I acquired a barreled 1895 action.
The aftermarket barrel is a 28 inch long octagon.
It has a rounded recess cut in the bottom for the mag tube, full length.
My first thought was to make a full length tube for the aesthetics.
Now I can only find a tube that is 25" long. So, three inches short of the muzzle. I may be able to weld two tubes together under the forearm to make one long enough to go the whole 28".
Then I thought about the accuracy issues with having the tube attached so far out.
Maybe the regular length tube might look OK and effect accuracy less.
Any thoughts on accuracy for the different choices???
For the looks part, I think I am going to get a dowel painted black and give it a look. Concerned it might look funny with the rounded groove in the bottom of the barrel with nothing in it, if I go with the short tube.
If you are still with me, there is one more wrinkle. Centered 5/16 inch from the muzzle, in the bottom groove is a 1/4" dia. shallow hole that appears to have been for the original magazine tube end screw. It may have had an anchor, silver soldered in place, as there is some scratching and gouging around the hole. Is that a possibility?
Let the speculating and brainstorming begin.