why "non-fluted"?

[Bumpus13]

Yeah, I’m not a big fan of the look on a Smith … but, whatever floats your boat.

 

[Krogen]

. . . and then there's this: Ruger(R) LCR(R) Double-Action Revolvers

Neither fish nor fowl; perhaps just foul.

 

[RoyM52]

I own a non-fluted 629-3 because after an incident in the woods involving a 575 pound black bear wounded by a pick-up truck. I decided that my Ruger 357 single action pre transfer plate was not enough. {I think it was 1990}{BTW the bear totaled the brand new pick-up, the truck was only one week old, according to the owner}

I went into a local gun store and the only brand new 44 mag Smith that they had in the showcase was a non-fluted 6 inch. So I bought it. Much nicer back-up gun for my 444 Marlin {24 inch barrel on mine} Hunting the wounded is not for the faint of heart.

[/IMG]

BTW this turns this thread into a bear thread

 

[S&W-Keeper]

My only non-fluted is a model 610.There is more area to get scratches on the cyl.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Hmmm...reading these responses, I think this really comes down to a matter of esthetics and styling. Given the strength and reliability of modern firearms, and how little time many of us actually spend shooting them, I don't think there's any practical effect one way or the other.

Currently, I don't have any non-fluted S&W revolvers. I do have several Rugers, and I just bought this Freedom Arms 97...

 

[armorer951]

I own a non-fluted 629-3 because after an incident in the woods involving a 575 pound black bear wounded by a pick-up truck. I decided that my Ruger 357 single action pre transfer plate was not enough. {I think it was 1990}{BTW the bear totaled the brand new pick-up, the truck was only one week old, according to the owner}

I went into a local gun store and the only brand new 44 mag Smith that they had in the showcase was a non-fluted 6 inch. So I bought it. Much nicer back-up gun for my 444 Marlin {24 inch barrel on mine} Hunting the wounded is not for the faint of heart.

[/IMG]

BTW this turns this thread into a bear thread

From your photo, looks like a stainless frame, with an add-on, nickel plated, un-fluted cylinder. Does the cylinder have an "N" stamped on the rear face?

 

[cmj8591]

The main purpose of the unfluted cylinder is to separate gun collectors from their hard earned money. As in: " I already have ten model 29's but I really, really need one with an unfluted cylinder!". To me unless they have a ranger and Indian scene engraved on them, it just makes the gun look like they forgot to do something when they built it.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

My only one without flutes.

Considering the machining on the barrel, the flute-free cylinder
makes it look as though they forgot to do something. I like this
PC 627. I'd prefer the esthetics of flutes, but I bought this one to
carry not ogle (I have Chiefs for that -- you know, the pretty ones
where the cylinder fills its cavity).

This one's 2 lbs 9 ozs, loaded with Lead-free Barnes 140gr .357s.
I doubt flutes would have changed that enough to be noticeable in
the leather or upon presentation.

 

[RoyM52]

The 629-3 pictured above is all stainless. I bought it new, the model had just come out. It is the way it came from the factory. The lighting might be deceiving you.I bought all these new, they are all stainless. {a M 69, a M 629-6 and 629-3
compare

[/IMG]

 

[AveragEd]

Your 629-3 is the .44 Magnum counterpart to my 686-3 Classic Hunter posted above. The ramp front sight is pretty unique to the Classic Hunters. That puzzles me because while I prefer black sights, especially the Patridge version, for hunting a sight with some color in it like a red ramp would be preferable.

Ed

 

[kbm6893]

I hate the looks of them and wouldn’t buy a revolver with an unfluted cylinder.

 

[RoyM52]

I have a Patridge sight on my 617 no dash 4 inch I bought new about the same time as when I bought the 629-3 6 inch. It was black and I put a bit of red fingernail polish on it because I liked having some color. It is my carry gun for snowshoeing.

 

[pasound]

I have one, my 3" GP-100 .44spl. I like the extra weight. Balances easily.

 

[Irate45]

When I had this 24-3 built and rechambered for .45 Colt, I wanted the extra weight of the unfluted cylinder and the bull barrel. Shooting 200 grain semi wadcutters with 8 grains of Unique makes it feel like you're shooting a .38 special. There is definitely a difference in that department with this gun compared to my other .45 Colt N frames.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I'm not like offended or anything by unfluted cylinders and I agree, at the right price I wouldn't care. Engraved, of course, they're gorgeous - the engraver has so much more room to be dramatic. But, as a practical matter, they do strike my eyes as unfinished, at least a little, so I guess I'm in the "preferred fluted" camp.

My example for this discussion is my M25-5.

PS: That's my bear gun! I think I'm supposed to say that after a post made this a bear thread.

 

[LostintheOzone]

That's how they did it in the good old days.

And that's all you need to know about that.

 

[texmex]

Marketing gimmick. Some people think they are stronger. They do add weight. Some like them for the looks.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Everything old is new again. Unfluted is the new retro look.

Try not to fight it.

 

[Oracle]

I could be wrong, most likely am, but I have been under the impression unfluted cylinders denoted a special series of revolver or a performance center gun. The model 686 3-5-7 comes to mind.
The cylinders are milled from a standard steel billet. Fluting adds an extra step or two, added effort and time, so why do it?