

I like the looks of a fluted cylinder and an unfluted cylinder equally. I have a PC 629 with the unfluted cylinder and a fluted barrel.

I love my Rugers. Only two have unfluted cylinders - the stainless shopkeeper .22, and 1976 Colorado Centennial .22, which are both engraved.

A lot of great answers here, but I think it needs to be quantified a bit better to the "correct" one...

- Originally, there no doubt the cylinders were sans-fluting due to it being easier and cheaper from a production/machining aspect.

- After the advent of the "magnum" era, I would bet that it was done for 2 reason: 1). make the cylinder at least "look" stronger and possibly actually be even just marginally stronger. 2). Offer at least some added weight to help mitigate recoil on the "magnums".

- Today: I'd bet it's done for similar "excuses" (read; sales points) mentioned in the last explanation with the added benefit of being cheaper to produce while making the pistol appear stronger and thus command more $$ on the sales prices and thus higher profits for the manufacturer.

Personally, I like the look of the unfluted cylinder on the big hand-cannons, but utility wise, the fluted cylinders are considerably more "usable" for grip/alignment, weight savings for small CCW types of revolvers and the other reasons many mentioned here...

What's the purpose for an unfluted cylinder? Maybe nowadays, the correct answer is "because they can"...
LoL..

I just read post #67. It made me remember a conversation I had at an LGS with a salesman I hardly spoke to(I dont know his name- but I could recognize him if I saw him...).
I was ordering a unfluted revolver and the sales guy says," you see what Smith and Wesson did there? They put a beefier cylinder.....blah, blah bbn lah!"
I thought to myself, "beefier cylinder"? Like stronger? What does that mean? I know they're marginally heavier by a bit. But after the gun was said and sold. He remarked, beefier?

Was this a sales ploy? I mean I went looking for the gun, right? I knew what I was getting.
Was he repeating something maybe he had overheard?

Just something I remembered. Whether it adds to the pot or detracts from it. Take what you will. I have both kinds and they both look good while I'm holding them.


Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Seriously? 45 colt and 45 acp are the same caliber? 357 and 9 mm are the same caliber?
Ok, technically you are right. Same diameter (within a few 1000s) but the term caliber has come to denote cartridge in this day and age, not diameter. I have a Single Six in 22/22 wmr. The 22 lr is fluted, the 22 wmr is unfluted. It is not for strength, but really for quick identification. Same caliber DIFFERENT cartridge!
Just to be clear.

I prefer unfluted cylinders. I have several Smiths with unfluted cylinders. and think that mostly it is about what you prefer.

I wonder if the unfluted cylinders, being heavier, increase double action trigger pull. It stands to reason it would in the same gun with the same action. However, I don't know how much and have never been able to find a six shot 627-2 fluted cylinder to actually measure the difference, It might not even be significant enough to worry about.

Oh, and I think the heavier cylinder would hammer the yoke barrel more, increasing the frequency of endshake.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I would think the fluted cylinder , with increased surface area , and less mass. Would also dissipate heat faster.

So, all said and done, there seems to be quite a few advantages derived from the extra machine work required to flute a cylinder. And no real advantage to having one that is not ( unless your planning on rolling out some dough or pastries with your sidearm).
So seems to be some prefer the looks of a unfinished gun. S&W should not rifle the barrel, leave off the sights. Put clear plexiglas grips.and no trigger guard. Probably have people lined up to buy them.
And before you put blisters on your fingers typing angry responses. I am just having fun teasing.

^^^^^ What he said, Ruger Super Blackhawk.....unfluted, a very nice looking handgun.......

Only the post 1976 Ruger Single Six extra cylinder is non-fluted. And it's to distinguish between the two different cartridges; they're both the same caliber.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

They'd be a good match since they have a lifetime warranty too.

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Waiting for the break of day

But only on the right gun.
I only own one - a 29-3 Classic Hunter, and it just looks right.
For the unfluted cylinder to "work" for me aesthetically requires a longer barrel, preferably with a full underlug.
Kinda has to have a similar silhouette as the old Colt Navy....

Jeez.....like women talking about guys. Circumcised or un-circumcised?

Aloha, Mark

both my Heritage and new Ruger .22 combos have a separate cylinder for magnum; I assumed it was to have a bold differentiation to prevent a doofus from putting the wrong cartridge in: a safety feature.

can you image a doofus putting a .22 lr into a magnum cylinder? after I finally pried the shell out...

also: all the gushing over how the smooth one looks must make this topic a finalist for esoteric fetishes of the world.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM. SMOOTH CYLINDERS ARE DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE GUN PORN SUBJECTS......

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

To shorten the life of cylinder stops of course. (armorer perspective)

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I always thought a model 17 or 617 Classic Hunter 10 shot with unfluted cylinder would have been a neat idea. In the end I think the biggest thing the unfluted cylinder does is put your money in S&W's band accounts. I own several of both, no strong feelings on the matter either way.

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Lynnie, Professional Pest

Yeah!

But then almost everything about serious S&W collecting is esoteric, or even gun collecting in general to the rest of the population.

That's one reason we're sometimes accused of having "arsenals".

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Jim
S&WCA #819

THAT'S FUNNY, BUT POSSIBLY TRUE.....lo

IN A RARE MOMENT OF EMPATHY FOR S&W, I WILL SAY THAT THE SHORTER LIFE OF CYLINDER STOPS, IS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE.

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Because they can I guess:

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Where's my froggy?

With modern metals, I am sure the strength may only be an issue in the big cannons. More weight and cool looks, and they DO look good on the right gun.