Octagon barrels on single actions... I just don't know yet..

[magnumwheelman]

got to admit there are some awesome customs out there that have octagon barrels... but I just don't know yet... to me the single action is sexy & smooth... a round barrel seems natural ( after all, you wouldn't want to have you're finest lady with a square bottom ) I'm wondering if I saw 2 customs nearly identical, one with a round tube, & one with an octagon tube if I wouldn't find the round tube more appealing???

at the risk of being politically incorrect, anyone else feel the same way??? put a banded front sight on a round tube, & pretty it up with all the rest of the trimmings, & I think it might look nicer than an Octagon on the same gun

anyone have pics of two guns nearly identical, one with a round tube, & one with an octagon???

in defense of my insanity... I do have a couple rifles with octagon barrels, & I could see having a matching companion gun... I just don't think it would be my 1st choice as an option on a custom gun

[Encore64]

We're treading on a slippery slope here. But, always the case when discussing custom guns.

Tastes vary so wildly and, of course, everybody's opinion is clearly correct.

My next two Single Six frame builds will be octagon barreled guns.

I learned years ago to do my own thing. I like getting others opinions, but in the end a "custom" built to someone else's taste is no different than buying a factory offering.

[bula]

Odd that my first handgun a CVA .36 obviously had an octagon, but my vote has to go round. No customs here, so we are in the land of theory only. If I ever get a custom, I'll be looking at a bull barrel with a band. 

[potatojudge]

I'm in the octagon barrel camp, but some guns look much better with round barrels. Check out Dustin Linebaugh's site for two similar 500L side by side, and also for an example of the best looking octagon builds out there.

Bisley Vaquero with an octagon barrel, definite improvement. BFR with the factory octagonal barrel, not to my eyes.

Also compare octagonal barrels with an integral ERH stop and sight base compared to those without and the overall feel of the gun is much different IMO.

[CraigC]

To be fair, all the early Paterson Colt's, along with the later 1849 Pocket, 1851 Navy and 1862 Pocket Navy had octagon barrels. Not to mention the various 19th century Remingtons. So there is historical precedence for octagon barrels on revolvers.

For me it depends on what it is and the overall configuration. It's perfect for some guns but doesn't look quite right on others, which is all a matter of personal preference. That said, I don't remember the last time I saw one with an octagon barrel that I thought would look better round.

On a related note, I never cared for barrel bands on revolvers until just recently. Now they're growing on me.

A lot of it also depends on other details like the front sight.

[magnumwheelman]

I have several cartridge conversion guns, that have octagon barrels ... & it may be blasphemy... but the 51 Navy just might look "prettier" with a round barrel???

CRAIG... the picture you posted where the ejector rod housing & front sight base pretty much matching the flats does look nice... & of course all the other touches add to the beauty... just back up & throw a round barrel on the same gun, with the same touches, & I might find it better looking...

of course I'm not trying to sway anyone's opinion just curious how the winds are blowing today, on single actions... I like em curvy

[sixshot]

Although I've never owned an octagon barreled gun I would like one sometime, just haven't decided what to get. Seeing those 3 FA guns of Glenn's last week here on the forum was a great photo! Also for me at least a custom round barrel really needs a barrel band. Guess that's why we get custom guns, lots of options. Front sights are another item that gets a lot of attention on a custom revolver.

Dick

[CraigC]

You kinda get that look with the Walker and Dragoons. IMHO, there is no wrong answer.

[steve]

I like 'em all! octagon, round banded and Smith & Wesson


......I'm switching from photobucket to imgur, I'm still figuring it out but it's much faster

[Snyd]

This is definitely an "each to his own" deal.

I like octagon but the lines need to flow. I like them especially on a flat top. I don't care for them on a Vaquero. My eye sees a smooth, round, tapered top strap that SLAMS into the angled, hard, "edgy" octagon. Same with front sights. I like the smooth integrated sight base. It just seems to flow. I don't care for look of the drift sight, octagon or round. It seems like an after thought. Most other sight bases on octagon barrels seem to look like an after thought also. Some, not all. I also don't care for the round/octagon on the bfr's. It's like it can't decide what it wants to be.

This thread needs lots of pics! Here's my one and only octagon. Obviously it fulfills my desired look. Integrated sight base on a flat top...

[bula]

That Dragoon...WOW ! 

[seancass]

Please don't make me choose between Octagon and Banded. I could never choose!

[Fowler]

I like mine

[JM]

I cannot comment on octagon vs. round, etc. Both look nice if done properly.

There sure are some great looking grips in the pictures above. That's more my thing. Good looking grips!

[neb]

I find the flats of an octagon make a better canvas for engraving. I also seem to prefer octagon on Bisleys, or flattops with plow handles. I don't really like the profile of a NMBH with octagon.

I have a custom octagon being built by Reeder right now. It will be plow handle and flattop.

Stainless Bisleys with octagon are badass, too.