I've been following some of the threads on voices, but some people claim to have ranges smaller then an octave. I'm not saying they're lying, but, with training, is it possible to have a range smaller then an octave?

Sounds like Bob Dylan's range (if only he COULD sing in tune)

A range of only one octave would be of little practical use. Very limiting and inflexible indeed.

The range of a human voice is normally just under two octaves and composers generally recognise this.

Bob Dylan has a range below an octave! (I've never heard his songs, sorry)
Most professionals have like 3 octaves or more ranges, wouldn't composers compose for them, thus composing with 3 octaves in mind?

Not all of them have 3 octave ranges, but if you think of those that do, they generally only compose for themselves.

There's a difference between absolute range and practical range. My absolute range in exercises is about 3 octaves, but I wouldn't inflict more than two & a half of them on to a paying audience...

My husband tends to stick to just two tones, but occasionally on a "good" day he can stretch to a whole three tones. He's very loud too. I think he's missing his true vocation - he should be standing next to the lighthouse at Beachy Head bellowing out warnings to passing ships.

one person I know (who isnt a very talented singer but she's an actress so it kind of helps to sing) can go down to a low G (same as me) and up to a high E (way lower than me) thats 6 notes