I just couldn't resist this one. My LGS takes what he thinks will sell well on Gunbroker and puts them on auction without them ever hitting the floor. I always check his auctions to see if there is something I like. This way I get to inspect it before bidding. That was the case on this rifle. Condition isn't very good and that fits into my niche. I'm too cheap to buy high condition and I like to shoot everything I have. A buddy of mine just wonders out loud what I see in guns of this condition. But I see a shooter with a lot of history.
That being said, for those that don't know, the Marlin 1892 was chambered to shoot either 32 rimfire, long or short, or 32 centerfire aka 32 Colt, long or short and it came with two firing pins. This one has both. It will be a fun little bunny chaser and range/plinking gun once I get the load figured out. The 32's have a pretty wild history. The original 32 short rimfire was chambered with a heeled bullet and anywhere from a .310 to .316 bore. It didn't change as best I can tell. The .32 Long, both rimfire and centerfire both changed over time. The 32 Center fire ended up being loaded with an inside lubricated (non-heeled) bullet but most manufacturers didn't change the bore size of the revolver or rifle. Some did and it is not unusual to find these rifles with a .308 groove and anywhere from a .300 to .303 bore dimension. So, once I get it this weekend it will be time to slug the bore and cast the chamber to see what I actually have. I'd prefer to keep this one in .32 Colt Long, but the available reloading supplies may impact what I do. Cases and heeled bullets are available as well as dies. None of that is cheap, but the deciding factor will be if I can get cases to fit the chamber, bullets that will seat and still chamber and be of a diameter that will engage the rifling and shoot well. None of that is a given.
This one isn't collector grade, but I prefer to leave them as is. But depending on what I find in the measurements I may decide to re-chamber this to 32 S&W Long and have an easier supply of ammunition. And Being someone before I got it decided to clean up the receiver, a refinish isn't out of the question. So here are some more pictures:
Right Side
Left Side
Tang
Receiver Top
As you can see the metal leaves a lot to be desired. But I like the been there/done that look. I once had my choice of 1898 Krag rifles, one in great shape and one that had battle scares including one that looked like a block of a bayonet swipe on the wood. I chose the one with battle scars.
This will be fun once I get it up and running.
That being said, for those that don't know, the Marlin 1892 was chambered to shoot either 32 rimfire, long or short, or 32 centerfire aka 32 Colt, long or short and it came with two firing pins. This one has both. It will be a fun little bunny chaser and range/plinking gun once I get the load figured out. The 32's have a pretty wild history. The original 32 short rimfire was chambered with a heeled bullet and anywhere from a .310 to .316 bore. It didn't change as best I can tell. The .32 Long, both rimfire and centerfire both changed over time. The 32 Center fire ended up being loaded with an inside lubricated (non-heeled) bullet but most manufacturers didn't change the bore size of the revolver or rifle. Some did and it is not unusual to find these rifles with a .308 groove and anywhere from a .300 to .303 bore dimension. So, once I get it this weekend it will be time to slug the bore and cast the chamber to see what I actually have. I'd prefer to keep this one in .32 Colt Long, but the available reloading supplies may impact what I do. Cases and heeled bullets are available as well as dies. None of that is cheap, but the deciding factor will be if I can get cases to fit the chamber, bullets that will seat and still chamber and be of a diameter that will engage the rifling and shoot well. None of that is a given.
This one isn't collector grade, but I prefer to leave them as is. But depending on what I find in the measurements I may decide to re-chamber this to 32 S&W Long and have an easier supply of ammunition. And Being someone before I got it decided to clean up the receiver, a refinish isn't out of the question. So here are some more pictures:
Right Side
Left Side
Tang
Receiver Top
As you can see the metal leaves a lot to be desired. But I like the been there/done that look. I once had my choice of 1898 Krag rifles, one in great shape and one that had battle scares including one that looked like a block of a bayonet swipe on the wood. I chose the one with battle scars.
This will be fun once I get it up and running.