K-32 question

[mikepriwer]

Did everyone miss this thread about K-32's ?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/340383-k-32-models-pre-post-war-m-p.html

Mike Priwer

 

[Green Frog]

Did everyone miss this thread about K-32's ?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/340383-k-32-models-pre-post-war-m-p.html

Mike Priwer

Mike,

If you look at the end of the thread in question, it was agreed to keep that thread focused on original pre- and post-War K-32s and early Model 16s, so we just kinda opened this up for a more free-wheeling discussion of building, modifying and shooting k-framed 32s. Hopefully this will keep everyone happy and make it possible for all of us to hit what interests us the most. I went to the Reloading Forum and started a reloads section there, and I have asked about a Gunsmithing Forum thread on building and modifying K-frame 32s, but so far that seems to be covered sufficiently here.

BTW, I have asked the question a couple of times about how folks thought of the concept of "recreating" the post-War narrow rib K-32 using S&W parts modified as necessary to accomplish this, not to deceive but to make a shooter available for my own use. What do you as a collector and shooter think about this?

Froggie

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Did everyone miss this thread about K-32's ?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/340383-k-32-models-pre-post-war-m-p.html

Mike Priwer

Mike

Jim started that one, because right after I started this one, DC Wilson asked if I wanted to start a new thread just for the K-32.
(see post # 4 above).

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Mike,

If you look at the end of the thread in question, it was agreed to keep that thread focused on original pre- and post-War K-32s and early Model 16s, so we just kinda opened this up for a more free-wheeling discussion of building, modifying and shooting k-framed 32s. Hopefully this will keep everyone happy and make it possible for all of us to hit what interests us the most. I went to the Reloading Forum and started a reloads section there, and I have asked about a Gunsmithing Forum thread on building and modifying K-frame 32s, but so far that seems to be covered sufficiently here.

BTW, I have asked the question a couple of times about how folks thought of the concept of "recreating" the post-War narrow rib K-32 using S&W parts modified as necessary to accomplish this, not to deceive but to make a shooter available for my own use. What do you as a collector and shooter think about this?

Froggie

Green Frog-
That is not correct as far as this thread goes. I started it because I had located a K-32 and was wanting more info. (see my post right above this one)

 

[Green Frog]

OOPS, you're right, Guns 4 Fun... I just started noticing it after the other one went as specific as it did... should we start another one, or is the direction this thread is taking OK with you as OP and first plank holder of the thread? Would you be interested, for instance, in builds and/or modifications, or are you looking for originality too? I'd be more than willing to start my own thread as I have done before, but I don't want to be redundant and waste band width.

Froggie

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I received enough info here and the other thread to be satisfied.

Jim's thread is specific to the K-32's so feel free to talk about anything you wish regarding the K-32's, M&P's and custom guns right here.

 

[Green Frog]

They can be hard to find, but sometimes they just fall into your lap. I had always desired one, but couldn't afford the ones I saw, until about 10 years ago. I was at the gun show in Birmingham, AL with two friends, one of whom was on the lookout for a K-22 Masterpiece. I had finished looking and was waiting near the entrance for the other two guys, and walked a short way down the first aisle, when I saw a Masterpiece in a glass case. Thinking it might be a .22 for my friend, I asked to see it, and it turned out to be a K-.32. It was in good shape mechanically, but had some freckles in the finish. The price was about half the lowest I had seen at that time, so I bought it. It came with the correct period box that I have never checked for matching serial number.

Sounds like some seriously good Karma to me, Skeetr!

Can we assume that you bought it as a shooter? And on that assumption, what is your experience with the brass you have shot in it? Does a standard FL resizer have to size it down a lot after being run through your chambers, or are they fairly tight? From all I have been able to find, the K-32s were all built to shoot and shoot well, so there may be some reason for a "tight" or a "loose" chamber having to do with terminal accuracy. I'm still chewing on the comment about brass swelling in these chambers as I've never experienced it in I- or J-frame 32 S&W Long chambers, or maybe I just didn't have enough to notice it.

Have you been over to the reloading forum and posted your favorite loads there? With 32 S&W Long chambering in a K-sized platform, anything safe to load in that cartridge probably still feels pretty mild to you, doesn't it?

Froggie

 

[mikepriwer]

As to the concept of recreating a narrow-rib K-32, I think its a conflict of interest and
a bad idea. No matter what you say or claim, eventually it will be sold, and resold,
and somewhere in that cycle of sales and resales, any documentation relating to its
recreation will be lost. It will be sold as an original K-32, and someone will get burned.

As a collector, one can not possibly condone that. Who, as a collector, wants a
recreated anything ? Its like the Franklin Mint making instant collectibles - what a bunch
of nonsense. In addition to their own collection, collectors have an obligation to
keep collecting clean, so that strong interest remains in the field. The worst thing
that can happen to us is to have a cottage industry spring up. Colt collectors
have already come up against that problem, with a fellow stamping military markings
on non-military guns.

Custom guns, on the other hand, have their place - even to collectors. Its always
nice, and fun, to see or own something that the factory could have done, but never
did. For example, a 3-inch K-32 would be a very interesting gun, to a lot of people.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[DCWilson]

Or two-inch even, like a Model 56 or a short 15-3 in .32 Long. There's another one S&W should have manufactured.

I understand Mike's point of view and am even sympathetic, but I don't think I'd urge anyone NOT to build a virtual K-32. Even if a few such guns came into being on an ad hoc basis, I can't imagine there would ever be many of them. Sharp collectors will always be ready to advise the tyro collectors on a specific gun's authenticity. There was a suspect K-32 on Gunbroker not long ago that was withdrawn after several people here questioned the gun's serial number and features.

I'd say that if someone wants a target .32 K-frame and can't find or afford one of the real ones, there really isn't anything deeply wrong with buying parts and having what you want manufactured. I guess it's possible you might end up spending more on a sufficiently complicated conversion than you would on the real thing, but if the real thing isn't available and you want a target K-frame in .32 long, what other options do you have?

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I don't spend time on any auction site for several reasons, nor do I use e-bay for about the same reasons. Can anyone offer their opinion or some current data on what a nice box runs? I'd like to add one to the gun I have coming sooner than later. I have the correct tools except for the SAT.

 

[M29since14]

As to the concept of recreating a narrow-rib K-32, I think its a conflict of interest and a bad idea. No matter what you say or claim, eventually it will be sold, and resold, and somewhere in that cycle of sales and resales, any documentation relating to its recreation will be lost. It will be sold as an original K-32, and someone will get burned...

Mike, with due respect to your exceptional knowledge as a collector, I think you may miss an important point. No one is going to mistake my poor-man's K32 knock-off that is plainly stamped "MOD. 14-3" with an original K32.

If someone builds one of these guns and makes some sort of effort to conceal it (for example, by altering the factory stamping), THAT might be unscrupulous and unethical, but I don't think that one should condemn a conversion just because the owner used a hum-drum gun to make a K32 shooter that resembles what would be a valuable and collectable gun IF original - and someone, some day, somehow, might confuse it with an original. It's plainly not an original! That's just too much of a stretch, and while I understand your concern and I know you are sincere, I have to politely disagree.

I think people should do what they want with their guns, for their own enjoyment - of course within the bounds of honesty and fair-dealing. Yes, I'd sure hate to see someone chop a beautiful and pristine 6-1/2" 5-screw 44 Magnum down to 3-1/2", but I do recognize it is not my gun. This is not a matter of life-or-death. Let's not be too hard on the shooters and hobbyist tinkerers who just want to enjoy their passtime.

 

[Hammerdown]

Thanks guys. Good to hear from you again Kurt. I haven't been on here for almost 3 years.
I have a K-32 coming since I started this thread. I should have it in a week and a half or so. The serial number suggests 1958 as ship date compared to one that is very close numerically in the database.

I will start my search for a correct period box in good shape next.

I will shoot this some, and I do handload. Nothing hot since I don't need to, and the warmest loads are not always the best for accuracy.


Kurt, check the throats of your K-32. If they are oversized more than a thou or two, it could be the biggest source of your leading issue.

Hello There
I have had my Bore slugged as well as the cylinder in my K-32 and it run's tight at 0.311". I have found by Turning the wick up on my hand load's that my Gun shoot's far more accurate. I run Mainly Rainier copper flashed bullets and have not had any leading issues while using them.I think the box that you are hunting will be a tough find it should be a solid Border Box that may have the end flap embossed in silver or it may have a sticker on it, I am not sure when that changed. It will be a Pre-Bangor-Punta box as well. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I was doing some reading in the SCSW3 and I thought it said the box would be a gold box for that time frame?

 

[moosedog]

You guys got me in trouble today with this post. I saw it early on and neglected to do the things the wife asked me to do.
I ended up dinking metal targets out back with my 16-3 loaded with my handloads of 100 gr SWC cast at 860fps using 4756 powder.
The backstop on the left is 50 yards from the bench and the far one is 100 yards. The reactives are about 60 to 75 yards out. I was doing great until I ran out of ammo.
You talk about K-32s being hard to find. You should have tried it find one prior to the computer.
My first was my 5 screw pre 16 that I found by placing an add in the Shotgun News. Some of you older fellows will know about that one.
This 16-3 came out of Canada. I had to fill out a Form 6 and jump thru hoops to get this thing brought to the Canadian border outside of Maine. Some guy with an FFL who owned a Ace Hardware in Maine went and met the Canadian curior and the K-32 was on US soil again. Then the guy at the hardware forgot to ship it to me. He put it on his bench and it got covered up and sat there for several weeks until I called him.
Sometimes the chase is just as exciting than the catch.

 

[moosedog]

Here's a couple of others i've adopted along the way.

That 5 screw that turned out to be a 1952 gun. My birth year.

A model 16 no dash that had finish issues so I had it nickeled by S&W.

And here's a 16-2, new in the box.

I've also got a 16-4 that I sent back to S&W and their performance shop made up some different front sights blades for it.
It's a six inch and shoots great.
The 32 Magnum works pretty well on racoons and such.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Here's a couple of others i've adopted along the way.
That 5 screw that turned out to be a 1952 gun. My birth year.

Nice. I was hoping the one that I have coming is a birth year gun, but according to the data base, prolly not.

 

[moosedog]

Actually, it may be worth it to change your birth certificate.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Actually, it may be worth it to change your birth certificate.

Prolly easier to do than find a birth year gun.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

Wow, is the nickel original?

 

[normanlclark]

Smith & Wesson 32 Magnum Model 16-4 Scarce 6 inch : Revolvers at GunBroker.com