32 rim fire

[Toyman]

I was going through a box of reduced price items and found this box of 32 rim fire shorts. I believe from 1940's?.
Any idea what gun would these fit ? I know of early S&W revolvers but I have no idea if these would be to powerful to use in them.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Nice find! Rimfire ammunition was quite common until about WW2, but very little has been produced since that time. The variety is great, in calibers from .22 (dozens of different versions), .25, .32, .38, .44 and probably others. Many of the boxes contained specifics of which firearms for which the cartridges were suitable, usually listing makes, models, and pistol or rifle types. Some were offered in "short" and "long" versions.

There were .32 rimfire revolvers offered by a dozen or more different makers, and a number of rifles also. S&W, Iver Johnson, H&R, Colt, and many less well known brands. Some used a version of a standardized cartridge, but many used only the manufacturer's proprietary cartridge designs. Millions of rimfire guns from 1860s through 1920s or so remained in use for many, many years.

The lack of specific instructions on the CIL-Canuck box shown indicate to me that this example is a standardized (or generic) type, probably suitable for many of the early guns. At this point in time I think this find is far more interesting and valuable to collectors than for any actual shooting purposes.

Last rimfire ammunition I saw offered on a retail basis was some imported and sold by Navy Arms company, and that was probably 40 years ago.

 

[murphydog]

These would chamber in a model 2 Army (.32 RF Long), and the model 1 1/2 old model and transitional (made for this round but will also chamber the .32 Long). The 1 1/2 second issue was made for .32 Long.

 

[weatherby]

I think the ammo is post 1963 with the child warning label. Stevens and Remington made lots of rifles for it also.

 

[s&wchad]

Nice box! The Stevens “Crack Shot” (No. 26) was chambered in .32 RF Short and produced until 1939.

 

[wood714]

I had 2 boxes of Canuck 25 rimfire for my Stevens rifle, but aint found it since I moved here in 2001.

 

[Aggie1906]

I have a little pistol that uses that. Looked for some, and found it rare.
Some antique black powder stuff existed too. I recall last production was in South America after WWII. I found a few loose rounds for just show at a gun show, and gave up any idea of shooting.

 

[desi2358]

I was going through a box of reduced price items and found this box of 32 rim fire shorts. I believe from 1940's?.
Any idea what gun would these fit ? I know of early S&W revolvers but I have no idea if these would be to powerful to use in them.

Nice box, that box is actually from the 60's/70's era. CIL/Canuck was the last North American producer of those rounds. Navy Arms did sell South American (CBC IIRC) made 32 rimfires for a number of years after Canuck ceased production. They were a mild smokeless loading intended to be safe even in older firearms so long as they were in good shape.

There is still a fair amount of demand for this (and a few other) obsolete calibers. Many people want to at least have a few rounds to go with older guns they have. Some still want to shoot them once in a while and that stuff is pretty dependable. I collect old rimfire ammo myself as well as trade in it at gun shows. There are always people asking for these old timers.

 

[Toyman]

Thanks to all for the info.

 

[remshooter]

my dad still has my granpa's stevens crackshot rifle chambered for .32 rim fire .That granpa got back about 1915 , he used it to shoot squirrels and groundhogs ,and my dad also when he was a kid. we moved into an old house in West Virginia ,were i grew up ,we found another stevens .32 rimfire rifle , hid behind a kitchen cabnit. Found dad some new made ammo for it from brazile in the 90's ,he loved shooting granpas old gun again

 

[tom2]

I got a little sold frame 19th century pistol in that caliber. I have one early cartridge just as an example for display with it. I once had a box of those Navy Arms 32 RF and a box of their 41 RF which I got to pair with a Remington derringer but never fired a one and found by the time I wanted rid of them, the boxes of Navy arms ammo had skyrocketed due to lack of production. Sort of like common ammo did in the last year.

 

[Exmilcop]

I have a box of .32 rf long for my S&W Mod.1-1/2. It's an authoritative little round! I like the idea of neat little pistol my wife can handle for any domestic defense use. Hereabouts, a box of that ammo, short or long, in good condition will run $250-$325. Nice find!

 

[biku324]

Oddly, you can find 41 Short Rimfire rounds for derringer with comparitive ease. Go figure.

 

[reccpd101]

I have a Remington rolling block chambered for 32 Rimfire Long that my brother who is an expert machinist is converting to 32 Long Centerfire. After slugging it, the lands and grooves in the barrel will work fine. It should make a neat target toy. We looked at going up to a 32 H&R Magnum but my brother was concerned about the heat treatment or lack there of. When I get it back, I'll do a post.

 

[ddixie884]

That will be a really interesting rifle.........