With a 5"or 6" barrel in .32 long. Would love to see one made. Larry

I would pay to have a K22 or Model 17 converted to 32 before I would buy a newly made K32 with lock and MIM parts. At least you could be certain of getting one that way; I wouldn't hold my breath for Smith to make them. There's virtually no market. That's why they are so collectable today! Almost no one bought them when they were made.

K22s are plentiful and you'd have a K32 for half the price of an original and about the same price of a new one if it were made.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim, what do you think the price would be to convert one? Larry

Hi Larry,
To give you the bottom line 1st, my guess is not under $400 plus shipping. You'll need a K22 to have the barrel rebored, the cylinder rechambered, K frame centerfire hammer (readily available) to replace the rimfire hammer and the frame mounted firing pin replaced with a centerfire aperture. Extra if you want the barrel stamping changed to .32 Long and/or reblued.
Bowen, Clements, Hovarth and Gallagher are probably your best choices by reputation. Bowen uses Jim Dubell for barrel reboring and Jim quoted me $150 to rebore a 357 barrel to 44. Bowen's website has quite a few packages for caliber conversions that will give you an idea of price.

I would go to each of their websites and send them the exact same e-mail message asking for a quote and turn around time if you supply them with a K22.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim, I actually have a .22 cyl to convert and a 16-4 4" full lug bbl that I bought. It wouldn't have the classic lines of the original .32 but the bbl could be used. All I would need is a host gun to swap parts to. I have one project in the works right now and I'll get it back with in 4 mos. The gunsmith has a 6 mos. back up and he's had it for 2 mos.
I'm sure that if Smith would make a classic .32 long it would sell. I'm sure if they would limit it to 500 guns, they would sell them all. It would be a fun gun to shoot.
The original ones are pricey and too collectible to be shot.

Larry

Hi Larry,
Sounds like you're all set, it'll be a great project. I have removed part of the full lug on one of those barrels, it gives a more traditional look to it. There is a 16-4 4" for sale on Gunsamerica now for about $1000. By the time you get done, you might have close to that in your project.

I think you're right, a limited run classic edition for one of the big distributors like Talo, Davidsons or Lipseys of 500 would probably sell. It would still have the safety lock and MIM parts though. Keep us posted on your progress.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Since we have a good conversation going, Ill tell you abt the project in progress. Found a M&P made abt 1910 with a cut bbl, timing good and the collector value destroyed. Always wanted a ppc gun but with the long action. Gunsmith is cutting the slab side bbl to 4 1/2" so it will look different. Cutting the rib to match and remounting the front sight. Adding a ball-detent lock up and re-blueing it. Cost is 50.00 in the frame, bbl free when I bought the 32 mag bbl, rib abt 35.00 and abt 350.00 in gunsmithing. Will post pics in the competition section when I get it back. Larry

The only way to get a S&W that shoots .32 Long these days, is to get a .327 J-frame.

Well that will be a unique piece. Was it a target model already with an adjustable rear site? Is it a 38 Special or 32-20 M&P?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Its a 38 spec. non target. I bought a mod 13 that was already made into a ppc with the 6" bbl and it seemed too muzzle heavy. The club shoots a double action only match for 7 weeks after the winter bulls-eye league. I always wanted something custom built. Larry

This conversion sounds interesting. Keep us posted and add some pictures.

Just doing a test pic. Not a K-32, not yet. I posted a pic, YEA. Larry

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Hi Larry. That's not the host gun for your K32 project is it?

Did you get your PPC M&P back yet?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hondo44, yes I did get the gun back in July. Didn't know how to post pics but I found out how. I'll take pics tomorrow of the gun I had done and the other PPC I bought.(excellent price). Thanks for remembering. I shot the 4 1/2" one and it shoots great, very happy with it. Larry

Cool, nothing like being happy with a custom project.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hondo, in the competitive shooting section is a 2 pics and a description of the PPC 41/2". Its in the PPC revolver pics thread.

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That's a pretty gogeous PPC gun, a 5 screw with mushroom head ejector! It looks like a gun w/o original adjustable rear sight like yours has more pleasing lines when the rib is added.

I find the mushroom head more comfortable to eject cases with, I imagine especially in a hurry like in a match! I think I would have cut the notch under the barrel for it on the same radius as the ejector swings so it didn't break up the edge of the PPC barrel. But that's just me. Two very nice PPC guns!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I'd like to see them make K-32 masterpieces again in the hopes it would help bring down prices on the really rare old k-32's and early model 16's. The prices have gotten so high on the old guns that even if they were cut in half, they'd STILL be very high. Neat guns, though.

I actually wanted the gunsmith to turn the ejector rod cause I figured it would be hard to notch the bbl like he did. Now that its done, I would have scalloped the bbl by the frame so they would mated better. It also has the original detent to hold the cyl open, kinda neat. It needed to be bead blasted to remove the very light surface rust/patina. Had a pic on the wall in the basement of a gun like this for years and now finally own one like it. Still happy with it. Larry

I do too. But I don't think it would accomplish what we want; lower prices on the originals. Some that want one just to shoot might buy a few but they aren't competing with us for the originals. Those of us who appreciate the originals for their craftsmanship and panache would never settle for a new one with lock and MIM parts.

It would take a distributor exclusive order to get Smith to make them. And I don't know that any distributor would want to take a chance that they could sell 500 or 1000.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

My feelings exactly...

Also, the reason the originals (K-32's and model 16's) are so rare is because very few people bought them in the first place. And the .32 S&W Long cartridge hasn't gotten any more popular since then. And what would Smith and Wesson's financial motivations be for reintroducing it? Even the full lug 32 H&R mag K-32 reintroduced as a model 16 didn't sell well.

Oh well...fun to dream about

(I'm still hoping that they'll reintroduce the 1953 Studebaker Starliner and the 1941 Martin D-28 guitar for $175...I live in the past.)

Well, I called Andy Horvath today to see how much to convert a K-22 to a 32 S&W long. Abt 650.00 for the caliber conversion and under 200.00 to cut the bbl to 5" and fit a front sight of some sort. Includes a re-blue. I would use him only bc I can drive to his shop to drop the gun off and his reputation is great. All I need now is a .22 to convert. That will put it abt 1300 for a nice 5" K-32 or 1100. for a 6" 32. It wouldn't be original but I can shoot it, not hurt any value and enjoy the gun. WOW, what to do! If I sell my 16-4, the gun will almost be paid for. My dream to own one will be over. Larry

I would imagine that the competition's price is right about the same. I have no qualms about letting Andy do it and I too would prefer to drive the gun to him. At those prices and because it will be a brand new looking K32 factory look-a-like, I belive you could always get your money out of it since the real ones are rare and very pricey. I would pay that much in a heart beat for a K32 conversion shooter.

I would go for it, no question in my mind. And if I was "going the distance" to have it done to look like a factory K32 and I wanted the barrel cut, I would definitely want the original or an original S&W front sight ramp and blade installed.

The rule is, the more the custom conversions look like a factory product, the better the chance of you getting your money out of it, not that you'd ever want to sell it!! But something to consider when making the investment. The customs/conversions with all kinds of bells and whistles cost a bundle and nobody ever wants to pay what they cost when they're for sale. What my bells and whistles are, seldom are someone else's.


Since you get a re-blue out of the deal hopefully you can pick up a very 'finish challenged' K22 cheap, maybe even a five or 4 screw. I got my not too 'finish challenged' K22 Combat Masterpice 5 screw w/o original grips for $240.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thanks Jim, You're helping to push me over the edge. Met someone from the forum in Seattle thru selling guns. Nice person, we keep in touch on the phone abt important things (S&W's). He has a nice beater K-22 with a tapered bbl for a reasonable price. Says its a good shooter even before I started bugging him to sell it to me. The deal is close. Looks like my K-32 may be a reality. I'd really like the hvy bbl in a 5" but he said it shoots good with everything. I have a 5" K-38 with the hvy bbl. I figure if the gun shoots good before the conversion, it will be accurate after. I'm abt to order another set of KB grips with the roper checkering and they will be for this gun. I hold a S&W bunch every 6 mos., wish you lived closer. You are interesting to talk to and it would be neat to meet you. Larry

Larry, that's cool, what vintage K22? I'm into your project more than you know! I can understand having a K32 w/heavy barrel to match your K38. Personally I prefer the tapered barrel, which makes no difference because that's just me. Just a thought; a K32 with tapered barrel will more closely match the weight of your K38. That was a big deal in the old days of Bullseye matches.

Here's my 586 project on my bench now to get a tapered barrel 5 shot L frame 44 Spl. Just need to find someone to rebore the '357 Mtn Gun' barrel then send it off with the 696 cylinder to have blued.



Yes I wish I wasn't on the other side of the country!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That looks like a cool project. Did you mount the cyl your self? Do you change bbl's, guess really all one would need is a frame wrench. The "L" frames are good shooters so you're finished gun should be accurate. What are some of you're past projects? Upcoming auction on the 16th with a K 22 for a sale. Larry

I like the idea.

The cylinder was a drop in. I even bought the 5 shot cylinder hand to install, but didn't need it. But this cylinder had one final machining step left un-done. I had to do a final shaping cut on each one of the 6 cylinder ratchet positions! Changed several barrels with a homemade barrel vise and blocks.

Other projects: All my caliber conversions so far are Colt and Ruger single actions but here's some Smith projects.

Got this J frame 30-1 .32 with target sight but had to remount the rear sight correctly and re-do the front. Added target trigger and hammer, and pre war thumbpiece. I've added factory target grips that I always shorten and in this case, adapted with a filler to the round butt.



Replaced the Ti cylinder on this 296 w/ss 696 cylinder and replaced latch w/earlier style.


Bekeart Model with bulged barrel got a barrel trim and re-blue. I picked up this little '20s era Heavy Frame Target as a shooter. It's #428014 all numbers matching including the extended target grips and front and rear sight, 8 locations total. The barrel had been shortened to 3 1/4", the original patridge sight and base reinstalled and the entire gun refinished. It's not a factory refinish and not that quality but not bad either with all rollmarks sharp and clear.
The patridge blade sight had been modified into an ugly ramp however, so I turned it back into a period correct shape but that's why it's not as long. Installed a correct retaining pin with round ends and took the remainder of the patent dates off the top of the barrel because they were half covered by the sight base. I also installed a second style, '30s era ejector knob so it resembles a Kit gun and added period correct RB grips for the kids' small hands. It's a nice little package and a terrific shooter.

For $400 plus shipping and no tax, I couldn't let it slip by. Worth it to me just to have another shooter for the grandkids and save my nicer and more original shooters for the adults.

Put a 4 " barrel in another Bekeart w/barrel bulged right up against the frame.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

You do some nice work. Those guns look excellent. I have a 22/32 that had a bulged bbl also. A guy at the club cut to 41/2" and installed a ruger front sight. Had to mill the thickness of the front sight to match the rear better. Had a re blue at some time, I'll leave it as it is. Going pheasant hunting tomorrow and carry the gun for a coup-de-grace piece if needed. I have abt 250.00 in the .22 and a nice set of early 2 screw grips salvaged from it. Wish I had the time to do what you do on guns. Maybe in retirement. Larry

Thanks Larry,

I actuall enjoy collecting them and working on them, if needed, as much as shooting them. I'm finally retired. About 5 years now and more than doubled my collection...OMG!

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Jim
S&WCA #819

How does you're 30-1 shoot? Thats actually a cheap way to get a 32 target. Thought abt a 6" J or I frame and have the top frame milled to fit a modern J sight, then raise the front sight. Thats a cool gun. Is it possibly up for sale since you've doubled your collection? Larry

Here is the pics of my 32/22 cut to 3 1/2" bc of a bbl bulge. Ruger front sight. Larry

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Hi Larry,

It is a tack driver! It probably shoots no better than any other of my .32 small frames. It's just a very inherently accurate cartridge. However, with the improved sight picture for my old eyes my ability to shoot it to it's potential is much enhanced! It's actually become one of my favorites and last to sell.

I would encourage you to go ahead with your project. There are 3 versions of small frame modern rear sights. The I frame, and two J frame sizes. If you have an I frame gun, try to locate an I frame sight which has the front screw properly located forward of the barrel/cylinder gap and the installation will look factory. If you do a J frame gun, use one of the J frame sights. The screw hole location is the same on both but the earlier 34-1 sight has the proper length tang to match your top strap. Of course the 34-2 sight tang can always be shortened.

By the way, just for reference, the correct front blade serrations for a Smith is 50 LPI, the #1 checkering file from Brownell's.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Larry,

That looks excellent. With the 3 1/2" barrel it has great proportion and resembles the Mod 43 Airweight which for extra lightening, only came with a 3 1/2" barrel.

The Ruger sight ramp gets rid of the huge sail-like front sight blade that some object to. Is it screwed on? I planned to use a K22 front sight with my next post Model 1953 project, milled down in proportion to the smaller frame. I like my projects to look like something the factory would have made. They did a nice job of adding a sight base to the Model 63 front sight.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Hi Jim, thought I scared you away by asking if your gun was for sale. The front Ruger sight is screwed on and had epoxy added when installed. He charged me 90.00 to cut the bbl, add the sight and correct the double action glitch. Its a re-blued mess with pits under the finish and blued hammer and trigger. Still have the piece of bbl with the front sight, are you interested in? I'll ship it to you if you want it. The gun is perfect for a finish shot if needed while hunting small game or a trail gun that if it falls in the mud I wouldn't care. Shoots good too, better then with the bulge. I could use this rear sight on an I frame if needed. Larry

Hi Larry,

Oh no, I'm flattered. You have a cool little gun. You got your money's worth from your gunsmith. One of my favorite kind, use it it and not have to worry about. The kind that you will have a lot of memories attached to, that you can as you pass it on to your son or family!

And the newer modern sight would look great on your gun and does have it's advantages. You don't have to worry about losing those little screws that can work loose and get lost. Your front sight may not be tall enough though. Clements reproduces those pre war style rear sights for use on his compact custom guns and sells them for about $100. So they are valuable.

Yes I could use your original piece of barrel w/front sight but only if I at least reimburse you shipping. I'll send my address in a PM. Thank you!!

All the best,

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Happy birthday Jim, I'm sure the shipping won't be much. I have a want to buy add for a cheap K-22 to use as caliber change. Hopefully one will turn up. After pheasant season I'll hit a show and look for one. That nickle Reg Mag in the Classified had a big rust scab on the top strap in the pic showing the recoil shield. So what is the model 53 project you're doing? Its weird, the guy at the club that did my 22/32 has the same first name and is real handy with fixing guns. Larry

Thanks!

I have a 53 4" barrel which has an ER shroud. I always thought it would look good on a Model 48 or 18 to match my 4" Model 19. Haven't moved forward on that yet, however.

I'll keep an eye open for a K22. Do you have a preference on vintage? What caliber were you thinking of converting to? I have another project in mind for a 25-20 Short that I load, on a Ruger Single Six frame.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Jim, The 22 would be converted to 32 long. Looking for a hvy bbl C&R pre-17. I'll look locally and appreciate you're offer finding one. It will save shipping and sometimes guns sell cheap here. The bbl piece will go out tomorrow. Larry

Larry. Some have been re-chambered for 32 H&R Mag or 327 Mag just to have the flexibility. I don't think I would do that because of too much 'bullet jump' to the chamber throats plus in a pre 17 vintage gun I'd rather just have the traditional 32 Long and be period-correct. Will the same friend Jim do the work and will you correct the caliber stamp on the barrel?

Thx for heads-up on barrel piece.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I contacted Andy Horvath, he's as good as Bowen and I could drive the gun to him instead of shipping it to Bowen. Andy said he enjoys making 32's out of 22's. Contacted David Carroll to look for a shooter grade K-32. He said he puts them on gun broker and they sell for over 2G's but he'll let me know first if me finds one. If I build a K-32, I'll have the bbl cut to 5" to look neat. I don't want the 327 and I already have a 16=4. I want a gun dedicated to .32 long. Not sure what I'll end up with yet, time will tell, Larry

Yes, Andy will do a 1st class job and it will probably shoot better than an original K32 with the tolerances that he builds into them. He could make it look like an original 5" as well.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Thats a good word of encouragement Jim. The bbl went out yesterday after work, should reach the west coast by Sat earliest.

Thanks Larry for the up date.

On your K32 project; something just occurred to me. Could you save a few dollars if you gave Andy a .38 Masterpiece or Mod 19 to convert since they are already set up with a centerfire aperture and usually target hammer???

They might be easier to find than a K22 and with more wear on them which might equate to "less expensive". You'd still have to come up with a .22 barrel and cylinder but you'd also have a .38 or .357 barrel and cylinder to sell. Or if you're using your .32 full lug barrel to match you .38, you don't have to find a .22 barrel.

Just my wheels churning....

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I have the hammer that's needed if I used a .38. The .38's are cheaper to find but then I need the cyl & bbl. The 22 cyl I had I sold. The 4" bbl for the 16-4 I sold also bc it would look like a 16-4 when I was done and I already have one in 6". So I'm back to square one. I figure I would have almost the same money converting a 38 as I will buying a .22. I have a line on one in PA and will call again tomorrow. The man said it was well worn and is what I'm looking for. We'll see what the price will be. Keep you're fingers crossed for me. Oh yea, this will be my 1000th post (opps, need one more). I feel lucky, Larry

I agree with all of you a K-32 would be neat but I am just going to wait for Smith to build one. I am also waiting for them to bring back the 696 but with a longer barrel. I dont really need these I just want them.

I tried contacting Andy Horvath but he doesnt seem to answer his phone or return calls so I am not going to chase someone to give them my money for a cobbled up parts gun.

3-5-7, where in Ohio are you? In the public lounge in March, I'll be advertising the 5th NE Ohio bunch that will be in April. We're having fun with S&W's. Hope you can join us, Larry

I am in Cuyahoga County and will keep an eye for the meeting in the spring.

In the past I thought the conversion of revolvers was a pretty good way to get a model with the features that you would want. However with the appearance of the Classic line some of my wants were satisfied and of course being able to procure older specimens also satisfied the desire.

Other experiences with "so-called gunsmiths and custom shop smiths" have left me with a cautious attitude toward these types. After its all said and paid for sometimes its the same amount or more of $$$ being spent on a parts gun instead of a new gun. Brownells cataloge with John Ruskins caution about spending money also come to mind here. Lets face it this is an expensive hobby and if you have lets say "Les Baer Tastes with a Hi-Point pocketbook" its time to get your priorities together and only spend what you can afford or save up and be patient.

I used to associate with a lot of cheap asses that were always trying to get something for nothing. The law of the market place does not allow that. Frankly if you cant afford to spend it ....dont!!! Thanks for letting me gripe and Happy Thanksgiving to all of the Smith and Wesson forum members!

Definitely watch for the Bunch meeting in March. Always wanted a group like this, so I started one. Pass the word. Hope you feel better, getting things off your chest will make tomorrows meal better. I know someone that does work for S&W and he's going to help me with a name and number at S&W. I'm gonna find out if they can make a Classic K-32 of some sort new. Are you close to Independence? Larry