Depends on the "maker" to some extent.
Many are in fact banded but flush with the barrel surface such as Jeffery commonly did. My William Evans is similar too.
Many "British" bolt guns were simply TypeA Mausers. Most with round barrels had barrel band front sights which are a larger diameter than the barrel, so they are generally more pronounced. I think Holland had a more pronounced band too.
Then, sometimes the front sight was simply soldered on to the barrel without a band - Gibbs and Westley Richards come to mind.
I suspect that any of the best makers would have fit a band if it was requested of them.