.32 Winchester Special

[Lawdog]

Alright, who else has one of these stuck away in the back of their safe(or whatever)?  Mine is an old Model 94 with a 24" octagon barrel that was given to me when I was 16 by a neighbor’s wife after he passed away.  Sucker still shoots as good today as the day she gave it to me.  Going to have to take it out hunting again someday.  Small groups and tight lines to all.  Lawdog
 

[oso45-70]

Lawdog,
I have a funny story about the old 32 special. Back in about 1962 or63 a old man that lived down the canyon from me came to my place and said
he couldn't hit any thing with his 30-30 and the gun was new. well he wanted to sell me the gun, needless to say i didn't want the gun but was willing to help him out, So i shot the thing and sure enough you coulden't hit the side of a barn, Well i tried it a few times but no luck. We are talking about a new gun. I knew something was very wrong and happened
to think about trying the bullet in the barrel trick, And lo and behold it went right in. My wife had a 32 spl. so i went to the house and got a hand full of 32s and loaded it and went to firing the thing. The moral of the story is it was marked as a 30-30. How about that, How did it happen.
It must have been during a change over from 30-30s to 32s.
good luck...............Joe.................................................

[Lawdog]

oso45-70,

A gunsmith that I knew(he is plying his trade in the next world now) learned his trade working for Remington years ago and he told me that miss-stamped barrels happens quite often, it is just that these barrels are usually caught at the factory and the barrel is sent back to the smelter.  What I want to know is did you buy the rifle?  If so you really got something.  Lawdog
 

[oso45-70]

No Sir Lawdog, Inteligence was never a factor in my makeup. It didn't dawn on me until later in life that the thing was probobly worth more that way.
The old man was so tickled that his gun would shoot good, so i gave him a couple boxes of 32s. And to top it off he killed a real nice mule deer with it. Such is life out west. Take care..........Joe........................

[unspellable]

I am among those with a Winchester M1894 chambered for 32 Special.

[oso45-70]

Unspellable,
Is yours marked 30-30 like the one mentioned above ? I would like to know how often this happens, Can you imagine the look on that old mans face when this all took place, Wish i had a picture of this. Stay safe..Joe....

[unspellable]

Nope, my M1894 says 32 Winchester Special on the barrel plain as day.  

On the other hand I have recently acquired an M1894 marked 30-30.  It has an obviously faster twist than the 32, but I can't stand up in court and say I've measured the bore yet.  But I will be surprised if it's anything but a 30-30.