To flute or not to flute?

[Flinch Morningwood]

Looking at getting a R&D conversion cylider from Taylors for my 1858...Any opinions out there on getting fluted or non-fluted??? 

Any historical comments on either?

Thanks in advance!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Stay with the non-fluted ones. They are period correct. I haven't seen an original one with flutes.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

The original two piece conversion cylinders with no loading notches/gates (and one piece gated) were all unfluted.  I shoot a Taylor's Uberti  factory  "gated" conversion 1858 and a forged frame Uberti 1858 with R&D, mostly using 45 Schofield, which is close to the .46 French rimfire that was used in the first Remington conversions in 1866 or 1867.

[Ransom Gaer]

My inclination is to go unfluted.  That is what I did when I got my R&D cylinders.  They are more period correct and that is im portant to me.  For what that's worth.  Also I think the unfluted might be just a little stronger.  But that is my opinion, not necessarily based on any evidence.

Ransom Gaer