WHY NO OCTAGON BARRELS?

[nicajack]

I have often wondered why octagon barrels were seldom used on handguns. I love the looks of them on rifles and have quite a few. They are still fairly often used on various commemoratives, special editions and just any rifle that the maker decided to give an "old or Classic " appearance to. The same could be done to revolvers but nobody does it. There are a very few custom makers who use them, but their guns are pretty much out of reach of the average shooter. I wonder why Ruger doesn't put some on their single actions. Smith could even do it.
I would like to see some on the market, but is that asking too much?

 

[Archbishop]

Look up "the Earl" by NAA.

You're welcome.

Oh, and I should add, I like mine. Have the mag and LR wheels for it.

 

[Gunaria]

Cause it's kryptonite to mall ninja'a.

They are cool though.

 

[bstewrat3]

Check out the early T/C Contender pistol barrels. They made everything from 5mm Remington to 45 Colt in 10" octagon. They are very "spirited" in anything over 357 Mag.

 

[sloughfoot]

Octagon barrels are heavy compared to round barrels.

To create a octagon barrel using modern manufacturing methods make them far more expensive than round barrels.

The old firearms used octagon barrels because that is what they had to work with.

 

[Walt_Jabsco]

Octagon barrels are heavy compared to round barrels.

To create a octagon barrel using modern manufacturing methods make them far more expensive than round barrels.

The old firearms used octagon barrels because that is what they had to work with.

I was thinking the same thing, yeah. I think more specifically, with older 19th century casting techniques and metallurgy quality, it was a safe, cost effective way to make a barrel that wouldn't explode.