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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The Winchester Model 1873 => Topic started by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 08, 2011, 09:38:47 AM

Title: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 08, 2011, 09:38:47 AM
Howdy
What's your favorite barrel type ? I have a 1/2 and 1/2 and like it  . I would like to have a round barrel 1873 in a rifle .
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rafe Covington on October 08, 2011, 04:53:17 PM
I perfer the full octagon barrel myself, both my '73's have the octagon barrel. Just my personal preference. JMHO

Rafe
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: 1961MJS on October 10, 2011, 02:03:24 PM
Hi

Why did Winchester bother to make so many variations in barrel shape?  Is one style heavier than the other?

Later

Mike
Wichita KS
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: hawkeye2 on October 10, 2011, 06:23:18 PM
Is one style heavier than the other?

Octagon, octagon-round, round in that order.  Octagon was traditional at that time, a round barrel cost extra and had to be ordered as did the octagon-round.  I wish we had choices and magazine length options like that in Winchesters & Marlins from the 50s up.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Okefinokee Outlaw on October 10, 2011, 08:45:29 PM
I always thought the octagon was standard, but I have copies of Winchester catalogs from 1876 and 1878.   In 1876 the round barrel version was $40.00 and the octagon version was $50.00.  In 1878, the round barrel was $25.00 and the octagon was $27.00. 
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Grizzly Adams on October 10, 2011, 10:05:39 PM
I always thought the octagon was standard, but I have copies of Winchester catalogs from 1876 and 1878.   In 1876 the round barrel version was $40.00 and the octagon version was $50.00.  In 1878, the round barrel was $25.00 and the octagon was $27.00. 

+1  The round barrel was standard for the 1873.  The Octagon was just more popular, and were ordered 3 times as often.

My favorite 73 is a 44WCF with a 20 inch half round, half octagon barrel. :)
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Short Knife Johnson on October 10, 2011, 11:35:18 PM
I must say I find the half round more interesting than I thought I would.  That said, still favour the full octagon pipe, but the half has the edge in handling.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Pappy Myles on October 12, 2011, 12:33:25 PM
Mine is a 24 1/4" Octogon.  I do like it for the extra weight.  Sure settles in a lot faster on those long shots.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 12, 2011, 08:14:24 PM
Howdy
Are the Italians offering a round barrel ??? I had my hands on a Burgess and the round barrel was nice . Would love to have one .
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Grizzly Adams on October 13, 2011, 08:27:27 AM
Howdy
Are the Italians offering a round barrel ??? I had my hands on a Burgess and the round barrel was nice . Would love to have one .

Not currently offered for the 1873.  That said, I would bet even money that Burgess barrel could be mounted on a 73. :) 

Another option would be to have Badger make one.  Price would be about the same, and it is hard to beat Badger for quality.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Okefinokee Outlaw on October 13, 2011, 08:59:17 AM
The saddle ring carbine has a round barrel.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: rbertalotto on October 17, 2011, 08:02:01 AM
God made octagon barrels so everyone with round barrels would want one!.... ;D

Become a convert!

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/marlin-336-from-round-to-octagon-and-more.html

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/marlin-1895g-from-round-to-octagon-barrel.html

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/rossi-1892-winchester-take-down-conversion.html
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Montana Slim on October 18, 2011, 05:40:46 PM
Howdy
Are the Italians offering a round barrel ??? I had my hands on a Burgess and the round barrel was nice . Would love to have one .

A friend picked up a Uberti 1866 some years back for his wife to shoot. The octagon barrel was a might heavy and the muzzle needed a shade of trimming anyway, so the smith suggested makig it half round....turned out to be a fast-handling rifle.

My Pa has a couple Colt medium frame rifles with (me-thinks) 26" round barrels....They are fast handling firearms with ample sight radius. Those are the only fully round "cowboy" rifles I've handled...I'm looking forward to testing the 38-40 now that it has been lined.

Slim

Slim
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Marshal Deadwood on October 18, 2011, 07:05:44 PM
I perfer round barrels to oct ones.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 20, 2011, 12:28:24 PM
Howdy
I think a 24 inch round barrel would be a FAST handling rifle . Lighter to pack , which makes for a better day of stalking .
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Marshal Deadwood on October 20, 2011, 12:44:55 PM
Thats exactly the '73 I'd like to have,,a 24" round barrel in 44-40.
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 23, 2011, 06:46:36 PM
Marshal
Maybe Taylor's will pick up on this and we will have the rifle we want .
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Rowdy Fulcher on October 28, 2011, 12:02:40 PM
Howdy
I want a round barrel rifle , a 24 inch barrel . Who's with me on this . Oh and it needs to be a 44wcf with a tang sight for added distance with a brass bladed rocky mountain front sight .
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Marshal Deadwood on October 28, 2011, 02:46:05 PM
Rowdy, sign me on,,thats MY rifle!
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Hangtown Frye on October 30, 2011, 08:42:11 PM
Oddly enough all of the original '73's I've owned (three total, I have one at the moment) have been round barreled, while all of my Italian knock-offs have been octagon.  (Of course the Italians don't MAKE a round barreled version, which helps in that regard!)  I do like the RB though, as it's a bit heavier than the octagonal barrel (Winchester started with the same sized barrel blank, but left the meat on the round barrel...) so to me it handles a bit better.  I like things a bit barrel heavy, though.  ;)

Cheers!

Gordon
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: Joe Lansing on November 19, 2011, 11:29:44 AM
    I have and love my Uberti '73 .44-40 with a half octagon barrel, half magazine sporter with a checkered pistol grip stock. It came with pretty wood, and handles very nicely.
    It originally came with what was more of a 2/3 magazine, but I cut it back to a true 1/2 magazine. I wish they'd put out a '76 like that.

                                                                JL
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: ChuteTheMall on November 20, 2011, 08:22:40 AM
The octogon is better on short barrelled rifles because these were designed for serious social purposes and if you suddenly need a club at close range the heavier octo with sharp corners makes a better impression on soreheads.

 8)

WWQD?
What Would Quigley Do?
Title: Re: Round Barrel or Octagon Barrel or 1/2 Round 1/2 Octagon ????
Post by: southfork on March 29, 2012, 10:06:23 PM
In about 1977 I traded a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 magnum revolver for my 0riginal 1973 round Barrell 44wcf rifle.  I've never regretted that trade.  I love the round barrel!  My other two original '73s have octogonal barrels (38 wcf and 32 wcf), and they just don't look as cool as the round barrelled 44 wcf when they are layed side by side.

Most all of my old Winchesters were acquired in the 1970's through trades of more modern guns.  I've never looked back --- well except maybe I miss that 4 5/8" barrelled Ruger 45 long Colt revolver that I traded for a 1892 Winchester 25-20 rifle.