Finally... 16-4 4” - Patience is a virtue!

[Bastogne71]

I've been trying to buy this gun for well over a month.

A month!? It took me years to find one at a "decent" price but I didn't get the box and had to settle for a 6" at a local gun show. Every time I take it shooting, I fall in love with it all over again.

The best part though was my wife standing next to me saying "If you want it, buy it"

 

[s&wchad]

Had to ask. hope it's not something you cannot share! Oh Yes, I do want one.

ANIB examples generally bring between $1500 and $2000 auction, plus shipping, transfer and sometimes sales tax. I was able to get this one for $1300. I didn't steal it, but I consider that a fair price.

 

[Krogen]

A lot can go wrong in a month. Minutes can make the difference between ownership and future regret! You ever spotted a nice gun at a show, came back a short while later and found it was sold?

Quick story...
I was working the indoor range at our club and saw an ad on the bulletin board listing a gun collection for sale. It included some desirable Winchesters and Colts. Another range officer (Joe) came over and looked at the same ad. I saw him write down the phone number.

It was snowing like crazy and the seller was about 30 miles away, but I called him from my car and headed right over. It was a horrible drive, but I ended up buying a few guns and got home safely. At our next range session, Joe mentioned that he went to look at the collection after the storm cleared, but the good stuff was already gone! I just smiled...

Your story brings to mind the old saying "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

I have the 6" version of your revolver. The thing is astoundingly accurate. It makes even me look good. We'll need a range report, ya know!

 

[Green Frog]

Welcome to the 4" 16-4 club, where all the cool kids hang out! You'll need to learn the secret handshake.

Does this make me a member too? I've always wanted to learn a secret handshake and be a cool kid!

Froggie

 

[smitholdtimer]

I appreciate your reply, Chad

Thanks for being candid even though it is none of my business I think you got a deal if all the goodies & original box were included. Enjoy!

 

[44wheelman]

Thanks for sharing your price. My 6" shoots like a laser beam, I'd feel sad selling it for that. A slightly above average deal, nice condition too.

 

[jcelect]

Here's my 6" 16-4! The picture is poor because the gun is in about 80% condition!

It is another conversion ro 327 Fed Mag from Andy Horvath! Plus about 500rds of factory ammo, 327 Fed Mag. For $900.00. First time out and I was impressed with the group at 100yds! Looking forward to the next trip to the range!
jcelect

 

[Green Frog]

Now I know why it takes such a lead time to get work from Andy. You Ohio guys must have him surrounded and be keeping him loaded down with work! I'm torn between the extra accuracy (possibly) available from the longer barrel vs better portability found with a 4" barrel. I can't actually compare my 4" however as it's a custom rebore (from 22 LR) and I would assume that would provide a bit of an accuracy boost(?)

Froggie

 

[Dave.357]

I have posted this picture before, both of these shoot
better than I can hold them. The Rugers can be found
for around $500 add a $1000 and you can get a 16-4.

 

[DGNY]

Congratulations on a great find! If it were mine, I would leave it in its original configuration and not ream it, but opinions will vary.

Saw a 4" Model 16-4 lightly used in the mid 90s and walked by it foolishly. Live and learn. Eventually a couple of Ruger 4.625"s came to my attention.

 

[H Richard]

I have not reamed my 6", I find the hand-loaded 32 H&R does what I need it to do.

 

[Dale53]

H Richard;
I am 100% in your camp. I have the 6" /16-4 and am MORE than happy with it's performance on both the Range and in the Field. As far as I am concerned, the .32 H&R Mag in a strong Smith is all a .32 needs to be. I shoot both .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Mag (both handloaded with my home cast bullets).

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Green Frog]

Friend Dale53 and I acquired our Model 16-4s long before we ever met but while he had the good sense to hold onto his, I foolishly let mine go. If I still had it, it would have probably been rebored to 327 Fed Mag and Project 616 would never have happened. That would have been simpler and cheaper, but in retrospect I'm glad the Maggie I ended up is stainless and has a 4" barrel. But that's just me, Dale53 will tell you a blue 6" in unaltered condition is the way to go. "You can lead a horse to water..."

Froggie

 

[tejano]

Fortunately when I temporarily lost my mind and put my 4" 16-4 up for sale on this forum, no one took me up on it.

 

[cmj8591]

You have a bit of a unicorn there. Don't cut off it's horn by reaming the chambers. Shoot it. Take good care of it and be a good steward for it's next owner.

 

[Beecherkid]

The older I get I find the 32 cal to be more of a pleasure to shoot. My favorite load is with a H&R case containing 2.2 grains of HP-38 powder topped off with a Missouri 98 grain coated DEWC. These rounds average about 750 fps and that works just fine for me.

 

[jack the toad]

Congrats Chad...
I always enjoy looking at pics and reading about K 32's.
Pic is a repost of two 4" -4's.
ETA:
Top has been .327 magnumized and is a hoot to shoot.

 

[CH4]

Does this make me a member too? I've always wanted to learn a secret handshake and be a cool kid!

Froggie

Indeed! You can be the club Treasurer.

I enjoyed reading about your project. Love the results!

A while back a LGS had a 6" for a grand, but it had too much rust and no combats or I would have snagged it. Now I kinda whish I did. It would have been the perfect gun to "magnumize."

 

[Grayfox]

I like the .32 Long and have several of them. My ultimate grail gun is an early Model 16. But I have never seen one in person, much less one for sale.
Some years ago I ran across this 6" 16-4 and settled for it. I'm very happy with it. I shoot mine mostly with .32 longs and its far more accurate than I am.
I also believe in leaving guns original. No reaming for me.
Always wanted a 4" to go with it. But again, I've never seen one in person. Sadly the ones that rarely pop up on the auction sites are well out of my budget.

BTW: I do have the original Combat Stocks. I just prefer the targets for shooting.

 

[series guy]

Nice to see this thread pop back up. Personally I think the .32 caliber cartridge and the K Frame revolver are a match made in heaven. It took quite some time to amass this group but they are all a joy to shoot with any one of the three .32 caliber rounds. The top gun in the photo is a .327 Federal gun built on a Model 19 using a K22 cylinder and Model 16-4 8 3/8" barrel. Next is a finish challenged Model 16-4 sold to me for a very good price by a very good friend. The optic was included. I reamed this gun to .327 Federal. Next is another .327 built on a Model 14 using a K22 cylinder and a Model 16-4 barrel. Both the custom guns were built by Andy. Last is a recently acquired Model 16-4 6" gun that included box, tools, papers, and the original receipt. It's as perfect as they get. It is the only one not chambered for the .327 round. It gets mostly .32 S&W long during range sessions.if they weren't so danger valuable a Model 15 snub would be a great gun for a .327 Federal conversion.