Question about 32 Winchester rimfire

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tdennis
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Question about 32 Winchester rimfire

Post by tdennis »

A friend of mine has an 1893 Marlin that by serial number (88xxx) was made/shipped?? In 1893.The barrel is marked 32 Win and he says it's a rimfire. I know Winchester made a 32 Long rimfire cartridge but can find no information on it being used in an 1893 Marlin. I may be interested in the gun as a collector piece but can not find anything that verifies its original to the rifle. Can anyone steer me to data on calibers for the 1893? Nothing I find online lists a 32 rimfire. (My friend is very familiar with guns and certainly can tell a rimfire firing pin from centerfire)
Thanks for any help,
Dennis
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marlinman93
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Re: Question about 32 Winchester rimfire

Post by marlinman93 »

To start with all the 1893 Marlins were in rifle calibers. .25-36M, .30-30, .32-40, .32 HPS (Winchester Special) and .38-55 Ballard. So no rimfire cartridges at all! But it can't be in .32 Win. Spl. if it's made in 1893 as that cartridge didn't come out until years later. And it can't be an 1893 Model if it's a .32 RF cartridge, as that would make it a Model 1891 or 1892.
But if the barrel was marked ".32W" then it's likely a Model 1889, and not any of the above. And it's not a RF either, as it's a .32-20 if it's marked this way.
Sounds like you need to get hands on this gun to really see what it is.
Marlin lever actions 1870's-WWI, Ballards, and single shot rifles!
tdennis
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Re: Question about 32 Winchester rimfire

Post by tdennis »

Yes I agree about getting it in hand, checks bring it up the next time he comes up, probably in a couple of weeks.

No wonder I could not find info on it
Thanks
Dennis
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