History ?

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Big Iron

New member
I recently purchased a Marlin 1894 .357, with a hexagon barrel. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, (a Texan)made the comment that they did NOT have hexagon barrels in 1894. Now I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it seems to me that hexagon barrels go waaaaay back.

Anyone one know how far back the hexagon barrels date back? It'll give something else, besides his Dallas Cowboys, to aggravate him about. :D :D :D
 
Well, your brother in law is correct in a perverse way. Winchester 94's had octogon, not hexagon, barrels. I suspect that your rifle is really octogon shaped (eight sides). I don't know much about Marlins.
If that is what you really intended to say, Model 94's literally had octogon barrels from the first day of production.
This information is from Robert Renneberg's "The Winchester Model 94" (1991):
Winchester Model 94 serial number 22 is the earliest model 94 that still has factory records. It was assembled on Oct. 2o, 1894, the first day of Model 94 production. A picture of this rifle appears in Renneberg's book. It has an octogon barrel.

[This message has been edited by Herodotus (edited September 14, 2000).]
 
Not true for the entire production of the time. The pre-20th Century Marlin 1889 came with a full octagon, half octagon/half round, or even round barrel. Many Model 1892s came with full octagon barrels, with half & half being offered too. Now, the early 1894s had round barrels, but special Deluxe rifles could be had with half round, half octagon (OK, so, he's partially correct with respects to the M1894). Check out Brophy's book on the history of Marlin. BTW, the cheapest you can get it from is Marlin itself.
 
> Marlin 1889 came with a full octagon, half octagon/half round, or even round barrel.

Of the Half Octagon only 508 were made... one of which resides in my safe. :D

------------------
Schmit
GySgt, USMC(Ret)
NRA Life, Lodge 1201-UOSSS
"Si vis Pacem Para Bellum"
 
Herodotus, you are correct, my Marlin is octagon and not hexagon. My error!

Thanks to all for the input. I was almost certain that octagon barrels had been around in 1894 and prior. Just wanted to get opinions from the pros before I pulled the brother-in-law's chain.(again) It gives me something else to harass him about beside the rare and deadly "rattlestick" he shot in his pasture. Only two shot with his remington 12gauge and it was dead as a stump. If he had one wish, it'd be that I hadn't been with him when he drew down on his prey, let two shot go and hollered, "Got him". It would have made the big game hunters proud. Alas, in lieu of mounting his trophy he chose to include it with the other dead "rattlesticks" lying about and cook steaks over the funeral pyre. A fitting tribute. Mesquite "rattlestick" makes for a good steak.

If you don't have a brother-in-law from Texas, go get one, they're a hoot! Wouldn't trade mine for the world. :)
 
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