Newbe from Ky, Need Help info on S&W modle 16-3

[KRUDEONE]

Hello gun lovers. I just purchased a S&W 32 cal. supposed to have been given as a parting retirement gift for police officer.
The Mod. no looks Like M 16-3 or could be m18-3 hard to tell looks more like a 16-3, serial no.3K33467,32 S&W long revolver. looks almost new. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks from Ky

 

[Desert Rat 416]

Welcome to the Forum. That WOULD be a Model 16-3 that dates to 1972, shortly before that Model was discontinued.

 

[KRUDEONE]

Thanks desert rat

I suspected the gun was fairly new because of the condition. I think I came out all right for 150 bucks. what would be a rough value for a 90+ condition ? thanks for your time
from Kentucky man

 

[Desert Rat 416]

You did very well on the price. I will defer to others on the Forum with more expertise on the Model 16 price/value. My limited knowledge of them, which may be questionable in any case, is that there were only about 3,600 of them made from 1947 until they were discontinued in 1973. They were discontinued in part because they didn't sell very well, but their limited number makes them very collectible today. I'm sure pictures would help others with more knowledge of this model give you a more accurate appraisal. Congratulations on your acquistion, and best of luck with it.

 

[410bore]

its a $2k+++ gun....it probably is hard to read the model number because the 16-3's were made on Model 14 frames and they overstruck the "4" with a "6"

 

[gmiller0737]

What a Great Find!

 

[KRUDEONE]

MOD 16-3 S&W serial no.3K334xx

Much Thanks Desert Rat & 410 BORE. you all have made my day if all turns out right. The lady I bought it from claims it was her uncles ( a policeman) retiring gift. But said it was in the 40's does the serial no 3K334xx show a later date? I looked at the model number under a magnifying glass and it look fairly clear to be a 16-3. I also will send a digital photo as soon as I can talk my wife into taking the picture and I get more fimiliar with the forum. Any more info would be greatly appreciated. again many thanks
Ky man

 

[Desert Rat 416]

Our pleasure to be of help - that's what we do here!

That's an affirmative on the 3K..... Serial number being from 1972. Sounds like you have made a great score for your $150, and should pick a couple of numbers in the lottery!

 

[murphydog]

Great find! It's possible another gun was given as a gift in the 1940s; this model would have had a K serial number prefix at that earlier time, but the factory went all the way from K 101 (I think) to K 999999, then 1K and 2K with five digits following, then into the 3K series into the 1970s.

You may owe the previous owner of the gun something extra - dinner, house work, etc. - for the deal you got!

 

[KRUDEONE]

Thank to all ... The lady that owned the gun has been doing some work for me and was going to sell the gun to a local gun dealer for 200. but since I gave her lots of work she would let me have it for 150 It's not like me to not barger I thought the gun was worth 300/400 retail. She has lots of guns she may still have the other . It's about time things worked out in my favor (hopfully) I have gotten my tail feathers burned many times in past years. I'm trying to figure out how to add photos I have taken Umm ,actually my wife is, any ideals.

Thanks again to all.... hope to get some photos out soon

Krudeone

 

[Green Frog]

+1 to murphydog and the others. Unless there is something tremendously wrong with the information you have gathered and sent, you have quite possibly made the deal of the century... somewhat like the urban legend that describes going to a rickety old garage to buy an old Chevy jalopy at some low price and having it turn out to be a Corvette! They will be telling this story for years. Congratulations, and as murphydog said, a nice meal (or several) or some yardwork/home fix-up for the nice lady would certainly be in order. At the very least that gun is worth 10 times what you paid for it on any day in any part of the country!

Regards,
Froggie

PS If your conscience starts to bother you too much, you could send it to me at...

 

[KRUDEONE]

guilty conscience

I'm thinking about donating it to my local gun safe. As slow as the lady works I may give her a raise. If ?she has the one she thought she sold me.

Krudeone

 

[KRUDEONE]

S&W MOD 16-3 serial no 3K334xx

Here's some pics of the mod 16-3 if It was done right. Let me know if all is good.

Krudeone

 

[Flint Ridge]

Welcome aboard - nice way to enter on a deal like that. The outdated S&W book I have says POOR condition was $275...

I'm needing some work done around my place...

Quality item for sure.

 

[PMRet]

As others have said, your 16-3 is easily worth 10-15 times what you paid for it. The model number does have a "6" stamped over a "4" as 410bore described, just like the one pictured below.

 

[A10]

Welcome to the forum, and what a great entrance! You have what many folks here feel is a "grail gun", due to the fact it is rare, it is expensive, and it is designed as a target gun companion to the model 14 and 17. I have every confidence that your message box will soon be filled with offers!

 

[KRUDEONE]

Finally got my password right,whew.

Tkanks all for all your help wish I could buy you all a beer or sourmash,or moonshine or a good drink of scotch. I'm going to have the gun papered by S&W will let you all know about the outcome many thanks again. Probably going to sell her after I mess with many people at the next gun show.
I going to say Humm sounds like a good offer above my 150 but I'm going to check around a little bit. I just can't help myself. Got to find a good and fair person to give me a condition % after I get her papered.

Again many thanks and any help finding a fair buyer much appreciated. I'm going to let someone have her who is a passonate collector and can appreciate her more. Usually never sell any of my many guns I'm pretty much a horder.

Ky boy

 

[Mickey D]

Nice find.
As many stated, it's a grail gun for many, including me. It would be a keeper if I were you.

Enjoy!

 

[KRUDEONE]

S&M Model 16-3 K32 Masterpeice 32 cal.

Hey Folks, Finaly got my paper back on my Model 16. Didn't learn much that you all didn't tell me. Just that it was shipped on March 10th,1972 to a shop in CT. and 3,630 were produced in the trio series.

If I understand all of this series was a combat Masterpeice ? I also suspect the 16 was stamped over a model 15 instead a 14. It didn't really sink in on what I had until here. Now I'm on the hunt for the K-22 and K-38. What is the approx value for say a 90 condition and which is easier to find? K-22 or K-38 I suspect the K-22 and what is the approx value if I were to find the other 2... I'll send the S&W paper as soon as I can convince my wife to post it and figure out how to blur My ADD: without hurting the certificate.
Got the bug. Thanks all to your very informative responses and the time you took. Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

Ky Man

 

[KRUDEONE]

From Krudeone on Model 16-3 K32

Also the paper said the 32's were discontuned even before they were advistered. "the ,32 was discontuned before it was ever advsrtised and a very few were produced." Wish they would have told me how many were produced in .32

Ky ManS&M Model 16-3 K32 Masterpeice 32 cal.
Hey Folks, Finaly got my paper back on my Model 16. Didn't learn much that you all didn't tell me. Just that it was shipped on March 10th,1972 to a shop in CT. and 3,630 were produced in the trio series.

If I understand all of this series was a combat Masterpeice ? I also suspect the 16 was stamped over a model 15 instead a 14. It didn't really sink in on what I had until here. Now I'm on the hunt for the K-22 and K-38. What is the approx value for say a 90 condition and which is easier to find? K-22 or K-38 I suspect the K-38 and what is the approx value if I were to find the other 2... I'll send the S&W paper as soon as I can convince my wife to post it and figure out how to blur My ADD: without hurting the certificate.
Got the bug. Thanks all to your very informative info and the time you took. Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

Ky Man