Lately I've been really jonesin' for a K32, to go with my K22s and K38 - have y'all SEEN what K32s are bringing these days?!?! JEEZ.

Terry Murbach has told me a few times about a K32 he had made up by Bowen many moons ago after his own fruitless search for an affordable original, and hinted that he had an extra brand-new K32Mag cylinder and original in-the-white K32 barrel laying around, which could be had for a specified sum if I could find a base sixgun. That proved to be easy, as my pal Matt Olivier told me he had an old K38 that had finish issues and a slightly-bulged-but-still-shootable barrel, which said sixgun could be had for a song. Furthermore, Matt offered to send Terry a brand-spankin'-new Ruger SR22 in exchange for Terry sending me the K32 parts (!), and it all came together yesterday when the package from Matt landed at the Hardware Store and the package from Murbach landed in my mailbox. I had thought about having some nice custom stocks made for my K32 project, but the K38 arrived with a nice set of Diamond Targets numbered to the sixgun, so I'm thinking that will be about right.



Murbach also had a brand-new K22 cylinder/ejector, and sent it along. I had already corresponded with Bowen about the project, and he seemed genuinely excited about the prospect - he said it was one of his favorite sixguns in two of his favorite calibers: the K32 cylinder will be rechambered for 327 Federal, and the K22 cylinder will be rechambered for 32 WCF, making a neat little combo gun (able to shoot 32 WCF, 327 Federal, 32 Magnum, 32 S&W, and 32 ACP).

Good news / bad news on the Bowen front: GOOD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself; BAD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself. In other words, my sixgun will be built by the Master, but it may take a while.

Anyway, thanks to Terry and Matt (and Hamilton) for their contributions to this project! Now to send the parts off to Bowen and WAIT...........

Y'all see a future Gunblast article?

That's a great project! Please keep us posted.

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David Wilson

Very nice and the non relieved diamond targets definitely add to the look IMHO

those grips are stellar....a set of those sold on Gunbroker last night (yes, they were numbered too) for $207.50

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Wow, cool! I guess Ol' Matt really took care of me, that's not much less than I ended up paying for the whole K38 - and Matt even threw in a "little something extra"!

You, sir, are a very blessed man. The K-32 has become my Holy Grail gun and the only K series revolver I still drool over!

Hog
"I'd eat acorns for a K-32" (welllll.... not really!)

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

Yessir, I am! Matt really made this thing come together for me - first, he sold me the base gun for CHEAP, THEN he gave Murbach another gun for the parts on my behalf, THEN he threw in a collectible Ruger sixgun with the K38 for nothing!

As a big K-32 fan I really like this, keep us posted. Forum member Green Frog has a similar project in the works (Project 616) using stainless components.

Boge, keep us posted on the project. It is interesting that Mr. Bowen has no doubts about the K32 cylinder being strong enough to be rechambered for 327 Federal strength. I had bought a K22 cylinder a while back with the rechambering in mind. Yes we do expect a report on GunBlast as well.
My wife got me a K32 from a fellow who inherited it two years ago. She bought it for $600.00, met the guy at the Walmart parking lot. I did tell the seller the gun was worth a lot more, he said he did not care, he only liked tupperware guns!!

To me knowing that Mr. Bowen did the work himself would be worth the wait. You will have a special gun when all is done.

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

That is the same project I desire to do, and I have a K38 that could be a donor gun, now I only need the barrel & cylinder!

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

A K22 barrel can be easily rebored, or the K38 barrel lined. Bowen offers K-frame cylinders:
+ Bowen Classic Arms + Parts Store

I love guys like that, who see no value in their coolest stuff!

Bowen has done K-327s, he says they make great sixguns.

K22 barrels can indeed be rebored, but Bowen and others I have talked to refuse to talk about relining a K38 barrel for the 327 FM due to the pressure. That's why I had to track down a M617 barrel for Project 616. AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!

Froggie

Those grips would be perfect for your gun. I have the same project going on with Andy Horvath right now. My bbl is being cut to 5" to match my 5" pre 14. It has a set of Keith Brown Ropers waiting for it. Sort of a bucket list gun. Larry

Yessir, Hamilton told me yesterday that it could be done, but it would be very expen$ive. I am sending him a package tomorrow, but he does see ONE potential problem: the K32 barrel I am sending him may or may not be heat-treated, he won't know until he tests it. If it is not heat-treated, we'll have to make the project a 32 H&R Magnum, but if it is then it will be fine with 327 Federal. No worries about the cylinder, it's an M16-4 cylinder so it should be fine either way.

Froggie, is Bowen doing Project 616?

Since you ultimately want a 327 Fed Mag, I think the project begs for a Model 53 barrel with it's heavy straight taper barrel and shrouded extractor rod like all Smith bonifide magnums. They come up for sale often enough to find one and it sounds like you're in store for a long wait which will give time to find one.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Nah, most of my shootin' will be with the 32 H&R Mag anyway. I just thought it would be nice to have a bit more versatility in being able to shoot 327 Federal. I told Hamilton that I'd send what I have, and if it works for 327, fine, and if not, fine.

No, Andy Horvath of Ohio also has a very good reputation for this same kind of work. He came to my attention years ago with his N-frame conversions to 44 Spl and 45 Colt, so when this project was coming together, his name came back to my attention. I've heard nothing but good about him, and when I stopped by to drop off the parts I was very impressed with him... hopefully I'll be reporting on the completed project in about another 4 months.

Froggie

Froggie, you should have taken your revolver to David Clements in Woodlawn, VA. Then, you would have only been 15 miles from my house and we could have gotten in some range time together.

Seriously, I've heard many good things about Andy as well.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Froggie, Horvath does some great work. I've shot some of Taffin's Horvath sixguns, and they are very impressive. You will be very pleased, I am sure. I just was wondering if yours and mine would be bench-mates...

Gil,

I looked at David's website, and it looked as though he was only working on SA Rugers at this time. Does he do this kind of work on S&Ws as well? It would be a real plus for me to have access to that caliber of gunsmith right here in the area.

BTW, I was at the Gator this weekend... when are you going to be coming to Ft Shenandoah?

Froggie

I was reading another thread about K-frame 32s and this one came up in the "Similar Threads" box. Boge, I was wondering whether you ever did the article in Gun Blasts you mentioned here... I couldn't find it.

In the intervening time, I've gotten and enjoyed my Project 616 and have also had a recreation of the Model 16-3 done using a Model 14-3 donor gun, a rebored Model 17 cylinder, and an original NOS Model 16 barrel kindly provided to me by a forum member who prefers big bores. I would be hard put to decide which of the two K-frame 32s I prefer... both are a source of great fun and enjoyment.

Anyway, I'll reactivate this thread and ask for more info on your project, Boge.

Regards,
Froggie

I also would like to hear any updates on this project. My heart belongs mostly to .44s, but I have a soft spot for .32s in any frame size.

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David Wilson

Hear, hear! One of the firearms I miss the most is the 6" blue M16-4 in .32 H&R Magnum that I sold. That thing could shoot! It even made me look good.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I can't believe that it was that long ago that I got interested in building a K Frame .327 Federal gun. Since that time Andy has built two for me and they are a joy to shoot.

You’re welcome,

Seriously, they are kind of habit forming. I’m currently struggling with the process of building a “Kit Gun” in 32 S&W Long, based on a pre-War Regulation Police that has already been rebarreled by Bubba. That will be my last custom 32... stop me if you’ve heard THAT story before!

Froggie

You cost me a lot of money : )

I’ve been in contact with Boge and he says he’s going to do a video of his favorite sixguns including this one. I know I’m looking forward to it.

Froggie