I had belived that the original octagon top actions were all of the "thick side" variety. I had a Special sporting in the 14000 serial range with a round top thick side action. A local gunsmith has an octagon tope THIN side action with serial 900. I had always believed that the thick sdie actions preceeded the thin side actions.
Can anyone shed additional light on the subject?

I had a thin side octagon top.

I have a thin side special sporting rifle, with small swiss buttplate in serial number range 2xxx. It also has the octagon top, and earliest style ebony inlay in the pistol grip. 
I think I read in Campbell's book that thick side actions, and also octagon tops were found throughout quite a few years of production. Mostly early, but not all in the first years.

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Tony, I have a early Thin Side Octagon top Hiwall. It was in .222 Rem. when I found it. Spring loaded extractor never worked well. So I decided to rebarrel it in some more conventional Caliber. Ended up a 14" twist 30-30. To my suprise the Barrel shank size was Lowall size. 
Serial number 800. I also have a Thickside Octagon top action but it has the large standard Barrel shank size, and it is a four didgit serial #. I have read somehwere, Cambpell maybe? That these early small shank actions were in small calibers. Do knw there is some thought that the early small shank actions should not be barreled in large caliber shells as the wall thickness of the barrel is thin at the shank. I suppose that might have been an issue when the barrel steel was soft and mild. But the .222 with small shank took some fairly high pressure hot loads when I was working at shooting it out. I also have put some hot jacketed 30-30 loads thru it with the Douglas barrel with no problems. I suspect that during the first year or two of production there were a lot of what would later be considered non standard versions leaving the factory. Regards, FITZ.

Quote:


Joe, 
Mine also has the crosspin firing pin retaiiner, instead of screw.

Hello Dave,

I do not have your high-wall's serial number in my database yet, and I would very much like to know what the complete serial number is (you can email it to me if you are concerned about privacy). 

Your response got me to thinking that it might be helpful for me to post all of the serial numbers I currently have in my database so that everyone can see which ones I already have... so here they are by frame type:

Thick-side w/octagon receiver ring

50
160
214
265
337
1380
1749
1849
2298
2307
2375
2494
3994
5755
74492

Thick-side w/round receiver ring

142
325
762
2715
3290
474x
9866
9895
11315
11471
12302
12307
12311
14868
16385
16399
16459
17462
20348
20522
24503
24520
24522
307xx
30794
30798
49xxx
54302
63012
66230
74551
76359
76694
99956
111169
113120
113121
113122
114517
114922
131043 (Takedown)

Thin-side w/octagon receiver ring

273
526
551
557
913
1162
1204
1556
1588
1615
1716
1919
1927
1933
2104
2116
2122
2194
2229
2438
2482
2731
3274
92995

ssdave wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2007 at 11:05pm:


The rifle in my records is a 50 Eley, 28" No. 3 round barrel, shotgun butt, and with British proof marks... I do not believe that it is yours (just another rifle in the same serial number range). As you can see by my list, the thick-side w/round receiver rings are spread throughout the entire production range.

Bert

p.s. Forgot to add... I own serial number 12302, which is a 50-95 W.C.F. If you would like to see pictures of it, go to this link - (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Bert, here is some more data for you.

#800 Thinside Hiwall with Octagon top and small Shank as a Lowall size. I bought it as a .222 Varmint and have built it into a heavy 30-30.

#818 Thickside, Octagon top, Large Shank  action straight grip. Have had it for awhile. Needs to be refinished.

#131043   "A" Tang. Thickside, Coil Spring Round Top action. Bought at Auction as  30-40 Krag. Was an obvious put together as the Barrel and forend showed lots of use, and the action was as new with I believe original factory blue. It is now a full Schuetzen with a #4 full Octagon Winchester barrel with the top three flats matted. All original Winchester 3X wood. The tang has been replaced with a fulll pistol grip couble set trigger tang.  HTH helps. Regards, FITZ.