doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com For freethinkers only; (my newsest heresy)

I used to get some good work (mainly relines) done by a part time 'smith (a trained toolmaker whose day job was as a prison guard--go figure) in upstate NYS. He was a single shot rifle nut and did some really great jobs--for himself. Had a dream of making finished actions for the trade, which apparently came to nought, like so many....

One thing he always did was make his barrel contours the opposite of the classics: he made them a round cylinder up to the end of the forend, then tapered octagon for the rest of the way to the muzzle (some even had a "wedding ring" too). Claimed that this way made it much easier to inlet the forends and to mount modern scope ribs and mounts, and had the same effect as the old octagon to round ("half octagon") barrels (which I assume is to put the balance near the hands??? Or is it simply "aesthetic"???).

Anybody else ever do this? Does it make sense? Crazytalk? What say ye?

Mike at one time I had a similar style. I had ended up with two custom (made In Germany) mauser barrels. One shaped like this with the addition of a fancy full rib and folding sights.
The other the opposite Octagon to round and again the fancy rib and sights and also a claw mouth. So yes have seen it before. Smile Whitey

This is a John Dubiel low wall .22 with round barrel at action, wedding band, then tapered octagon.

Very nice low-wall.How about some more pictures?

Let me know what you want to see on it, and I'll try to get a decent photo. The one I posted was taken by Michael Petrov when he visited a year or two ago. As you know from his postings, he prefers those modern bolt action things. So, this view is all I have on the Dubiel low wall.

Yeah, I figured the Old Ones had already tried this, just never saw one before.

Terry, that's a delicious .22! "Bolt action things", huh? I agree, although I admit (under examination by the ASSRA Inquisition) to a sneaking admiration of single shot Krags, M-S carbines rimmed and rimless, and those homely Savage 23s. Just El Malo whispering in my ear, I guess.

Whitey, this style would make great sense to me on a Mauser: it avoids the PITA octagon inletting of the forend and it leaves the barrel full thickness right where you need the strengh for high-pressure calibers and for heat dispersal in rapid fire (assuming you have a need for that in sporting situations, which most don't).

Thanks for the responses!

Mike I agree. But they sure was pretty. Smile in fact I still have the Hex to round.For a future special project. That may never happen. Smile Whitey

Terry,

Your right I only took a couple of this one and now that I'm about done with the Dubiel article I wish I had taken more.

There is still a spare bed room if you want to come back!