For quite awhile now, I've been really into the little .32s, having found a nice old H&R top-break in S&W Long, then getting a NIB Ruger SP101 in H&R Mag (for a hunting sidearm), and then by inheriting a nice old S&W 5-screw 32 Regulation Police from my late father's estate. Too many years too late, I became aware that Marlin had also made their 1894 Cowboy in the 32 Mag chambering -- but I've read it had the lowest total production numbers of any caliber ever offered. Within the last 6 months, a nice used one of those went for over $800 and a new one almost broke $1,100 on GunBroker sales. Wow, that's way too rich for my blood -- even for a 32 which I "had to have" -- but I figured it was worth keeping an eye out for one...
Anyway, a couple of months ago, I was on the phone with a national gun retailer and I requested that a used Ruger Single Six in 32 Mag be shipped to the store closest to me for inspection and possible pickup. While on the phone, the outfitter on the other end offered to answer any detailed questions about it, as he was the one who had offered it up for sale there. After hearing all about how it only had "Maybe 1 or 2 boxes of ammo put through it...." over the last 8 years, and how he bought it for his wife to shoot CAS but she didn't get into it, I was really pleased with the quality and condition for the price. So off to Maine it was shipped. Then he ended the call by saying "Well, I'll bet that makes your day."
And I said, "Yes, that's great, but you'd really make my day if you said you also had a Marlin leveraction in the same caliber that you'd sell to me privately, which puts more $$ in your pocket..." I almost fell off my chair when he said "Um, yes, I do have one sitting unused in the safe, and OK, I'll sell it to you..." Whoa boy!!! All we had to do then was to talk price on a follow-up call the next day, when he wasn't at work.
The negotiations went much quicker and smoother than I thought... The seller got $250 more than he had paid for it, which he felt was a very fair deal, and I came in well under the used price noted above -- which was great for me too. That's still a lot for a new Marlin 1894 by some standards, but not a bad price at all for a super rare NIB/never-fired 32 H&R Mag Cowboy. I couldn't say "I'll take it!" fast enough, but he obviously understood what I was saying, as a week or so later after all the paperwork was exchanged, she finally came home with me to complete my new 32 Mag Combo.
Here's the Ruger SS that started it all... By unhooking one leg of the trigger spring, she breaks crisp & clean at 2 pounds. This is my first handgun with the rounded birdshead grips, but so far, I am really pleased with how they feel. ...And here's the nice little Marlin Cowboy that completes the set! I sort of wish she was checkered like her big brother -- my Marlin Cowboy Limited in 38-55 -- but I'll use her for awhile and see if that becomes a winter project some time. A Skinner 1894 Express Sight is now on its way to be mounted soon. Oh, and for JReed and the Ysabel Kid, here's the required pix... "22" used to be my favorite lucky number growing up -- before I became of age and hung around with "Number 7" -- but I've sure been lucky with "32" lately!
I guess the moral of this story is.... "Sometimes, all you have to do is ask..."
Tight groups!
Old No7
and yes the slippers make the picture complete 
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