video added Marlin 1891 32 rimfire - now center fire! - the next project.

[Warden Callaway]

I traided for this neglected old Marlin 1891 32 rimfire at a local gunshop just a bit ago.  I haven't even started to take it apart and clean it up.  The only obvious problem is the spring that holds the lever closed is missing,  broke or not doing it's job.  Otherwise,  it looks solid and complete.  

 

[Cholla]

I have been playing with this 32 rimfire SW Model 1 1/2 using Ramset power loads and modified 32 SW brass. 

[Warden Callaway]

I was not going to mess with it but after lunch and a nap, I decided to look it over in better detail and maybe soak the screws with penetration oil. Checking the action thumb nut, it broke loose. I took the side plate off and all the parts were there!  I'm never that lucky.   The lever latch spring was not broken.  It is just too weak to do its job. I don't know if I can anneal it, bend and re-temper it or not.  

 

I've not cleaned the bore but I can see some sharp rifling so that's encouraging. 

 

Something they didn't know is that these guns were set up to shoot rim fire or center fire by changing out the firing pin.  Center fire firing pins are available.  But even the 32 Colt center fire ammo or components are about extinct.  Some have rechambered them to 32 S&W. 

[Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129]

Nice Find !

 

Jabez Cowboy

[Goody, SASS #26190]

I was thinking you merely flipped the firing pin over for center fire. Could be wrong, though.

[Bailey Creek,5759]

I have one of those Marlin 32. Some will except 32 S&W without modifing.

If you need parts Gun Parts have them.

Mine shoots about a foot high at Cowboy distances.

Navy Arms ran some 32 Rimfires a few years ago. Getting hard to find thou .

The 32 Marlin takes a 310 Bullet.

Its no 32 Mag , But fun to shoot .

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I am suddenly finding this gun interesting.

 

Which .32 CF round can it be set up for?  .32 Short Colt or .32 Long Colt?

[Warden Callaway]

1 hour ago, Goody, SASS #26190 said:

I was thinking you merely flipped the firing pin over for center fire. Could be wrong, though.

 

That's not the case with this one. It has too many features. 

 

 

Year of manufacturer is 1893.

 

I have some 32 S&W Short but not tried it. I couldn't be so lucky.  I can rent a reamer.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Remember they still make .32 Short Colt.  I just sold my 92 and five boxes of ammo recently.

 

https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Handgun?filters={"ids"%3A["%23c-71"]}

[Warden Callaway]

27 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Remember they still make .32 Short Colt.  I just sold my 92 and five boxes of ammo recently.

 

https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Handgun?filters={"ids"%3A["%23c-71"]}

 

Is it inside lubed or outside?  

 

I already have 500- pieces of 32 S&W Short brass. 

 

Is there a compelling reason to leave it 32 Colt? 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Outside lubed as they are the original heeled bullet style.  Compelling reason?  No. I have done a couple and still have a reamer around here somewhere.  You also have to modify the mag tube opening as the S&W rounds are too wide to fit through it.

[Warden Callaway]

1 minute ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

Outside lubed as they are the original heeled bullet style.  Compelling reason?  No. I have done a couple and still have a reamer around here somewhere.  You also have to modify the mag tube opening as the S&W rounds are too wide to fit through it.

 

I may be seeking your counsel on this project. 

 

The magazine assembly looks complete and sound.  But it's gunked up. I'm not sure how to take it apart.  Maybe soak it in something to get old gunk out?  

 

It's been standing on its buttplate in a damp condition.  The buttplate screws won't come out with reasonable force.  Putting penetration oil on them and use better force.  

 

Would there be any chance the center fire pin is stored under the buttplate?  I don't hear a rattle and there is no reason for the buttstock to have a hole.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

"Would there be any chance the center fire pin is stored under the buttplate?"

 

Yes there is a chance.  Anything is possible. 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

Be very careful taking the mag tube apart.  It has one real delicate feature.  In the photo the hole at the end of the blue arrow is punched by the factory.  Then the factory stamped a dimple in the end of the tube where the red arrow is pointing.  The tube in the photo has the dimple broken out.  Someone has tried to fix the tube by drilling a second hole and installing a brass pin to secure the follower in the tube.  This did not work.  Once the dimple is broken the tubes are usually kaput.  SO be very careful not to damage that dimple.

[Nate Kiowa Jones #6765]

Slug the bore, too. Some were .309. If you ream to 32 S&W with .312 bullets you might over pressure that action.  I did one awhile back for a feller. Reaamed to 32 S&W and he hand loaded some cast bullets run through a 308 sizer. 

[Warden Callaway]

4 hours ago, Nate Kiowa Jones #6765 said:

Slug the bore, too. Some were .309. If you ream to 32 S&W with .312 bullets you might over pressure that action.  I did one awhile back for a feller. Reaamed to 32 S&W and he hand loaded some cast bullets run through a 308 sizer. 

 

Will do..  thanks for reminding me.

 

Meanwhile,  I got a good fitting bit and clamped the buttstock in a vise where I could apply more power and got the buttplate screws out. I didn't find a center fire pin but found a teaspoon of rust.  The gun probably stood on a damp carpet for many years.  It's probably the worst damaged part of the gun.  But I'm going to try some things I've seen Mark Novak do in metal restoration. 

 

 

 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

https://www.ebay.com/c/1631417834

[Warden Callaway]

11 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

https://www.ebay.com/c/1631417834

 

Got that on my watch list.

 

Trying to decide if I want to convert the rim fire pin to center fire.  It's highly unlikely I'd ever need a rim fire pin. 

[Cypress Sam, SASS #10915]

I have two of the Marlin 92’s, one of which I converted to 32 S&W Long (it will take shorts too).  As NKJ said be sure to slug the bore and use the right sized bullet.  When I converted mine several years ago, Gun Parts Corp (Numrich Arms) was selling replacement barrels for the Marlin 92’s.  I bought one and rechambered it to 32 S&W Long but didn’t slug the bore.  Turned out it was a .308” barrel and I got over pressure signs when I shot it with mild 32 Long loads.  I put the original bbl back on, also rechambered, and it works fine with the 32 S&W Long rounds.

 

The locking mechanism on the 92 Marlin doesn’t look very strong to me (I’m no expert though).  I doubt that it would stand up to full smokeless loads in 32 S&W Long.

 

I also wanted to shorten the barrel but changed my mind when trying to figure out how to shorten the magazine!

[Warden Callaway]

Some new developments with my project Marlin 1892.   The features and parts didn't match up to the ones on a 1892.  The serial number dates to 1893.  But they didn't start making the 1892 until 1895.  I have Lt. Col. William S. Brophy's big book of Marlins.   Turns out, it's a later variation of an 1891.   While it looks like the 1892, many of the inside parts are a little different.  

 

I did some cleaning on the bore.  Darker and rougher than I would like.  I pounded a bullet through the bore.  The largest diameter I found was .312. 

 

I'm a little on the fence on the decision to rechamber it to 32 S&W.  I'm wondering if it would have more collector value left unmolested.  I'll continue to clean it up and make some mimor repairs.

[Cypress Sam, SASS #10915]

I think I still have a firing pin for an 1891 Marlin if you need one.  I ordered it thinking they could be easily modified to fit an 1892 - wrong.  Anyway if you need it, you can have it.  Let me know.

 

Also if you still want an 1892, I have an extra one I’d part with.

[Warden Callaway]

36 minutes ago, Cypress Sam, SASS #10915 said:

I think I still have a firing pin for an 1891 Marlin if you need one.  I ordered it thinking they could be easily modified to fit an 1892 - wrong.  Anyway if you need it, you can have it.  Let me know.

 

Also if you still want an 1892, I have an extra one I’d part 

 

That would be great!  Does it look like this but the pin at the bottom?

 

 

As for a 1892, I think this 1891 will fill my needs for now. 

[Warden Callaway]

Well I guess I'm committed to re-chambering it to 32 S&W Long.  

 

I checked Grafs website and they had one set of Lee 32 S&W Long dies.  We ran up and got them. 

 

I have some 500 32 S&W brass but I had just borrowed dies to load them. 

 

 

I can fire the 32 S&W Long in my Cimarron Lighting.  

[Cypress Sam, SASS #10915]

On 4/7/2021 at 7:34 PM, Warden Callaway said:

 

That would be great!  Does it look like this but the pin at the bottom?

 

 

As for a 1892, I think this 1891 will fill my needs for now. 
 

Yep, it looks like that with the pin on the bottom.

 

[Warden Callaway]

I cleaned up the wood today. I scrubbed the scumb off with Murphy's oil and an a scrub pad. I found an unnoticed minor crack in the buttstock running from the lower tang.  An easy fix. I started cleaning some of the metal parts.

 

 

Thanks to Cypress Sam and Larsen E. Pettifogger, I have a firing pin and reamer coming.  

[Warden Callaway]

Our club match was rained out yesterday.   It rained 24 hours non-stop with winds 23 mph sustained and gusting to 37. Over 2" in our gauge but it mostly reined sideways. 

 

So... I continued to clean parts on my Marlin.  Then found my Lee "nutcracker" hand press and sized, belled, and primed 100 32 S&W long cases.

 

I have a bunch of Missouri Bullet Company Cowboy #6 Hi-Tech 100 gr coated bullets.  I'm probably going to use BlackMZ.   I checked and looks like .7 cc Lee dipper will make a slightly compressed load. 

 

Looks like 100g bullet is standard for this caliber.   I'm looking at 310 round balls thinking it may be a possible choice.  

 

Anyone got a pet black powder load for the 32 S&W? 

[Cypress Sam, SASS #10915]

Warden, I don’t have a bp load recommendation, but I’d suggest not exceeding the original pressures for the 32 Colt cartridge. As I’m sure you know (I’ve attached a photo of my 92 Marlin action with the lifter removed showing how weak the lockup is) only the lever bearing on the bolt holds the action closed.  

 

The load I was using was 115 grain bullet sized .312” with 1.8 gr Bullseye.  Not BP.  The starting load in my 45th edition Lyman Reloading Handbook was 1.3 gr Bullseye with a 115 gr cast bullet.  1.8 gr Bullseye was the max load.  I’d recommend staying with the starting load though.
 

 

[Warden Callaway]

Excellent point that I was well aware of from the get-go. That's why I'm going to load only black powder or subs.   

 

I have a 1897 22 that's only rated for standard velocity 22.  The high velocity stuff could break the bolt. 

[Warden Callaway]

I fixed a crack in the buttstock by using some dowels and Acraglas.  I filled the screw hole in buttstock with clay so it wouldn't fill with Acraglas. 

 

I drilled holes in the direction of the crack.  Filled with Acraglas.  Then used the dowels to pump the Acraglas through the crack to the surface. 

 

 

Once set,  I used the drill to cut off the extra dowel length. 

 

 

This morning I pulled the tape and cleaned up the tang inlay.

[watab kid]

just today had a fellow that inherited one of these that is looking for ammo for his , its in real nice shape and he had a gunsmith go thru it to confirm it was good to go , it was and now he plans to hunt with it , 

[Warden Callaway]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

just today had a fellow that inherited one of these that is looking for ammo for his , its in real nice shape and he had a gunsmith go thru it to confirm it was good to go , it was and now he plans to hunt with it , 

 

Our youngest son lives in Greenfield.  He's a member of the Granite City Gun Club.  (He has no interest in Cowboy Action Shooting)  When we're up, we make a tour of the gunshops.   Seem like there were always one or more of these Marlins available.   I was always interested but not enough to buy one. 

 

This one came up in a local shop.  It seemed sound and complete enough to take on as a project.  I was able to trade in an old safe queen so the cash outlay wasn't too much. 

[Warden Callaway]

The project is moving right along.  This morning (in the small hours) I pulled the barrel.  I have a barrel vise and action wrench sturdy enough to pull Mauser rifle barrels.  But it's always a "Hold my beer and watch this.", deal.

 

 

Set up in the barrel vise.

 

 

It just took a slight bump to break it free.  I think I could have done it by hand.

 

 

The Cylmaryer reamer for 32 HMR just starting. 

 

 

I removed the reamer sever times and cleaned and oiled it and chamber.  About half way.

 

 

The HMR case is about 1/10" longer than the 32 S&W Long so I stopped short.

 

 

Just fit.

 

 

The bolt closes on cartridge. 

 

The extractor pulls out case.  

 

I need to assemble and test feed. I have one more piece of the puzzle before trying.  That is the center fire pin.  Should be here any day.

[Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795]

Thanks for the update,Warden. Love to see these old Marlins put back into service.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Thanks for the update.   I find the idea of bringing these old guns back to life fascinating.   I don't care what it does to it's "collector value" either.   If you can take something that can not be fired and can restore it to a place where it can be made to go bang again, I think you have done a good thing.

 

The closest I can come to doing that was when I put a centerfire conversion block into my original 1865 Spencer.   Hearing that old warrior go "boom" again for the first time in who know how many decades was quite the thrill.

[Warden Callaway]

The mail man dropped off another piece of the puzzle today - thanks to Cypress Sam. 

 

 

The upper pin is the original 32 rimfire.  The lower one is the new 32 center fire pin.  The new one is just a wee bit tall to let the bolt fall into place.  It'll take just a little hoaning to remove the excess. 

 

I'm going to fire up the pot and cast some bullets from soft lead and size to 311 as a starting point.  May be a few days to work all this into my hectic schedule.