Log In
September 28, 2016
Offline
Guys,
I picked up this barrel at the local gun show last week. Is it a bona fide short rifle barrel or is it a cut down standard barrel. The muzzle measures .725 across the flats. Rear sight dovetail starts at 4.75″ from the receiver. Barrel length is 20″ and the front sight dovetail starts at 7/8″ from the muzzle.
April 15, 2005
Offline
Erin,
The front sight dovetail cut should be precisely 15/16″ to the dead center (or .75″ to the forward most bottom edge of the dovetail cut).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 28, 2016
Offline
Bert H. said
Erin,The front sight dovetail cut should be precisely 15/16″ to the dead center (or .75″ to the forward most bottom edge of the dovetail cut).
Bert
Thanks Bert, I measured with calipers and it is .873″. That being said, Someone did a decent job of shortening it.
Erin
April 15, 2005
Offline
Fortunately, the vast number of cut down barrels are like the one you acquired… the front sight dovetail is very seldom ever correctly located.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
Offline
Erin Grivicich said
Thanks Bert, I measured with calipers and it is .873″. That being said, Someone did a decent job of shortening it.
Erin
My initial impression of the barrel crown was that it looked right. Must have been done long ago. I wonder if someone bought a M1894 with a cut barrel and took it off when they found an unaltered barrel. It was probably originally shortened to be handier for hunting use. Seems it saw a good amount of use before it was taken off.
September 28, 2016
Offline
steve004 said
My initial impression of the barrel crown was that it looked right. Must have been done long ago. I wonder if someone bought a M1894 with a cut barrel and took it off when they found an unaltered barrel. It was probably originally shortened to be handier for hunting use. Seems it saw a good amount of use before it was taken off.
Steve,
It’s actually from an 1892 and it’s chambered in 32WCF It was one of those deals I couldn’t pass up even if it was cut. The bore is pretty decent, I would give it an 8 out of 10. The barrel looked right and if it was, yahoo, but it isn’t so here we are……..
Bert H. said
Fortunately, the vast number of cut down barrels are like the one you acquired… the front sight dovetail is very seldom ever correctly located.
Bert,
Just an FYI, I measured a few other “untouched” barrels and there is .030-040″ variation from the magic number. All the barrels I measured were on the long side. Mine being close to a full 1/8″ longer goes without question.
Erin
November 19, 2006
Offline
That’s cool – a ’92 barrel in .32-20. I could see that could proof useful in the right situation (e.g. rifle with a bad bore).
March 20, 2010
Offline
What does the milling for the front sight and magazine retaining band look like? The magazine tube dovetail should look similar to this on the milling. There should be some remnants of blue in the dovetail (blued after milling). Also, if its an original 20″ barrel, the rear sight dovetail measurement to the receiver (in this case the barrel threads) will be 4″.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
September 28, 2016
Offline
1892takedown said
What does the milling for the front sight and magazine retaining band look like? The magazine tube dovetail should look similar to this on the milling. There should be some remnants of blue in the dovetail (blued after milling). Also, if its an original 20″ barrel, the rear sight dovetail measurement to the receiver (in this case the barrel threads) will be 4″.
Chris,
The rear sight dovetail is 4.75″ from the receiver face or barrel threads. It doesn’t have a magazine band cut, it had a half mag.
Erin
March 20, 2010
Offline
Roger that. I was wondering what that drill hole in the barrel was, looks like they cut the mag tube then and drilled a pilot hole for the magazine cap screw to seat into the barrel.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
