doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Winchester M94 and 64 in .32 Special

Does anyone know the year when WRA dropped the .32 Special caliber offering in both these lever actioned rifles. I believe WRA offered the .32 Special in 1902-1903, and dropped it in about 1956, but would appreciate confirmation please. RWTF

RWTF, I looked at all the obvious references that I had (and you probably have) and couldn't find an answer.

They all agree that the ctg. dates from 1902, but don't give any "end date" for the production of rifles in that caliber.

I would say that your estimate of the late '50s is pretty close, but keep in mind that at least one "special edition" of the '94 in .32 Spl. was offered later than that, in the 1970s, I think. If I remember correctly, it was one of those goofy "big lever loop" models, but I can't remember what, if anything, it was supposed to commemorate. Probably Winchester had a few .32 barrels they needed to get rid of, and they knew that such a "collectors edition" wouldn't get shot anyway (You may sense that I have a low opinion of guns made only to "collect"....).

As a side note, I can't remember any non-Winchester .32 Specials ever made except some Marlin 36s (not too common), a few French sporters based on the MAS 36 bolt action, and a VERY few French and Belgian double rifles.

Not much help, but maybe a REAL Winchester guy will chime in.

Can't nail down the dates, but a quick search of gun broker I find 1958/64/66/....

Interesting: ten years later than I thought! My impression may have been colored by my youthful experience, which was mainly in the West, where anything but a "thutty-thutty" was considered just plain strange!

I understand that in the East this was a caliber that was valued as a reliable deer killer for over half a century. Ken Waters dispels most of the myths about it in his article in "Pet Loads" (originally in "Handloader" magazine).

The Blue Book lists 1973 as the last year for the 32 special in the Model 94. According to the listing for the Model 64, it was manufactured until 1957 in 219 Zipper, 25-35, 30-30 & 32 Special and in 1972-1973 in 30-30 only.

Jim, if I recall, the Model 64 made in the 1970s was rather different from the original, and not in a good way. It may have been designated "Model 64A," if I recall correctly. (The "A" can't have stood for anything good....certainly not "Excellent."

I don't doubt that Mike, as it was based on the post '64 Model 94. I was just mentioning that as apparently the Model 64 was not manufactured in 32 Special beyond the 1957 date although it was produced briefly in the post 1964 version.

A 64 Deluxe in .32 is number 20508XX, 1954.