Very Interesting find today

[exbrit49]

Went to an auction today, it was just a general auction and I was surprised to see a small 5 shot pistol. Luckily I had my I phone and was able to get on line and check it out. I bid up to $80 and it was mine.
It was a a HARD PAN in 32 rim fire made by Hood Manufacturing of New York. The finish was pretty darn good and the nickel is over 90%. It is hand engraved and I found another one just like it on the web and it was selling for $450 and appears to be about the same condition. I don't expect to sell mine, just add it to my collection.
Checked it out and it locked up tight and timing looked good. I was really happy to take it home for my collection.
I was even more pleased to find that on real close inspection the chambers and the barrel are in really great shape and evidently this piece was very well cared for.
Being a 32 rim fire, I doubt if I will ever shoot it, but it is in such nice shape I would have no hesitation in firing it.
Serial number is 2xx9 From what I can see this model was made from 1873 to about 1885. ( closest guess would be about 1878) So its getting up there in age (about 130 years old) Hard to imagine a black powder rimfire.
Not bad for $80! and in great condition.

 

[Jaymo]

Very nice. Looks like the inspiration for the NAA .22 rimfire revolvers.

 

[raa-7]

It does look good for being as old as it is ! It has a tough finish made to last a long time.Can you find shells anywhere for it? I know rounds like that are scarce but I'll bet there's someone here in THR that knows where to look or knows of somebody that might be able to help you out with getting some.I would have to shoot it if it was mine.I wonder if they sell any kits like they do for pin fire?Anyways good luck with it,and thanks for showing the pictures.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

if only it could tell where's it been with the original buyer.
quite a find

 

[Mayvik]

Can you find shells anywhere for it? I know rounds like that are scarce but I'll bet there's someone here in THR that knows where to look or knows of somebody that might be able to help you out with getting some.

Dixie sells brass for the common RF's that you "prime" with a .22 blank.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_101_287&products_id=8154

 

[exbrit49]

WOw thanks Mavik

Thanks for the link, I will be ordering a half dozen tomorrow!!
Great news and hopefully I will be able to shoot a few through it in a few weeks. Got plenty of FFFg and will post after I get them and get it on the range.
THANKS A MILLION

 

[BHP FAN]

http://www.nrvoutdoors.com/FIRST SHOT/FIRST SHOT.htm

 

[Busyhands94]

BHP Fan, I'm actually thinking about building a similar rifle in .32 S&W Long since I can't find .22 anywhere. A long time ago I read that article and that is what inspired me to get to planning it. Very good read!

 

[BADUNAME30]

That is just a real sweet little deal ya got there exbrit. The muzzel of the Bbl appears as tho it was designed to accept a tool of sorts.

 

[BHP FAN]

well, Busyhands, I mostly linked that to show Dixie Gunworks .32 reloadables [having missed that Mayvik already had] but until very recently I had a Whitney Rolling Block in .38 center fire short, that was very similar. I taught my niece and nephew how to shoot with it, but those kids grew up, and something came up I wanted more..

 

[Busyhands94]

Will, was it a .38 S&W? That is too dang cool!

 

[exbrit49]

The muzzel of the Bbl appears as tho it was designed to accept a tool of sorts

Hey there JimwestPA.
I was able to find quite a lot of info on this little gem! It is a smoothbore and those marks at the muzzle were to make it look like it was a rifled barrel!
Thanks for the nice comments guys.
I have ordered the Numrich machined brass so that I can load up some ammo and put a few shots through it.
As one poster said, Wonder wh the first owner was and what history could it tell. I love antiques of all types. When I lived in the UK I used to work with the local archeologist and one day I found a beautiful piece of Roman -Samian pottery, it was really a beautiful piece but what stunned me was to see the glazier had left his thumbprint on the rim. That sure made me think about the who was this guy, almost 2000 years ago that glazed that beautiful pot. Felt a little bit the same when I got this pistol

 

[BHP FAN]

Neat find. I wound up with a 1888 British Bulldog in .38 S&W. Even though it says ''British'', I'm pretty sure it's Belgian. Busyhands, that Rolling Block wasn't .38 S&W, it was .38 short Colt. Same length just narrower, like .38/.357.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

If you Google it people are taking .32 short Colt and milling out the primer pocket of the case to accept a .28 Hilti Ramset charge minis the powder as a primer. A lot cheaper in the long run.

 

[Jaymo]

Since it's a smoothbore, it should be as accurate, or more so, with round ball compared to conicals.
All you have to do is find a lead round ball that is the correct fit to the bore.

The engraving looks cool, too, since it looks more like it's a patterned stippling than a traditional engraving.
It gives me ideas. Don't have to be an artist to stipple. Lay out the patterns and spacing, and use different sized prick punches and center punches.
Would be a good way to spiff up a brass framed BP gun.

 

[hawkeye74]

32 RF are available but expensive.

Unless they have stopped making them, a company in Canada makes them. I have a couple of boxes of the ammo I got cheap. Check your gun show ammunition dealers.

 

[exbrit49]

Hi Again , an update.

Got the stuff from Dixie Gun Works today and it looks like its going to get fired very soon, I ordered the machined cases that allow a 22. blank to fire the main powder charge.
The .310 Dia round balls are a perfect fit to the barrel and everthing is looking good, I am going to have to do a little more machining on the cases as the primers are binding on the frame. The brass pocket needs a chamfer where the primer inserts, that will allow them to seat about .010 deeper. Get that done and its off to the range.
Looking good so far

 

[303tom]

The Marlin Model 1891 could shoot .32 Colt & .32 Rim fire both just by changing the firing pin..............

 

[exbrit49]

another update

Got all the parts ok but disappointed to find that the brass cases require a lot of work. The back of the case machining was not deep enough to accept the primers, they stood proud by over .015. Since the base was already the same dimension as the original 32 case rim, the extra .015 would not allow the chambers to revolve with the primer in place.
Played around with one tonight and had to chamfer the hole the primer actual goes into, this allowed it to drop about .005, Since it still would not clear the frame, I had to then deepen the pocket that accepts the primer by about another .010. Finally got one done so that they will allow the action to revolve ok. Took me well over an hour to do one, and still got 5 more to do
Since these things were over $5 each, I wasn't impressed with the quality. But that's the way it goes I guess. Anyway should get the others done over the next week. and be ready to go.