Maybe not - I thought at one time that I wanted an octagon barrel, but was not able to find a new one that balanced well, for me anyway. I have a 20" round '94, and 22" round 1895 and both feel good, one is 40 years old, and one is two years old. Maybe one day I will decide it is worth it to find a 40 or so year old 1/2 and 1/2 and see how that feels. I lean towards the older ones, mostly because I think all the safetys are ugly - isn't that what the hammer is for?