I bought this Masterpiece (.32 S&W) from an estate recently. It was shipped from the factory to Germany and has the German Proof marks on the frame and barrel. Probably the cylinder also, I have to check on that. I doubt that it has been fired, except for the factory and proof house. It is in 99.9% condition. Just a faint partial turn line near a few cylinder stops. It was ordered with all the goodies.....target stocks, target hammer, target trigger, white outline rear sight, red post front sight (not the more common red ramp sight). It included a Jinks letter from 1991 which said it was
shipped to Germany in 1972. I’ll be sending off for an Historical Letter from the SWHF to see what other info may be available.
Original box, docs, tools, NOX paper.

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Really nice package and great front sight!

I have been beating the bushes trying to find a red post 3 screw K 22 for a year or so. They are a bit hard to find.

Could you post a pic of the proofmark on the bbl?

I have two red post K22s but none with the bright blue finish.

I have to dig out my better camera. These are phone pics. The barrel proof is the German eagle with what appears to be the letter ‘N’ underneath. The frame marking is the same with the addition of 72 and what appears to be a four tined antler.

Beautiful gun, and the box even looks brand new.
Not being critical, but isn't that style front sight generally referred to as a red bead? Just like the gold bead (King?) front sight?
I've just never seen them referred to as a "post".

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A King red bead is round and very much smaller.


The factory did make a red rounded front disc on a patridge sight I believe?. Saw one on a thread on the forum. Not sure if its lettered that way.

The box label denotes it as ‘red post’. I wouldn’t have known what to call it otherwise.

Fair enough. I never heard of that before, but I can't say I've ever seen one just like that before either.

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That's a beautiful gun and a fantastic package.

Red Post for sure. My favorite sight. Once you shoot it, you will want that sight on all your Smith's, at least I did.

I've personally owned them on: M17/M14/M15/M24/M25/M27 and/or their pre-model variants.

Also have had guns that were sent to the factory and had them added - specifically M1917.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

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Dave

Great addition to your collection and really like the stocks!

45 wheelgun, When I mentioned possibly being a factory red call bead gun I was thinking of the 4 digit k22 you did a thread on a while back. Did you ever letter it? Curious if it was indeed factory

Yes, I did get a letter on it.

The gun shipped to a north-eastern Ohio hardware store in a shipment of 10 K22's, 3 of which were Red Call Beads. Tiny farm town - even today. No idea why they would have ordered 10 K22's.

To this day it is the only red call bead on a Patridge blade I've seen on any S&W model. Obviously there are at least 2 more out there.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

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Dave

^^^^

Which tiny little town and hardware if you please?

Kevin

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Beautiful is all I can say.

It’s a -3 obviously. Here are some more photos. This ‘late in series’ revolver has the typical 16 over 14 stamp in the yoke cut.

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Outstanding gun with all the accessories and box!! A complete package. Would definitely be a keeper. Also a good shooter too I'd bet. Thanks for showing.

How about a picture of the box label ?

The N in the proof mark stands for nitrium powder used in the
proofing. Germany has since gone to CIP with an N underneath.
CIP stands for Permanent International Commission

More photos to follow. I am on a trip and will post more soon.

I used my good camera but that doesn't mean I am a good photographer. I would have expected 'BT' as the finish code on the box label, but who knows? Maybe a different inspector/packer for international shipments? Oversight? Or someone added a label to a box to match the gun. I may know more once I get the Historical letter.
As I thought, there is a proof mark on the cylinder. '72' means it was proofed in the year 1972. The antler symbol on the frame denotes the Ulm, Germany Proof House.The German proof marks are a plus for me. I have traveled there on many occasions and have dear friends who are German. Lots of fond memories.

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Never having owned a revolver with factory smooth targets I wasn't sure if I would warm up to them. This pair really is stunning to look at and comfortable in the hand. Yes, I like them a lot. The "bookmatching" is very pronounced and there is also a bit of chatoyancy to them also. I stumbled upon that obscure word in my woodworking hobby but it is exactly what describes the visual effect.

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I believe that label was added by someone outside the factory.
It doesn’t look right to me and the serial number is not in the format that I’ve noticed on original factory boxes. There is always three numbers/letters in the boxes from right to left.
***your gun is beautiful and I’d love to own it!

The way that I’ve noticed in past would be like this:
3 / K32 / 910

Yeah, and the inscriptions look a bit 'heavy handed' to me compared to other labels I've seen. I am also wondering if features like the red post were spelled out, or if there was an abbreviation that was normally used.

VM, thanks for your insight.

Absolutely wondrous package. Thanks for the chance to see. Without any historical basis for saying so, it would seem unusual that such a beauty would be without its original box for more than a nanosecond. Of course, with its extensive travel and exposure for reproofing, accidents possible.

We await any further light that may be shed by the letter you are seeking.

Sorry for the delay - had to dig out the letter:

8-8-47 Hershey's Co. Orrville. Ohio

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Dave

I received a reply to my request for an Historical letter. The records as of now only go up to 1968, so no further information available. I kind of expected that as their website states something to that effect if I remember correctly. Maybe someday they will input data through 1972 and I will send off for information then.

In a previous post I mentioned my concern about 'BT' vs 'B' on the box label. I think by 1972 there wasn't the option for two different types of finishes i.e. blue and bright blue. They just were all a nicely polished blue hence just the 'B' on the box label. Does anyone have any insight on this minutiae?

The digitized and indexed records of the S&W Historical Foundation go through 1967, but records for the years 1968 and later are available at the Smith & Wesson factory are are accessed routinely for letters of authenticity issued by Dr. Roy Jinks. If you request a LOA you will find out how your 16-3 was originally shipped from the factory (type of stocks, front and rear sights, finish, TH and TT).

The only K-frame cataloged with a bright blue or nickel finish was the .357 Combat Magnum, Model 19. The Model 16, until it was dropped by S&W from production in June 1973, was cataloged with a S&W blue finish only, but for a few dollars more, we know S&W would finish this model in bright blue or nickel.

Request your letter of authenticity and your questions should be answered.

Bill