Paul- #4 is the kicker here- The linkage of the action is all that supports the breech block of the 44, and it is just not stout enough for the 32-20. I know because I tried it! It may be OK with standard bullets and light loads, but 150 grainers and light loads quickly cause things to stretch.

How 'bout 32 S&W?  Nice small game load in a rifle, short bullets to work with a slow twist, and very importantly, low pressure to keep the Stevens 44 honest.

David 
Montezuma, IA

Green Frog;

Ah, yet more reasons to not consider the idea...

I haven't seen any Low Walls in quite the same condition and price range yet.. but I've only been looking seriously at single shots for a couple years. 
If I can keep my patience under control, I'm sure I'll turn one up. Or buy something else first and not have any money when the right one turns up...

Paul F.

Paul_F
         I've had rifles in both these calibers [32 Long--32/20] neither will shoot with any real accuracy. The 32/20 can very easily be loaded far above the pressure limits of the 44 Stevens. The Stevens Co chambered the 44 in 22 Hornet for about two years and quickly discontinued the chambering because the action would shoot loose very quickly. I happened to see one of these 22 Hornet Stevens at the OGCA show last week--their somewhat rare. The OGCA has loads of singleshots for sale at every show that you would probably find more suitable for your needs than this project,in the same price range.   leadball
PS    I'm also a Paul_F

Paul_F:

The .32 Long round had a bullet the same size as the case.  The only examples I have are the Navy Arms stuff made in Brazil, which mikes about 0.312".  Barrels can go down to 0.308" (I have a Marlin Ballard of this size) and I've heard they can go up to 0.316" sometimes.  You ought to check barrel diameter  before going further in your plans with this project.  According to Grant, the .32RF had a twist of 20".  Depending on manufacturer, .32-20's went from 16" to 20" to 24" in twist, so you should be all right, unless you really want to go up to 150 gr or so for silhouette shooting.

I pulled some fired .32RF cases out of my brass recycle can that had been fired in a Stevens Favorite and found they'd expanded to 0.320" diameter.  According to COTW, the rear portion of a .32-20 cartridge is 0.354" OD and the front after the slight bottleneck is 0.327" so a rechambering ought to clean out the old chamber.

The Stevens 44 was originally offered in calibers up to .38-55, including the .32-20.  I have specimens in .32-35, .22WCF (relined), .32-40(rebarreled) and  .25-20WCF (set back and rechambered).  With sensible loads at blackpowder pressures, they will hold together quite well.  High-speed jacketed or lead loadings, including factory rounds, will loosen up the linkage in short order.  With sufficient use, of course, they will all need a rebuild of new pins and maybe link eventually.  This linkage can be bolstered up by soldering a pair of projections onto the top of the lever over the holes for the link pin.  With judicious filing, these projections can be fitted to slide under the breechblock when the lever is closed, causing the lever pin and the frame to bear some of the thrust of the cartridge rather than the block pin, link pins and rear of frame only.  This will not make a 44-1/2 out of your 44, but it will eliminate any tendency of the linkage to get loose with extensive use of standard loadings.  I've done this mod to all but one of my 44-size rifles and to a couple of my Favorites.   

Whether this mod destroys the "originality" of the rifle is sort of a tricky question, as the lever extension to prop the breechblock was shown in the drawing in the original patent specification and sometimes was used in the Side Plate rifle.  Both the extension and the side plate were lost in the redesign,probably for cost considerations.  Dutcher had a good article on this in The Gun Report, Feb. 1992.  My rifles are all pretty minus on finish, and I buy them to shoot, so I don't have any particular problems with this modification.  The work I do adds value to the clunkers I fix up, rather than detracting from their collector status.

Your change of the firing pin from rim to center fire would require drilling the firing hole through and bushing the breech block.  I can't remember offhand whether the Stevens RF firing pin had the tip offset or whether it was made concentric with the body and the firing pin hole offset.  The latter situation would complicate your switchover some, but it wouldn't be impossible.  All it takes is lots of time and tons of money, like everything else.

If you really have a nicely original rifle (and the price asked suggests this), I believe there are still stocks of the Navy Arms Brazilian .32 RF available, although I think they've stopped importing it and the price is climbing.

I heard my name being paged (by the Frog). My suggestion for the Stevens 44 is to convert it to a .22 long rifle rimfire. The rolling action of the breechblock is ideal for a full match chamber. I have one I converted from .25 rimfire that has had several cases of .22's thru it without a single problem. It shoots "x" ring all day long, also. The Stevens 44 action is a FINE action for the .22 rimfire. I do NOT care for it in a centerfire cartridge simply due to lack of strength.

I have serious reservations about spending any serious money on a weak action chambered for a centerfire cartridge. Even if you "obey the rules" sure as shootin' the next person to acquire it will NOT. We don't need accidents in the shooting sports. Save your centerfire projects for strong actions (Stevens 44½, Winchester High Walls, Ruger #1 & #3, Sharps-borchardts and the like. It has been suggested that I am overly conservative but I still have all my fingers and eyes (and I LIKE that ).

YMMV
Dale53