K38 to K32 conversion?

[TIMETRIPPER]

Saw what looked to be a K32 at a couple different gun shows last month. Not model marked and while I can't recall the exact serial number it it was in the range to place DOB in the mid fifties. Four screw, adjustable sights, marked 32 S&W long on the barrel. NO serial numbers on the rear face of the cylinder or the barrel flat. Assembly numbers on the yoke and frame did not match.

First time seen it was disassembled. Next show it was put together. It is in need of a refinish and had some surface prep started in the grip area. Finish damage is where the frame is covered by target sized stocks. Lock up and timing seem to be good on casual inspection.

The lack of serial numbers on key parts, along with the mismatched assembly numbers make me think that this gun was someones project to convert a K38 to a .32.
Sorry for the lack of pictures.

But what say you? A conversion project? Is this something that is done on occasion? Considering all the above, what would it be worth?

I know that K32s are a rare and desirable bird. Wouldn't mind having a target K frame .32 myself, but the K 32s are priced well beyond my sensible means.

John

[H Richard]

What you are saying is very possible. Model #'s weren't started until 1957 and it was probably 1958 before fully implemented. Any K Frame of the same vintage could have a .32 barrel and cylinder installed. It is one way to obtain a K32 for shooting, it will of course have little collector value. Value? That's a wild guess. My visualization of your description, and assuming mechanically good, I wouldn't pay over $350 - $400 for it.

[Jim NNN]

Yeah I'm also waiting for the model 16 or K 32 at a reasonable price to come along (not holding my breath), and it sounds like the people with that gun might be trying to put something together to cater to that demand. I personally wouldn't be interested in a revolver like that. It it was a giveaway price, maybe... but it won't have the soul of a real K 32. I wouldn't care if it's worn...but altered? Not for me.

[Green Frog]

If the parts were all in good mechanical shape and there were no rust or pitting to obscure/damage the markings, I would be interested in it at prices ranging up to about $500 because that's what it would cost me to get to that stage in building it. Original? No. Desirable as a shooter? You betcha! If it's ready to finish then final assemble, I would definitely be interested, but that's because I want one to shoot; YMMV.

Froggie

[05CarbonDRZ]

You also have to question how skilled the Smith was that put it together.

[TIMETRIPPER]

If the parts were all in good mechanical shape and there were no rust or pitting to obscure/damage the markings, I would be interested in it at prices ranging up to about $500 because that's what it would cost me to get to that stage in building it. Original? No. Desirable as a shooter? You betcha! If it's ready to finish then final assemble, I would definitely be interested, but that's because I want one to shoot; YMMV.

Froggie
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You guys are echoing my thoughts. Wouldn't mind it for a nice shooter at the right price. But the seller was hoping to get more than double for what I would care to pay and said he had been offered $800.
When doing such a conversion, is it a simple matter (maybe not so simple) of mating up a 32 caliber barrel and cylinder to a suitable frame. I would think that finding both could be a challenge in itself.

John

[TIMETRIPPER]

You also have to question how skilled the Smith was that put it together.

Yes, unless it was dirt cheap, I would want to "test drive" it at the range to check things out.

John

[BruceHMX]

For those of us that shoot and reload 32 S&W Long or 32 H&R Magnum guns like this can be very cool. There was a time when I had a few extra Pre 16 barrel's and cylinder's. A 32 target masterpiece would be very easy to assemble from these parts by an excellent gunsmith using a 38 caliber gun.

When these parts dried up K22 barrel and cylinder's can be bored to 32 caliber and assembled. Again needs to be done by a competent smith.

Hamilton Bowen is one of them. He will work this magic and I do not recall what the charge was. I sucked it up bought a Pre 16 and a 16-4.

Depends on how bad you want one and I guess how often you shoot 32 S&W Long.

[Green Frog]

I finally gave up on finding an original Model 16 or -2 or -3 and the prices I was seeing for 16-4s hurt my feelings too badly, thus Project 616 was born. Seeing what has been (and is being) done by the factory, the production of a real Model 616 shouldn't be a great challenge at all. It appears that the gun in question by the OP was one that had probably been assembled but never really had the finishing touches. If the barrel is a legitimate, marked 32 S&W Long Barrel, it should be worth a pretty fair lick, likewise a 32 S&W L cylinder if ready to final fit and install. Depending on one's gunsmithing skills or willingness to find (and pay) a qualified gunsmith and the amount of finish work needed, the price of $800 might be pretty reasonable. I couldn't justify it for myself, but then again I've already got my "grail 32." YMMV

Froggie

[PMRet]

Remember that most, if not all, of the 16-3's (1967-73) were assembled at the factory by fitting a K-32 barrel & cylinder to a 14-3 frame. The "4" in the model number was over stamped with a "6" on these guns.

[Mossyrock]

I have a semi-ugly 5-screw .38 Combat Masterpiece and a .22 Combat Masterpiece cylinder and barrel sitting on my bench, waiting to be boxed up and sent to Mr. Bowen for just such a project. The deciding factor will be what the Tax Man has to say this year.....

[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by Mossyrock

I have a semi-ugly 5-screw .38 Combat Masterpiece and a .22 Combat Masterpiece cylinder and barrel sitting on my bench, waiting to be boxed up and sent to Mr. Bowen for just such a project. The deciding factor will be what the Tax Man has to say this year.....

While you are waiting, you might as well send the barrel out to Delta Guns to be rebored... that's who Mr Bowen (and most other gunsmiths I've talked to) will be using. When I had my barrel done for Project 616 that was well over 3/4 of my wait time. If you have the barrel ready when you send the donor gun and cylinder to be worked on, you'll save a bunch of time. Just a suggestion, but "been there, done that."

Froggie

[Tom K]

Originally Posted by Green Frog

While you are waiting, you might as well send the barrel out to Delta Guns to be rebored... that's who Mr Bowen (and most other gunsmiths I've talked to) will be using. When I had my barrel done for Project 616 that was well over 3/4 of my wait time. If you have the barrel ready when you send the donor gun and cylinder to be worked on, you'll save a bunch of time. Just a suggestion, but "been there, done that."

Froggie

I wouldn't be too sure about that. I sent in a Model 17 .22 barrel to Delta to be rebored to .32 on 5-6-2013. That's coming up on two years. My previous rebore (Model 27 .357 barrel to .44) took over a year. This is a completely unfounded speculation but it might be that a barrel received by Delta from famous-gunsmith-and-good-customer Hamilton Bowen might get attention sooner than a barrel received from Joe Blow.

If you're going to have Bowen do it, ask them first what their wait time currently is on getting a barrel rebored. Delta may just be incredibly backlogged and may treat everyone first come, first served.

Actually come to think of it, that's not quite true. I remember when asking about progress on my .357-to-.44 rebore Jim Dubell mentioned that they did batches, which makes sense. He sent this info via email on July 22, 2012 - "This one is going through with a bunch of Bowens barrels. I told him I would ship Friday, so yours should be ready to go then as well."
Then nothing happened for several more months until I inquired again. He sent this message on Feb 28, 2013 - "Hi Tom, I am still playing catch up since having to let Allen go from the rebore shop. I am lining up a raft of pistol barrels to begin running on Saturday, I should ship yours on Monday."

I finally received the .44 bore barrel on April 15, 2013. It was originally sent to them March 6, 2012. So, it may be that they haven't done any .32 bore barrels since I sent my Model 17 barrel in.

After receiving the .44 barrel I sent it in May 2013 to Andy Horvath along with a beater M28-2. He had it for over a year and I got the project back in October 2014. The seldom-seen 8-3/8" .44 Special. Total time from when I started buying the components to finished gun, nearly 3 years.

Bottom line - don't be in any hurry if you want something like this done.