Interesting to me because it has 2″ shorter barrel but with the “long” forearm. I believe some guns in this configuration (and with correct original front sight dovetail and muzzle face characteristics) were taken from stock with a 26″ barrel and had the barrel shortened to fill an order.
Based on my survey, all of the 24-inch barreled Model 1894 rifles thus far all have the standard length forend stock. I do not agree with your theory that 24-inch barrels were made by taking a 26-inch barreled rifle from stock. The only way to shorten a 26-inch barreled rifle to 24-inches, is if it originally had a shorter than full length magazine (which was not all that common). The rotary cut for the magazine tube hanger was milled into the barrel before it was blued. Simply cutting back the barrel by 2-inches would but the magazine in the wrong location.
In regards to the rifle in the GB auction, it is a real Dandy!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015

Seems to me a shorter fore end would look a little odd with that half-round barrel. I can’t recall seeing a half magazine with the short wood in the front but I suppose they could be out there.
Nice rifle!
Mike
Bert H. said
Based on my survey, all of the 24-inch barreled Model 1894 rifles thus far all have the standard length forend stock. I do not agree with your theory that 24-inch barrels were made by taking a 26-inch barreled rifle from stock. The only way to shorten a 26-inch barreled rifle to 24-inches, is if it originally had a shorter than full length magazine (which was not all that common). The rotary cut for the magazine tube hanger was milled into the barrel before it was blued. Simply cutting back the barrel by 2-inches would but the magazine in the wrong location.
In regards to the rifle in the GB auction, it is a real Dandy!
Bert
I agree with Bert – that GB auction rifle is a real dandy. Neat that it’s a .25-35. Based on the bidding interest, I can see others think highly of it as well.
Bert H. said The only way to shorten a 26-inch barreled rifle to 24-inches, is if it originally had a shorter than full length magazine (which was not all that common). The rotary cut for the magazine tube hanger was milled into the barrel before it was blued. Simply cutting back the barrel by 2-inches would but the magazine in the wrong location.
What about if the length was cut from the chambered end, with the chamber being recut, and shortened from the chamber end prior to cutting the rear sight dovetail or application of barrel markings. If cutting from the muzzle end, it shortens the length of barrel taper to the muzzle and would result in a slight increase in diameter of the barrel, possibly beyond the standard muzzle diameter. No claims of being a barrel maker here, but just thinking there could be more than a couple ways to skin the same cat.
But I do agree, if a 24″ (other shorter length) was what was ordered, the barrel was likely made as a 24″ barrel and not cut down from an existing 26″ barrel.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
January 26, 2011

Bert H. said
Based on my survey, all of the 24-inch barreled Model 1894 rifles thus far all have the standard length forend stock. I do not agree with your theory that 24-inch barrels were made by taking a 26-inch barreled rifle from stock. The only way to shorten a 26-inch barreled rifle to 24-inches, is if it originally had a shorter than full length magazine (which was not all that common). The rotary cut for the magazine tube hanger was milled into the barrel before it was blued. Simply cutting back the barrel by 2-inches would but the magazine in the wrong location.
In regards to the rifle in the GB auction, it is a real Dandy!
Bert
Agreed – All the 24″ 1894’s I’ve come across have the long wood.
~Gary~
January 26, 2011

TXGunNut said
Seems to me a shorter fore end would look a little odd with that half-round barrel. I can’t recall seeing a half magazine with the short wood in the front but I suppose they could be out there.Nice rifle!
Mike
Mike,
There are plenty of short barreled 1/2 octagon 1894s with short wood. I have over 40 of them in my survey so barrel contour has nothing to do with fore-end length. Nor does magazine length…….. as I have about 90 of them with 1/2 mags and short wood. Just saying……
~Gary~
November 7, 2015

pdog72 said
Mike,
There are plenty of short barreled 1/2 octagon 1894s with short wood. I have over 40 of them in my survey so barrel contour has nothing to do with fore-end length. Nor does magazine length…….. as I have about 90 of them with 1/2 mags and short wood. Just saying……
Good to know, thanks. I’ll keep an eye out for them, I enjoy guns that are a little different.
Mike
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