Avatar
Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon
Wife’s Grandfather’s rifle
Avatar
Tony Ford
Irish Hills, MI
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 19
Member Since:
November 21, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
1
January 29, 2026 - 5:48 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Serial number 1146302. It’s chambered in 32WS. I believe he purchased the rifle used upon returning from WWII. He fell with it in a creek bed and had to have the butt fixed. It was hunted with but is still pretty clean. 

https://i.postimg.cc/RZ50VNG9/IMG-0026.jpgImage Enlarger

7th & 10th SF retired

Avatar
Bert H.
Kingston, WA
Admin
Forum Posts: 13773
Member Since:
April 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
January 29, 2026 - 5:58 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Hello Tony,

The serial number tells us that your wife’s Model 94 was manufactured in late September 1937 (a Depression era gun). 

Bert

WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
High-walls-1-002-C-reduced2.jpg

Avatar
Tony Ford
Irish Hills, MI
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 19
Member Since:
November 21, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
January 29, 2026 - 6:05 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Thanks Bert.  I didnt know it was a depression era rifle.  I usually like my 94’s in 30-30 but 32WS shoot well too. I’m actually going to look at another older 32WS this afternoon. 

Tony

7th & 10th SF retired

Avatar
Bert H.
Kingston, WA
Admin
Forum Posts: 13773
Member Since:
April 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
January 29, 2026 - 6:11 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Tony Ford said
Thanks Bert.  I didnt know it was a depression era rifle.  I usually like my 94’s in 30-30 but 32WS shoot well too. I’m actually going to look at another older 32WS this afternoon. 
Tony
  

My only complaint with the 32 WS is the ammo availability.  It is usually much harder to find than 30-30 ammo (except possibly in the Mid-west).  Ballistically, there is virtually no difference in the two cartridges.

Bert

WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
High-walls-1-002-C-reduced2.jpg

Avatar
Tony Ford
Irish Hills, MI
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 19
Member Since:
November 21, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
January 29, 2026 - 6:29 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Midway has 32WS in stock for reasonable prices and free shipping. 

7th & 10th SF retired

Avatar
Zebulon
Texas
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 1573
Member Since:
January 20, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
6
January 30, 2026 - 9:03 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

Tony,  There is a very interesting article written by Brian Pearce about the 32 Special caliber in Issue #360 of Handloader magazine, published in late 2025/early 2026 by Wolfe Publications. Pearce argues the cartridge has some specific virtues not shared by the .30 Winchester and offers loading advice. Like many presently unpopular but useful calibers,  owners with a rifle so chambered are best served by accumulating and handloading components.

- Bill 

 

WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist

"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Avatar
Bert H.
Kingston, WA
Admin
Forum Posts: 13773
Member Since:
April 15, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
January 30, 2026 - 10:16 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print

Zebulon said
Tony,  There is a very interesting article written by Brian Pearce about the 32 Special caliber in Issue #360 of Handloader magazine, published in late 2025/early 2026 by Wolfe Publications. Pearce argues the cartridge has some specific virtues not shared by the .30 Winchester and offers loading advice. Like many presently unpopular but useful calibers,  owners with a rifle so chambered are best served by accumulating and handloading components.jo
  

Bill,

Not having read the aforementioned article, what is Mr. Pearce’s gist (specific virtues)?  I truly enjoy debating with the diehard 32 Winchester Special owners why the 30 WCF (30-30) is actually the superior cartridge of the two.

Bert

WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
High-walls-1-002-C-reduced2.jpg

Avatar
Zebulon
Texas
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 1573
Member Since:
January 20, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
8
January 31, 2026 - 1:06 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print

I’ll have to re-read the article to coherently summarize the points, which I’ll do shortly. What I found interesting was it was the first thing I’ve seen that contradicts the conventional wisdom. 

Pearce is no Bubba, which gave his arguments more credibility, with me, anyway. I have no idea whether he’s right, of course. I have zero reloading experience with either and my total bag with the .30 Winchester was a button buck I thought was a doe, at 50 yards at Sundown. 

I’ll come back here in a bit. I’m still recovering from the flu so it’s not like I’m putting useful work aside. 

Wait 10.

- Bill 

 

WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist

"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Avatar
Zebulon
Texas
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 1573
Member Since:
January 20, 2023
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
9
January 31, 2026 - 1:37 am
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory

Sent you an excerpt. 

PBS American Revolution installment is about to come on. 

- Bill 

 

WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist

"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Forum Timezone: UTC 0
Most Users Ever Online: 5406
Currently Online: 1873man, Maverick, deerhunter, TXGunNut, TR, Paul H, John D., Buck1967
Guest(s) 1483
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
clarence: 7119
TXGunNut: 6980
Chuck: 6334
steve004: 5436
1873man: 4814
deerhunter: 2822
twobit: 2605
Big Larry: 2578
mrcvs: 2318
Maverick: 2130
Newest Members:
Merchant of the Old West
wjw
winfan
Ranger55
GeorgeJ
Rshell
Stevepala
Angelo Colletti
Geoman
Gunfreak
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 18
Topics: 15405
Posts: 139271

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 2057
Members: 10386
Moderators: 3
Admins: 4
Administrators: Mike Hager, Bert H., JWA, SethJ
Moderators: Rob Kassab, Brad Dunbar, Heather
Navigation