ORIGINAL: tsi1990
I did notice in my photos the octagonal pattern appears to only be in the false muzzle and not the barrel itself. I'm a student and don't have much time to take it to gun shops to get an idea of what exactly it is, but I would subscribe to your theory much more than it being a sniper rifle. Heck, the only reason I used that was because to the untrained eye it resembles one. Thanks again!
(Actually, the Whitworth rifling is a hexagon shape (6 sides) not eight as it would be if octagonal......)