1952-RC-32 special

[hemlock-45/70]

What do you guys think about the .32 Special?

I found a 1952 vintage RC today. It has been tapped for a scope, but the wood and bluing are in great shape. The bore looked very good from what I could see. I would like to add an older Marlin in .35 Rem to my collection. When I saw this one I had my fingers crossed as I walked up, but it was a .32. I don't think it has hardly been used, what do you think?
I have a 30-30, isn't this basically the same thing? They are asking $200.

[Leverdude]

Probably that gun was drilled & tapped from the factory. They started right around 52 I believe. Could be off a year or two tho.
Never had a 32 myself but from what I gather its pretty much a 32 calibre 30/30. I would think you might be able to load heavier bullets tho.
For $200 bucks I think I'd buy it just to have it.  :grin:  You can always get a 35.

[big medicine]

I'm thinking I wish I could find one around here for that price. I would jump on it. The 32 spl is a great cartridge esp in a Marlin.

[hemlock-45/70]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure if your helping though.  :grin:  Trying to tell myself to just wait and a nice .35 will come along. Then I think about how nice this rifle looked and felt. How it has the "different factor", being a .32 sp., and it has the wide bottom front end.  Then there is something about 1952, I'm not sure what it is, I wasn't born until 59. My first car was a 52 Chevy, I kept it, it's down in the garage. My tractor that I plow the driveway with is a 52 Farmall. There is something going on here

I think this was drilled and tapped by a "gunsmith",  and I use that term loosely. The top of the reciever is grooved, and a couple of the holes have small score marks where someone marked the holes before drilling. Other than that it is in very nice shape. It hasn't been carried 1/4 as much as my 1988 336 I bought new, that has quite a bit of bluing worn off. I may have to bring my borelight and stop in and take another look. Is factory ammo readily available? How about bullets for reloading?

[RugerNo3]

Here's an article by Mic McPherson you should read. Also, if you are a handloader, read the caption under the picture with the Speer 170gr bullets.

www.levergun.com/articles/special.htm

Might ease your mind. :wink:

[Harry Snippe]

I think this was drilled and tapped by a "gunsmith",  and I use that term loosely. The top of the reciever is grooved, and a couple of the holes have small score marks where someone marked the holes before drilling. Other than that it is in very nice shape. It hasn't been carried 1/4 as much as my 1988 336 I bought new, that has quite a bit of bluing worn off. I may have to bring my borelight and stop in and take another look. Is factory ammo readily available? How about bullets for reloading?[/quote]

     
Quick before it is gone!
I would buy it just because it was made in '52. they do not make Marlins that that anymore.
I have a 54 Rc in 35. It has the ballard rifling..It has no markings or holes for a scope, just holes for a peep site.
How ever the action never saw much use and it is as smooth as could be.

The finish on this rifle was pretty much gone. It appeared to had been carried a lot but nor fired much. To me it was a beatuful gun and I just had to have it.
The 35 is not supposed to be a target gun, but the way this old carbine shoots- well I would never part with it.
Had this been a 32 Spl. ? I would be tellin' Ya  'bout it now!

As far as the 32 cal. goes, it is not too common in a Marlin, and if you needed an other rifle like a new hole in the head ,I would still buy it.

[hemlock-45/70]

Thanks for the information and advice. I'll be taking another good look. Unless I find some major flaws I missed the first time around you will likely be seeing a picture soon.

[hemlock-45/70]

Well I bought it.  Sorry for not posting sooner (computer problems, got a new one now).

The rifle was at a Gander Mountain Store. It must have just hit the rack when I first saw it. I went back with cash in hand,  by then the in-store gunsmith had tore it all down and given it a thorough cleaning. He put more dings and scratches on it than it had earned in it's first 50 years. :evil:  I still liked it and thought it was in great shape for the age. They wouldn't budge on the price, so I bought it for 199.99.

Shot it a couple times this weekend. The bore looks great and it shot right on target offhand at 50 yards. The magazine spring is either broken or hung up. I returned it to a different Gander Mountain store for a free warranty fix today. I pointed out the fresh handling marks and asked them to take better care of it than the first gunsmith. They apologized and said they would.  Overall I'm pleased with it. I could have replaced the spring myself, but figured since I had a 90 day warranty to go ahead and use it.

I'll get some pictures up as soon as I get my photo program up and running. Thanks for the advice and urging me to buy it. This will make a nice addition to my Marlin line up. The only problem is now there is one more to choose from when it comes time to hunt. That is a problem, right? :-)

[hemlock-45/70]

Here she is.

[Harry Snippe]

Two fine rifles in the box . Which one do we shoot?
Hope you will love and care for them as I my 336/35 RC.
Happy

[hemlock-45/70]

They will get tender loving care, and so will this one.

[marlinman93]

1954 (late) was the first year the factory drilled and tapped for scopes in Marlin 336's. Nice looking gun though, and it is a Ballard rifled gun! Most 1954 dated guns don't have the scope mount holes, but all 1955 on guns do.

[Harry Snippe]

And what is this?  Looks like a cowboy version.Something like this in 30/30 would get my attention.Then so would a 45/70.
We do not see these rifles up in this country.

They will get tender loving care, and so will this one.

[hemlock-45/70]

45/70 Cowboy--------I hadn't seen any around these parts, only in pictures. When I actually found one, the clerk couldn't pry my hands off it.  :grin: