Purpose of Unfluted Cylinders?

[rwsmith]

You got it....

Agreed.

They remind me of blackpowder Colts and Remingtons and on some guns they look great.

If the gun form is reminiscent of like an old Navy Colt THAT look good. Most guns, no.

Of course I look at some engraving jobs and ask the owner, "Hey, who scratched your gun up so bad?"

 

[rwsmith]

In my former parlance.......

The purpose of unfluted it primarily to create something different for us to buy. I have owned some. Also called marketing.
I would think it adds some strength, but I'm not hearing of any fluted cylinders being blown up, by normal loadings.

..unfluted would have been 'value added' as a product you paid more for because it was 'special' in some vague way.

 

[oysterer]

Peening:

Stop notch peening is more pronounced on the N frame guns - the cylinder is heavy and the inertia during fast DA has to be stopped by the cylinder stop. The unfluted cylinder is even heavier and therefor the problem could be worse, at least not less.

Stainless guns have much more and much worse stop notch peening from what I have seen. Makes sense as the stainless alloy os softer than carbon steel.

Unfluted is cheeper to make, so why should they cost more? The best look to me is the chamfered and fluted cylinder.

 

[Arisin Wind]

First ones I had were Ruger Blackhawk single action convertibles, 45 Colt/ 45 a.c.p. or 357/9mm. I always thought it was to differentiate the calibres.

They are the same caliber though.

 

[Ribwizzard]

It just odd.
Factory performance center is going to take a gun, shave both sides of the barrel away in order to make it lighter and holster quickly, but then install a unfinished cylinder that adds more weight than they shaved from the barrel and adds more width to the gun going into the holster.
Go figure

 

[Czechvar]

When I plug those two IL holes, these will be two very sleek, aerodynamic revolvers...This is the way I like it. Now, my 640 Pro has that Fluted barrel, and the Fluted cylinder seems to complement that design.

 

[Arisin Wind]

It just odd.
Factory performance center is going to take a gun, shave both sides of the barrel away in order to make it lighter and holster quickly, but then install a unfinished cylinder that adds more weight than they shaved from the barrel and adds more width to the gun going into the holster.
Go figure

Unless they increased the diameter of the cylinder the width will be the same

 

[SC_Mike]

The cool factor.

 

[squidsix]

For me its the fast way of knowing if I grabbed the .22 Magnum cylinder or the .22LR one for my Single Six. The Mag cylinder is unfluted.

 

[RoyM52]

Unless they increased the diameter of the cylinder the width will be the same

they can't increase the diameter of the cylinder. If they did , it wouldn't fit in a N frame.

 

[Rock185]

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.

 

[Arisin Wind]

they can't increase the diameter of the cylinder. If they did , it wouldn't fit in a N frame.

My point exactly

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Don't look like Rugers to me

...the increased mass causes increased wear on the notches, because they crash in to the cylinder stop with more force.

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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unfluted cylinders... they sure don't conform to my vision of the classic S&W "look".

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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[Kifaru]

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.

 

[rwsmith]

One thing good about flutes....

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.

 

[k22fan]

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.

 

[one eye joe]

...added strength...and added weight on heavy recoiling revolvers...

...the five shot ones put the cylinder locking notches between cylinders instead of over them...

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......

 

[Ribwizzard]

Unless they increased the diameter of the cylinder the width will be the same

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.

 

[Enzo]

I'm sorry, but I think they make the revolver look unfinished and cheap, like a Ruger.

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

 

[WardenRoss]

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.