New(to me) Marlin '92, a few questions

jfwlb · Post by **jfwlb** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:31 pm

I picked up a marlin 1892 in .32 WRF recently.

From the serial #, I believe it was manufactured in 1901. I have already researched the ammo and it is hard to find and expensive. I also found a replacement firing pin that will let me shoot .32 short and long I believe. The questions I have are as follows:

What kind of finish did these come from the factory with? The reason I ask is because the rifle has a very rough almost black finish on the metal parts. Is this correct? If not, should I have it refinished or leave it the way it is?

I like the color of the wood, but it is a little rough looking. Should I attempt to refinish the wood?

It also has a flip up rear sight that I haven't seen on an 1892 before. Is this correct or was it added later by one of the owners?

I have included pictures to(hopefully) show the finish. If you need additional pics, just ask.

Also, should I have it inspected by a gunsmith before I fire it?

Thanks for all your help.
John

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:47 am

It's hard to say from the pics but looking at the 6th one down it looks like it was painted with some kind of black paint. That takedown knob looks to be imbedded in the paint. All of the marlin 92's that I've seen were rust blued or belgian type blued.

IIRC they were either 32S&W rimfire or 32 short colt CF depending on the firing pin in the gun. Both of these were .309-.310 heal bullet, I think. So 32 S&W and 32 S&W long with their .312 bulleat won't work. be fore marlin came out with their 32 H&R 1894 I had a feller send me a marlin 92 to ream the chamber for 32 S&W long. He then found a mold to cast a 100 gr. M1 carbine bullet .308 but loaded them unsized in the long case.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:39 am

It looks like someone did a "Krylon" paint job on it. The barrel and mag tube should be rust blued, the receiver was Carbona blued IIRC, the lever and hammer should be case colored.

My special order Marlin 92 is being restored right now by Earle Bubar. I've heard nothing, but praise for his work. He told me when he's finished it will look like the day it left the factory. It's about half done, so I should have it back next month.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/earle0.htm

jfwlb · Post by **jfwlb** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:10 pm

Thanks for the reply's, Nate and jdad.

I agree with the krylon job, I just wanted to make sure.

Nate:
I researched the rifle and it seems as though the rifle is chambered in .32 winchester rimfire. I also found that the original rifles were sold with both a rimfire and a centerfire firing pin.

One of things I am trying to find out about this rifle is what type of centerfire ammo this will take with the new pin; 32 short or 32 long.

Also, is it possible to have it re-chambered to a different cartridge that isn't so hard to find or so expensive?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:50 pm

jfwlb wrote:Thanks for the reply's, Nate and jdad.

I agree with the krylon job, I just wanted to make sure.

Nate:
I researched the rifle and it seems as though the rifle is chambered in .32 winchester rimfire. I also found that the original rifles were sold with both a rimfire and a centerfire firing pin.

One of things I am trying to find out about this rifle is what type of centerfire ammo this will take with the new pin; 32 short or 32 long.

Also, is it possible to have it re-chambered to a different cartridge that isn't so hard to find or so expensive?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

32WRF, you are probably right about the rim fire but I'm pretty sure it used 32long colt for the center fire which means the chamber is too small for the S&W long. I do remember that because that was the reason I reamed it to 32 S&W long for my customer. But he has to use those 30 carbine cast bullets to fit the bore.

jfwlb · Post by **jfwlb** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:31 pm

Thanks for the info, Nate.

John

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:39 pm

The .32 rimfire cartridges were of the same dimensions as the .32 Colt, both short and long. I don't think I've ever seen a .32 "Winchester" Rimfire but I'm certain Winchester produced cartridges as did Remington, Peters, UMC, etc...

jfwlb · Post by **jfwlb** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:08 pm

Thanks for clarifying that, Hobie.

I thought I had read that information online, but I wasn't sure I had understood it completely.

Anybody know anything about the flip-up rear site? I always thought that the buckhorn site was standard; is this an option or was it put on after the rifle was purchased?

Thanks,
John

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:40 pm

Just seen one at a gunshow that came with both firing pins. The coolest gun I seen at that show.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:24 pm

The correct bullet for the .32 Long or .32 Long Colt is a heeled bullet, but the diameter is larger than the .32 S&W cartridge. The case of the .32 Colt is smaller, thus the heeled bullet is needed to fit the smaller case, with the bullet being larger than the case.
Most .32 Longs come with a .315-.316" bullet, and when the 1892 is rechambered to .32 S&W they usually have problems with the oversized bores.

otteray · Post by **otteray** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:35 pm

Why not use a round lead ball (.311? or whatever slugging the bore shows) seated half way, and use a little bit of Bullseye?
Works for my '92 Marlin 32 long / short Colt.