It’s hard to say sometimes why certain cartridges can have such a powerful nostalgic hold on a fellow. My first introduction to the 32 W.C.F. cartridge was back when I was a young fellow growing up in a rural area. My best friend on a farm four miles away bought a box of 32-20 cartridges for an ancient, well-used Marlin rifle that had obviously been heavily used on some homestead back in the late 1800’s. The afternoon when he opened that box, pulled out some of those little cartridges, and fed them into that old rifle is still fresh in my memory. Perhaps it was the sight of that old homesteading rifle and those fascinating little cartridges that got a nostalgic hold on me that is at least as strong some 45 years later.
Here’s a shot of my own 32 W.C.F. Mine is an original Winchester Model 53 made in 1929, with ’32 W.C.F.’ marked on the barrel. It is both my daughters’ favourite gun to shoot …. no noticeable recoil and not much of a bang. As for me, it’s my all time pet varmint cartridge. With a 115 grain bullet at 1,257 fps, I do have to sneak up a little closer, but that is part of the fun.
Trapping Tanning and Taxidermy and is a gold mine of information. You can get reprints still for it or download an electronic copy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/3855Win/Winchester%20Album/32-20-cartridges_zpsbf14ee55.jpg”>
Hi Kirk, Your Winchester Model 53 holds two spots in my heart. First off it is a nice vintage Winchester made in 1929 and the esquisite wood with it’s wonderful grain pattern. That is one thing I look for in a rifle,I am very partial to nice wood on any gun.
As for the caliber it too is my favorite, I have mostly 32WCF in my collection of Winchester Model, 1892,92,53,65 and Winchester Model 1885. It just seems like the right combination of lead and powder to be a deadly cartridge for the game it was intended for.
I would also like to add that my favorite cartridge in the Winchester Model 1894,94,55,64, is the 32 Winchester Special. I might get a Winchester Model 1885 in 32WS one of these days. All I have to do is quit buying other Model Winchesters and save up for one.
Thanks Kirk for the post, hokie
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TerryR said
Nice rifle! I have that exact marbles rear peep on my 94 30-30. I LOVE that sight! Real close to the eye. TerryR
Terry,
The sight on Kirk’s rifle is a Lyman No. 2A versus a Marbles. In comparing the two, I prefer the Lyman sight over the Marbles.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
WOW! Thanks for the info Bert! I got up and ran and got my rifle, and had to look at what I had. They sure look close! But mine is a Marble.
Thanks for the heads up, I just learned about the Lyman I didn’t know was made.
TerryR
PS I still like the close peep for hunting purposes!
TerryR said
Nice rifle! I have that exact marbles rear peep on my 94 30-30. I LOVE that sight! Real close to the eye. TerryR
Terry,
The sight on Kirk’s rifle is a Lyman No. 2A versus a Marbles. In comparing the two, I prefer the Lyman sight over the Marbles.
Bert
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