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ID help with a 32RF

gmckinney626
I have an old 32RF I'm trying to ID. Any help will be greatly appreciated. The only markings I can find are on the right side of the barrel. "2450" and "BELGIUM" are there. It has a buckhorn rear sight and a blade front. The barrel is octagon shaped and measures 24". Thanks, Greg.

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  • Spider7115
    Google "Flobert" rifle and you'll get tons of info.

    Louis Nicholas Auguste Flobert of Paris was the inventor in 1857 of a type of rimfire cartridge using only the primer explosion to propel the bullet, like the more modern BB Cap. The invention may have inspired Smith and Wesson to use much the same system, but with a powder charge, in their first revolvers. He also invented a system of rifles and pistols in which the hammer served as both the firing mechanism and the breechblock. The heavy hammer had a smooth face except for a protrusion which contacted the primer-filled rim and fired the cartridge.

    The combination of the hammer mass and the momentum from its forward movement served to prevent the cartridge case from blowing backward. If a cartridge is used that is more powerful than Flobert's, the cartridge case will blow the hammer back and fly out of the chamber, possibly injuring the shooter.

    Warnant, a Belgian, invented a breech block that could be used on Flobert type guns but which would allow use of a more powerful cartridge. That is the system used on the gun in question. The arms of the breechblock are screwed to the barrel and I have seen them with screws broken or so badly worn they will fall out if the rifle is turned over. Even though the Warnant system will allow the use of more powerful cartriges than the original Flobert system, it is still quite weak, and I strongly recommend against firing one.

    http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333999
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  • gmckinney626
    Thanks so much!! What range could I expect to get for it?
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  • Spider7115
    quote:Originally posted by gmckinney626
    Thanks so much!! What range could I expect to get for it?


    First off, do NOT shoot modern ammo in it! It was mostly a "parlor gun" and used bb or cb caps.

    Floberts are pretty common and don't command very much unless they're super-fancy "Scheutzen" style and even then the market is limited. A plain one like yours would probably go in the $125-$150 range.
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