K32 Pre 16 4 Screw

[Drm50]

Beautiful S&W. I don't like to look at K32s, it makes me feel bad. I don't own one. What makes me feel bad is ones Ived owned in past. The 1st one
I owned back in 60s was very nice shape, no box or docs. Things like that
weren't even talked about back then. I traded a guy a Colt Scout clone 22 for it with holster, case and 3 boxes of factory WC ammo. They weren't that uncommon the used cases in LGS at the time. It was magnum mania
back then. 357 or better to open. I've owned hundreds of handguns and
seems I always delt off the ones that ended up being worth big money. I
might luck out yet you never know what will come out of the woodwork.

 

[Retired W4]

What a way to start out on the forum. Wow.

 

[fosterlj4684]

I have a quick question for anyone to try an answer. I know the total production of K32's, but how many of each variation were produced? i.e. How many 5 screws, how many 4 screws w/o model number, how many Model 16, 16-2 and 16-3's?

 

[fosterlj4684]

Smith & Wesson Model 16-3 Box

I am looking for a Blue S&W box marked Model 16, K-32 Masterpiece.

 

[H Richard]

If you can find a Model 16 box of any S/N you will probably have to pay as much as a lot of us would pay for a shooter K38 revolver. Most all were Gold boxes.

 

[Hondo44]

I have a quick question for anyone to try an answer. I know the total production of K32's, but how many of each variation were produced? i.e. How many 5 screws, how many 4 screws w/o model number, how many Model 16, 16-2 and 16-3's?

I doubt anyone would have those numbers. Never seen the production numbers broken down by engineering change.

One would have to use the total produced divided by years produced from SCSW to get how many produced each year on average. Then use the dates of eng changes from SCSW to determine how many years each change was produced. Interpolate from those figures how many produced for each change. You'd get a ball park # produced of each change at best, because some years were very lean sales years.

Good luck,

 

[fosterlj4684]

I doubt anyone would have those numbers. Never seen the production numbers broken down by engineering change.

One would have to use the total produced divided by years produced from SCSW to get how many produced each year on average. Then use the dates of eng changes from SCSW to determine how many years each change was produced. Interpolate from those figures how many produced for each change. You'd get a ball park # produced of each change at best, because some years were very lean sales years.

Good luck,

I have put together a complete set of K-32's, except what I have read and understand that there were no 16-1's produced. I have a 5 Screw, 4 Screw w/o model number, a Model 16, 16-2 and 16-3. I really don't consider the 16-4 part of the Masterpiece set, as I am more of a traditionalist.

v/r

Lloyd Foster
SWCA #3405

 

[wiskerchew]

I found a Pre-16 w/ SN K6894x in an auction and won it for 1300 (no box, etc). In pretty good shape for 1950 born date gun. Only problem was somebody decided to nickel plate it but at least left the trigger, hammer, and both sights case hardened.

 

[moosedog]

Nice gun for sure. Seems like they standardized on the bright blue when they went to the 4 screw frame.
I've got a couple and recently sold a few. People will say ridiculous estimates on prices all day until it's time to open their wallets. Realistically some where around the $3000 mark unless you get Mr Deep Pockets who needs one right now. The market goes up and down on revolvers but is pretty stationary at this time.

 

[Hondo44]

I have put together a complete set of K-32's, except what I have read and understand that there were no 16-1's produced. I have a 5 Screw, 4 Screw w/o model number, a Model 16, 16-2 and 16-3. I really don't consider the 16-4 part of the Masterpiece set, as I am more of a traditionalist. v/r
Lloyd Foster
SWCA #3405

Lloyd,

That's a pretty impressive and difficult to acquire set of the post war K32 Masterpiece!

Are you hunting for the pre war K32 1st Model w/long action? About 94 made 1936 to 1941? That's one group that we know the quantity produced.

I also understand there wasn't a stamped Model 16-1. However the -1 1st eng change as you likely know, was the extractor rod change from right hand to left hand thread. This change has been observed on several pre-dash one models, because the frame model # is stamped prior to complete assembly. If there were no right hand thread parts left by the time of the cyl assembly, we have observed left hand thread parts on pre -1 model stamped frames.

If you check the thread direction and it's left hand, your Model 16 is a "virtual" Model 16-1. Then you'd have to search for another K32; a "true" Model 16 with right hand thread.

 

[fosterlj4684]

Smith & Wesson Converted K38 to K32.

I though this group would like to see a gun with issues, it was bought online from a big name auction house. It was advertised as a Smith & Wesson K-32. Upon receipt these are the issues that I noticed. Sent for a letter from S&W and you guest it, it verified that it was a converted gun. So watch out all, there are fakes being sold as originals. P.S. I did get some money back on the purchase.

 

[fosterlj4684]

I am waiting on the letter for the 16-3 as it is a little different than the others, ramp front sight, white outline rear sight and Target Hammer, Standard Trigger, with Target Grips. Want to check the configuration of it when it shipped from the factory.


Lloyd Foster
SWCA #3405

 

[fosterlj4684]

Yes, I will be start looking for a pre-war K-32. Have to check the deep pockets prior for forking out the greenbacks.

Lloyd Foster
SWCA #3405

 

[tjpopkin]

I had a model 16-2 with three Ts and a Baughman Ramp sight. Sold a RIA when in need of funds.

 

[paplinker]

I had a model 16-2 with three Ts and a Baughman Ramp sight. Sold a RIA when in need of funds.

My local gun show has a gun with the identical setup.Been for sale for years now. Cylinder is a little pitted in one area like it was stored in a case or something.

 

[Green Frog]

Lloyd,

As you are no doubt aware, S&W made up some Model 16-3 revolvers on Model 14-3 guns they converted at the factory. I admit to being party to having such a conversion done when I had the opportunity to purchase a NOS barrel, then got a K-22 cylinder and found a Model 14-3 donor gun to complete the package. I left the finished product with its original K-38 markings on the frame since I had/have no intention to deceive.

Your (and now Terry’s) mention of a ramp front sight rather than the standard Patridge blade caught my attention because the NOS barrel I got for mine has the same ramp. I’ll be looking forward to hearing more about both of them.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[fosterlj4684]

Model 16-3 (K-32 Masterpiece)

This K-32 is properly marked, it is stamped on the frame 16-3 and is not an over stamp. It has the ramp front sight and all as listed. I am really interested in getting the letter from the factory to authenticate the configuration. Everything looks correct, but with the factory still stamped the grips with the serial number like they did on the earlier guns.

I have seen a K-32 with letter stating it was shipped from the factory as an SAO, but the price at the time was a little to much.

Some day, I plan to get a pre-war K-32, but my ultimate fined would be 1 of the 10, 4" K-32 Combat Masterpiece to fill in that space of the K- Masterpiece and K- Combat Masterpiece collection. Of course I only collect up to the -3 versions currently, more of the earlier examples.

v/r

Lloyd Foster
SWCA #3405

 

[Green Frog]

Lloyd,

The reason I mentioned the factory remarks was to explain building mine as I did and to reiterate that it was not meant to defraud like the one somebody tried to pass off to you. Like you, I don’t have any time for fraudsters. Anyway, congratulations on your collection and thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[fosterlj4684]

Lloyd,

The reason I mentioned the factory remarks was to explain building mine as I did and to reiterate that it was not meant to defraud like the one somebody tried to pass off to you. Like you, I don’t have any time for fraudsters. Anyway, congratulations on your collection and thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Froggie

Froggie

I have seen guns that had a 6 stamped over a 4, to make it look like a 16-2. Those things have a tendency to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I understand what you did, its the person that tries to pass it off as an original, when they know better or should. The auction house where I bought mine, is considered the best in the nation and has multimillion dollar auctions monthly. They advertise they are experts, but when time to explain, they hide behind, we are just an auction house. This gun, as shown above had very recognizable missing identification and should have been explained in the auction catalog to that fact, then let the bidder decide on the merits of the pictures and appropriate write-up.

v/r

Lloyd
SWCA #3405

 

[davek42_43130]

I only have 3 words to say Holly Grail gun