Early 'CARTRIDGES' & The 32-20 WCF:

The word 'cartridge' when used to mean a complete package containing "the necessaries" dates back to 1626.

 - Whereas that "fine old cartridge" the 32-20 WCF is much younger .. dating only from 1882-83.

- As I understand it the original firearms cartridges were squares of paper or cloth, twisted-wrapped around a musket ball and the proper charge of gunpowder ready for use to load
 .. this package first being opened and the powder poured down the barrel - then the packaging would be either used as a wad before introducing the ball - or could be used as a patch around the ball to help it fit more gas-tight in the bore - and to stop the ball just falling out under gravity.

In my experience the old time muzzle loader shooters tended to carry their essential tools and components in a leather bag or 'wallet' - known to us 'moderns' nowadays as a "necessaries bag".

The Winchester 32-20 - ( .32 inch caliber loaded with a 20 grain black powder charge) was an early self-contained lever-action metallic cartridge that has done plenty of valuable work through the 136 odd years.

The 32-20 is a center fire cartridge developed by Winchester as 'The Winchester Center Fire' cartridge first chambered in their Model 1873 - however six or seven years later more than 43 thousand first generation Colts Single Action Army (also M.1873) revolvers were made in 32-20 WCF caliber.

The Year 1873 is also famous as the year Levy Strauss got US Patent 139121 for their re-enforcing copper rivets and started making their tough jeans .. the Canadian north-west MOUNTIES were formed - and "father of the blues" W C Handy was conceived & born in Alabama. He was still blowing at age 76 .. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkOcO5HXbk8

The 32-20 is/was a very useful round for many years but is now regarded as "obsolete" - particularly since the straight walled .32" pistol cartridges have been again up-powered by the latest iteration - the 327 Federal Magnum .. that uses the same diameter .312 inch projectiles.

The 32-20 in it's day was a serious general purpose caliber used for both hunting and self defense .. but it's long brass case is rather thin-walled and will crumple-collapse if the hand loader gets a bit careless. - Mind you .. I myself have have crumpled similar tall brass cases when re-loading (both .357 Magnum & 327 Fed.Mag) without really trying - despite them being usefully thicker and tougher modern metal.

The delta blues singer Robert Johnson composed & recorded 32-20 BLUES in 1936 .. probably after he sold his soul to the devil .. he likely carried one for social reasons? The song is bad news for his woman who spent a night out on the town? .. Link ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0H_5PSNokk

Ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest - ahoh boy, I just can't take my rest
With this .32-20 laying up and down my breast.

The thirty-twos in various flavors were widely used for at least 70 years as service issue and law enforcement handguns - certainly well into the 1950s.

 - I don't find this in any way strange - as these .32 guns (.32" ACP, 32-20 WCF, .32" H&R Magnum etc., etc.) use exactly the same effective size bullet as the .303" British - The Moisin-Nagant, - the 7.62x39mm RUSSIAN AK 47 - indeed they are a smidgeon bigger than the classic 'Thirty Caliber' and .308 - and the 30-20's cuzzie the .30" M1 Carbine (but lighter & slower of course).

 - I'd call that "a sweet spot" caliber but the dullards snigger that it's a "mouse-gun".

The thirty-twos got pasted by the marketing men who saw dollar signs in the word M$A$G$N$U$M  and "bigger is better" starting from the 1940s.

The thirty-two calibers are sweet shooting and accurate guns - versatile and easily managed. - I think they are great & deserving of an ongoing future .. but I doubt that - I regret but that they may likely continue to slowly fade away.
Marty K.
Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training ..  http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/

just e-mailed me a link to a Lucky Gunner story & video about the .32 ACP  .. https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/32-acp-is-pretty-good-too/

- Both of these USA guys know their stuff and are well worth following.
M.K.