Last Friday I visited my LGS and was looking to find a deal on a Rossi 92. My LGS didn't have any, but he did have quite a few Winchester 94s and a model 64. I ended up ordering a Rossi 92 in .357 mag. from Bud's, but darn if those old Winchesters weren't still calling to me. Over the weekend I did a search of their serial numbers, to match it up with a year of manufacture. I went back with that information and gave the rifles another look. He had a Mod. 94 that was in better shape than the rest. It's chambered for the .32 Special, very similar ballistically to the 30-30, with maybe just a slight edge. The lever was quite stiff, but I suspected it was from sitting in someone's closet and nothing mechanical. I had brought a small bottle of CLP and asked if the owner would mind if I put a few drops in it. Instantly it became a one finger lever taking no effort at all. After checking the serial number I found that it was made during the war years, between 1943 and 1948. I took it home for $469. The wood has a few scratches that are older than me, but looks great. No scratches to speak of in the metal, but some wear under the receiver from normal carry. Overall I'm happy with it so far. Now I need to strip it down for a thorough cleaning, get some ammo and try her out. If all goes well I'll have a new cartridge to reload. Here a few quick pics that I took with my phone, once cleaned up I'll try and post a few more.

Looks to be in reasonable condition for its age.
Nice patina.
Are dies, brass and reloading info available for that caliber?

Looks like you did just fine. A few years ago I found a used Winchester Model 94 in .32 Winchester Special and really like it. All the best...
Gil

Ammo, Brass, bullets and dies are all still readily available. I'd like to clean the wood, but don't want to take away from the color of the wood. I'm not sure what to use on that yet.

Clean the stock with a mild solution of Murphy's Oil Soap. It lifts dirt without damaging finishes. Just make sure to dilute it and not use it straight from the bottle. Follow up with a good stock wax.
The .32 Special is a fine old cartridge that gives up nothing to the .30 WCF (.30/30). Many think it to be a better cartridge because of the larger bullet diameter, but that's just nit-picking. Loaded to the same pressures as the .30 WCF the .32 beats it by about 100 fps across the bullet weight spectrum. Some sources claim the .32 was introduced to allow reloading with black powder - something not recommended with the .30 WCF. This is a little silly since it was invented for the Model '94. It was intended to fill a perceived gap between the .30/30 and the .30 Army.
You have what appears to be a very good representative of the era. Good catch and good luck!

I think I have some Murphy's Oil soap that I use on furniture, thanks I'll give it a try.

I am totally jealous! What a great looking gun, a great caliber too. Looks perfect to me as-is. I'm sure I'd ruin it trying to make it look new, but that's what I like to do, and then it's mine. Collectors collect, I'd rather appreciate and shoot. I think the mild soap treatment would clean it up real good. The metal patina should get a look-see and just make sure there's no pitting rust (and treat it) but forget a re-blue, it would only distract from the character of the gun. Might be some worries under the front stock (they don't get attention much). Now I want another gun......


Suz

Nice find, BB. Beautiful!

You started it...BigBlue...Just remember that!

You are going to really enjoy that new (old) rifle. Mine was born in 1948-49. In fact I had it out for a shooteromma yesterday. I reload for it (.30 WCF) with 32 gr W-748 under a 170 gr Speer Hotcore FN. We were shooting 4" 2X4's floating in her pond. I sent one of the tagets about 50' straight up into the air.

Yup,,,You'll really enjoy that ol' Jackhandle. Flat band to boot. Bet it's closer to 1942-43.

Green I am , with envy..

BigBlue...FYI...Most of the "flat band" rifles were issued to guards of factory main gates in America during WWII. Both .30 WCF and .32 Special.

A great pickup BB...you done good mate. I love to see these old, but still very usable, rifles rescued before they end up in some dump, rusting away to nothing.

I'll be looking forward to a range report mate.

Nice find BB. Like Suz says, other than a good cleanup, I wouldn't trade the character of such a rifle for shiny and new looking. I had a 32 that I sold several years ago. You can reform 30/30 brass by firing in a 32 or simply resize. The rifling in the 32 is a bit shallower than the 30/30 and it has a slower twist 1-16. I have seen it loaded with triple seven to duplicate the early blackpowder loads it was designed around. My understanding was that not everyone was enamoured by smokeless powder and Winchester wanted these people to buy the 94 model. The faster twist and deeper grooves made the 30/30 not suitable for blackpowder loads hence the birth of the 32. I killed a nice 36 point caribou with my rifle. I always liked the distinctive sound of the 94.

I did a little reading and you may find the post here interesting. It is several replies down in the thread and references catalogues contemporary with the 32 specials release in1902.

forums.gunboards.com/s...ack-Powder

Thanks to everyone for all of the great information. It's always nice to read a bit more about your new gun and especially, in this case, the history behind it.
From the Gunboards thread: "We have adapted the popular Winchester Model 1894 rifle to handle the new .32 Winchester Special Cartridge, and are prepared to furnish it in solid frame or take-down style". My LGS had two other .32s and even had the take down version on his rifle rack! He must have bought someone's Grandfather's Winchester collection. The take down version was tagged rare and he was asking about 3-4 times the price for that as compared to the standard. I'd like to get this apart to do some cleaning, especially in the magazine tube, but I think I'm going to put some Kroil on the screws and let it sit for a bit so I don't snap any of the old screws. Meanwhile I'll order dies and bullets. my LGS has a number of boxes of ammo for it, so I'm going to get a few and give it a try so I have some brass for it. I definitely don't want this rifle to look new, I love the look of the 70 year old wood and well used metal. You can't buy that in a bottle.