It's a question that has bugged me for years, and I honestly dont have a good theory on this. I would like to know why so many of the guns from around the turn of the last century have octagon barrels?
It seems to me that it made the manufacture of the guns harder and more costly without aiding production in any way.
Where those barrels considered better for heat dissipation?
Was it easier for the rifling process?
I know that in this era, octagon barrels are just for looks, but what was the original reason?
If anybody has a definitive answer I would love to know. I have theories by the bushel basket, but I don't know why they did this, any body care to elaborate?