29aholic
Member
I am curious as to if any of those 4 line guns had been back to the factory. I believe it was the factory's practice to add the other 3 lines if they had a gun come back. This practice was ceased by Roy.
K-32 large ejector rod knob, with a twist?
- Thread starter Pre-29Smith
- Start date
That's a possibility for sure, but I don't believe it's the case with Pre-29's K32. It has no 'star' evidence of a factory return. I think he would have said if it has a date under the left stock. Maybe he'll check if he hasn't.
I think he just has a scarce example with an unlikely feature!
I think he just has a scarce example with an unlikely feature!
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I guess any 4 liner with a LERK can be considered "parts cleanup production". Especially a non-Transitional K32 with a LERK such as Pre-29's gorgeous example.
Yes, shipped in 1949, but again a slow mover that was probably produced much earlier but after April 1948. I believe his gun is entirely original. Unfortunately, a letter is not going to confirm the LERK.
It also has the earlier 2nd style, and first 'new design' post war style thumb piece not usually seen on models the vintage of yours:
The 1st thumb piece used post war; left over pre war thumb pieces carried over on the very earliest of the post war or 'Transitional' I, K & N frames; the double hourglass or double 'pinch' around screw hole thumbpiece with relief cuts under checkered pad shown here on a K22/40.
2nd style used, and first 'new design' post war style thumb piece, still has the double 'pinch' but without relief cuts under checkered pad.
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Yes I agree. And just for the record, there are no known 4 line K22s with LERKS.
OP
Pre-29Smith
Member
No rework marks under the frame, stars or anything.
My original intent was to find out if there are other K32 revolvers with the LERK and 4-line address. The transitional kit guns and such notwithstanding - I suppose my post could have been made more clearly.
Morgan,
Since you have one I have no doubt there's at least another. You may want to change your thread title to: "K-32 large ejector rod knob, with a 4 line address?" to invoke more K32 owner interest. I believe the potential for the K32 is the strongest because it was a slow mover.
I forgot to mention: your s/n is earlier then the first listed serial # range in the SCSW, 3rd ed., page 129, K58921 - K58970.
Also check out some of the linked treads at the bottom of your thread for other discussions of LERKS.
Since you have one I have no doubt there's at least another. You may want to change your thread title to: "K-32 large ejector rod knob, with a 4 line address?" to invoke more K32 owner interest. I believe the potential for the K32 is the strongest because it was a slow mover.
I forgot to mention: your s/n is earlier then the first listed serial # range in the SCSW, 3rd ed., page 129, K58921 - K58970.
Also check out some of the linked treads at the bottom of your thread for other discussions of LERKS.
OP
Pre-29Smith
Member
Checked 'em out, thanks! I appreciate the input on the thread title, too, but I'll leave it standing as-is.
Morgan Smith
SWCA #2819
"It's certainly easier on the finger when ejecting empty cases."
Nothing beats the old mushroom head ejector rod.
Nothing beats the old mushroom head ejector rod.
Way COOL!!!
Morgan:
In the Masterpiece series, I have seen very few LERK K-32s. And that has been something that I have been interested in for a long time. I have however, seen several in the 4 line ranges. David Wilson has kept track of the LERK K-38's and most of them are single line guns. There are a bunch of LERK K-22s, almost all of which that I have observed are single line guns with SNs below K4600.
Congrats on a BEAUTY!!!! Wish it were mine!
Thanks for sharing,
Morgan:
In the Masterpiece series, I have seen very few LERK K-32s. And that has been something that I have been interested in for a long time. I have however, seen several in the 4 line ranges. David Wilson has kept track of the LERK K-38's and most of them are single line guns. There are a bunch of LERK K-22s, almost all of which that I have observed are single line guns with SNs below K4600.
Congrats on a BEAUTY!!!! Wish it were mine!
Thanks for sharing,
OP
Pre-29Smith
Member
Morgan:
In the Masterpiece series, I have seen very few LERK K-32s. And that has been something that I have been interested in for a long time. I have however, seen several in the 4 line ranges. David Wilson has kept track of the LERK K-38's and most of them are single line guns. There are a bunch of LERK K-22s, almost all of which that I have observed are single line guns with SNs below K4600.
Congrats on a BEAUTY!!!! Wish it were mine!
Thanks for sharing,
Thanks, Richard. It's the only K32 that I own with a LERK. Speaking of K38 LERK guns - some of y'all hoarding the 5 or 6 known need to pass them around to new owners. Sharing is caring, don'cha know?
Morgan Smith
SWCA #2819
Sharing is caring, don'cha know?
let me know when you plan to share that one
let me know when you plan to share that one
Engine49guy
Member
Doubtful they could add the newer address lines beneath a K frame with One line stamp because of the larger font size
and centered location of the older one line MADE IN USA
and centered location of the older one line MADE IN USA
Speaking of K38 LERK guns - some of y'all hoarding the 5 or 6 known need to pass them around to new owners. Sharing is caring, don'cha know?
Virtual "pass around"...
LERK K-38 Masterpiece (K 4564):
I thought the entire post war K frame masterpiece line debuted the new "short action" for S&W revolvers? So, are there long action post war K-32s or K-38s? I don't remember ever seeing one of those.
With the gun at the top of this thread, I now know of four LERK K-32 Masterpieces: K2143, K2244, K56266 and K66035. You can use the forum's search feature (the dedicated Google search, not the built-in forum search) to find the ones I mentioned.
I know of five LERK K-38s: K4563, K4564, K4693, K4709 and -- surprise! -- K23280. That last one is the only K-plus-five-digit serial number I know on a LERK K-38.
The highest number I know on a LERK K-22 is K5680. There are a few knobless K-22s known with lower serial numbers. I suppose it is possible that a LERK K-22 with a K-plus-five serial number will turn up somewhere, but I am not holding my breath.
I am now thinking there may be three or even four dozen LERK K-32s out there to be found. There won't be a lot more K-32s found with four numerical digits after the K in the serial number, but it seems to me at least 50-50 odds that any such gun will be a LERK gun; I would predict that the greater number of yet undiscovered LERK K-32s will carry serial numbers with five digits after the K. For the K-38, I previously estimated that the number of LERK specimens would be in the vicinity of 300-350, but that was based on the premise that all the serial numbers with only four numerical digits would be LERKs. It now appears that perhaps only about half of them are, so the true number of LERK K-38s may be 200 or fewer.
EDITED to make my generalizations a little clearer, but not necessarily more accurate. A lot of new LERK masterpieces need to float to the surface before we can come up with better predictive stats.
I know of five LERK K-38s: K4563, K4564, K4693, K4709 and -- surprise! -- K23280. That last one is the only K-plus-five-digit serial number I know on a LERK K-38.
The highest number I know on a LERK K-22 is K5680. There are a few knobless K-22s known with lower serial numbers. I suppose it is possible that a LERK K-22 with a K-plus-five serial number will turn up somewhere, but I am not holding my breath.
I am now thinking there may be three or even four dozen LERK K-32s out there to be found. There won't be a lot more K-32s found with four numerical digits after the K in the serial number, but it seems to me at least 50-50 odds that any such gun will be a LERK gun; I would predict that the greater number of yet undiscovered LERK K-32s will carry serial numbers with five digits after the K. For the K-38, I previously estimated that the number of LERK specimens would be in the vicinity of 300-350, but that was based on the premise that all the serial numbers with only four numerical digits would be LERKs. It now appears that perhaps only about half of them are, so the true number of LERK K-38s may be 200 or fewer.
EDITED to make my generalizations a little clearer, but not necessarily more accurate. A lot of new LERK masterpieces need to float to the surface before we can come up with better predictive stats.
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OP
Pre-29Smith
Member
Thanks, David. That's incredibly helpful information.
Morgan Smith
SWCA #2819
Morgan Smith
SWCA #2819
Hi Jim,
It did, I was merely stating that it was an early post war model Masterpiece but did not want anyone to infer that it was or that there were transitional models with transfer bar and long action like the N frames.
The only post war long action K-38 Target (not Masterpiece) I'm aware of is the "Mexican Model".
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Question
Hi, I have a similar revolver, S&W .32 cal with a 3" barrel, SN# H40881. How can I find out more about this sweet little revolver?
Hi, I have a similar revolver, S&W .32 cal with a 3" barrel, SN# H40881. How can I find out more about this sweet little revolver?
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