Your thoughts on Marlin 1894 32 Special

[huntrick64]

Local pawn shop has a 94' 32 Win Special. Pretty good shape. Receiver has nice patina to it and barrel is a darker blue. I know nothing about these so help me out. He is wanting $500, could probably get it for $400. I has the more attractive (to me) streamline forestock, instead of the "fat belly" that I see in the model 336. I didn't get the s/n so I am not sure what year it is. My guess is around the 1950's. Rifling is great and action is very tight. I would of course have to buy some more molds, dies, powders, etc. That is why I am looking at it.

Good deal or bad?

[uaskme]

Sounds like a nice old gun. 400 would be a great buy. It will never be a Winchester but you will have price appreciation on that gun.

[6pt-sika]

32 Special won't fit in a Marlin 1894 action , now if it's a square bolt Marlin in 32 Special it's either an 1893 , 93 , 1936 or 36 . If it is an 1894 marked 32 WCF then it's a 32-20 .

[northmn]

32 Special won't fit in a Marlin 1894 action , now if it's a square bolt Marlin in 32 Special it's either an 1893 , 93 , 1936 or 36 . If it is an 1894 marked 32 WCF then it's a 32-20 .

I was thinking that myself. Don't even know for sure if the 93 was made when the 32 special was developed. 32-20 is a fun little cartridge in its own right and that would be a very good price for one. But the 32-20 is kid of a specialized cartridge for those of us that like tinker.

DP

[huntrick64]

OK, I went back to the pawn shop and realized I was confusing this gun with some other Marlins I looked at in 30-30. This one is in fact a Winchester 94 in 32 special, so I offered them $400 and walked out with it! It was manufactured in 1964 according to the serial no 270####. Will post some pics later if I get a chance. Now for some brass and boolits.

[osteodoc08]

Sounds like a good buy. I'd of picked it up too at that price

[shooting on a shoestring]

Welcome to the 32 Special club.
I see Graf has Hornady brass in stock right now. However all my 32 Special brass is necked up 30/30 brass. Works so good I doubt I'll ever own 32 Spl head stamped brass.

i also find the Lyman 323470 to work great in 32 Spl. I bought the mould for an 8 mm and was always struggling for more diameter in the 8 mm. Well it drops right at 0.323 in my favorite alloy, so I use a 0.325 lubrisizer die in my Lyman Lubrisizer and get a perfect fit for my 0.321 bore 32 Spl.

i really like the 16 inch twist in 32.

Post some results when you get it running.

[home in oz]

Sounds like you need to buy it for all the right reasons-neat gun, AND you get to buy more molds, etc.

[6pt-sika]

I was thinking that myself. Don't even know for sure if the 93 was made when the 32 special was developed. 32-20 is a fun little cartridge in its own right and that would be a very good price for one. But the 32-20 is kid of a specialized cartridge for those of us that like tinker.

DP

It was I had an 1893 rifle that was 32 HPS which is what Marlin called the 32 WIN Special . I also had a Marlin Model 93 SRC that was 32 HPS for awhile .

[huntrick64]

Here are a few photos. It is in really good shape, but it does have the "pickup truck gun rack rub" on the top of the barrel and one clump of rust on the magazine tube between it and the barrel. Bore looks perfect, and I like the patina of the receiver.

[northmn]

Going rate for 32 Specials is well above 30-30 in 94 Winchesters locally. It was a good buy. Sitka, thanks for the history as I did not know when they quit making the 93.

DP