pdog72 said
Mike

I’m not sure I have a clear answer for you but here is a table I made up with 1894 muzzle diameters from my own rifles all measured with the same caliper.

The data leads me to believe most of them were cut back from full 26″ blanks but I cant say for sure. They do seem to get larger as the barrel lengths get shorter. The 1/2 OB’s are in italic and clearly smaller (in the standard weights) after turning down the flats. Now, in the some of the ELWs the 1/2 OBs are a bit larger as they likely could not turn an ELW OB barrel without running out of material so I assume they started with heavier barrel stock. Pure speculation on my part as the data is not consistent. Maybe calibers played a part as well. You couldn’t turn down a 38-55 as far as a 25-35. I wish I had 100 more examples to measure and get a better idea.

I will say that barrel lengths could have been missed in the ledgers just as easy as other features were. There are takedown rifles that don’t show it in the letter …… pretty hard to fake that. This being said, a letterable 21″ short rifle with long wood that doesn’t list the length in the letter will always be a rifle you have to explain, even if its right. The 22″ standard wt. 1/2 OB listed below (.681) has a letter missing the length but I believe its correct ….. some of you may disagree ……. so be it, I still like the rifle.

Hope I didn’t add more confusion to this discussion.

Std. Wt. 26″ Avg	Std. Wt. 24″ Avg	Std. Wt. 22″ Avg	Std. Wt. 20″ Avg	Std. Wt. Avg
0.694	0.664	0.709	0.704	0.700
0.693	0.664	0.720	0.680
0.693		0.711	0.728		Italic
0.696		0.681			1/2 OB
		0.714
		0.720
3	1	5	2	11
	ELW Wt. 24″ Avg	ELW Wt. 22″ Avg		ELW Avg.	Carb.
	0.565	0.578		0.575	0.602
	0.566	0.57
	0.564	0.579
		0.585
		0.574
		0.585
		0.574
		0.581
		0.576
	2	8		10	1
	9/16″ =	0.5625
	11/16″ =	0.6875

  

Thank you for the info.  It is an 1895 Production 32-40 which is indeed one I have to explain but love.  It spent its life on a ranch in British Columbia until an estate sale several years back.  It would be cool obviously if it could be proved authentic.. If it was modified they even pulled off the dovetails correctly.  Anyway I love the rifle…. Im struggling with weather to strip the varnish someone has put on the wood (no sanding) and replace with correct oil finish or leave it alone.

Chuck said

 

The short rifle forearm is too short.  It was replaced.  Wood does not shrink in length when it is cut like this for a forearm.  Notice the proper gaps on the rifle.  

Not a great pic, must be a shadow.  it is tight both to the receiver and the cap but due to sanding is not proud of the reciever. Doesn’t really matter, the wood was ruined as soon as they sanded it.

Ive acquired another shorty  Sn. 86881 Standard features otherwise,20″ Oct barrel, 30wcf.   9 3/8 forend. rear sight is express.  This cool rifle was in southern Cali near Mexico.  It is very well worn but cared for.  A previous owner a mr. Olin Price carved his symbol and name in the stock and in the leather of the scabbard that is very well worn and appear to be as old and well used as the rifle.  Im trying to do more research on who this man was. I carried it all hunting season and whenever I head to the barn or the field I grab this rifle and scabbard and say Im taking Olin.  Also has a very old leather wrist repair on the stock.