K-32 question

[Green Frog]

moosedog,

You are a better man than me... if my "out back" looked like that, I wouldn't be able to get anything done but shoot! Nice digs, my friend!

Froggie

 

[Schofield]

Here's what an old time collector told me about the K-32 when I brought up the subject; "son, that's a gun that was so exclusive none were actually made", then he led me to the gun room and showed me an unfired example with box, papers, tools, and original receipt. With a glint in his eye he said, "I lie about important stuff."

 

[Jebus35745]

As far as the custom .32's go, mine still has 17-2 on the frame. My bbl was cut to 5" so someone should look close. Larry

 

[Hammerdown]

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

Hello Moosedog
It would be in my Case. I asked MR Jink's one time about finding a gun made on August 4, 1959 and he responded telling me that the factory was closed that week due to excessive heat index. I do have a couple of Gun's made in the year 1959 One being my first Year model 48 with the Optional .22 LR cylinder and another being my Model of 1955 .45 Target revolver chambered in .45 ACP but no luck getting closer to the Forth of August for me.



On a different note, Before I moved to Knoxville I had 27 acre's of Land and a nice shooting set up. I now live in a sub division that has half acre lot's so I miss Target Practice right out the back door like I used to have. One fall evening about Three year's ago I came out of my Re-loading shed on the back of my Property and was Locking the door when I heard something Hissing at me. It was a full Moon night so I could see good and I noticed a Rather large Opposum sitting in one of my Tree's close to my Shed about Ten feet above my Head. I Pulled out my S&W Model 431 P.D. revolver which is a snub nose Gun chambered in .32 H&R Magnum and Popped that Opposum right off that branch that he was sitting on. This was about 11:30 PM so I wasted no time getting in the house afterward's. The following morning I removed him from my back yard into one of the garbage cans. I noticed that my .32 H&R Magnum hand load with an 85 Grain XTP Bullet made a mess out of his Head where I had hit him. None of the neighbor's ever mentioned it and I have not had any More Hissing Opposum's since. Regards, Hammerdown

 

[PMRet]

If you want to get technical about it, most (if not all) of the 16-3's were put together using spare parts and donor frames. Of course, this was done by the factory, not by individuals. Every single 16-3 I have ever held or seen has had a "6" stamped over a "4" in the model number as pictured.

As mentioned before, with only 3630 produced from 1947-74, the K-32/Model 16 was never very popular. By the time the -3 engineering change was made, orders were probably so rare that the factory didn't even bother to stamp dedicated Model 16 frames. When an order was received, they just overstamped a Model 14 frame, fitted it with a .32 Long barrel and cylinder, and out the door it went. Just my theory...

 

[Green Frog]

PMRet,

I'm guessing you are absolutely correct. The 32 S&W Long in a K-frame was really such a specialty item that there was really no need for "mass production." Probably the only market for them was for the most rabid of target shooters.

The folks on this Forum tend to fall into such categories as "Collectors of the Unusual," "Serious Shooters," and "Marchers to a Different Drum," so obviously we will be enthusiastic seekers after such limited production items. I would wager that if there were 10-100 times as many of them in circulation, they would languish in gun shop cabinets all over the country because they would be regarded as "underpowered for the frame size."

So do I still want one, H377 Y34H I do! Haven't you ever heard of the "Fox and the Grapes?"

Froggie

 

[JP@AK]

Yes, but when you find that 16, it won't be sour . . .

 

[PMRet]

I would wager that if there were 10-100 times as many of them in circulation, they would languish in gun shop cabinets all over the country because they would be regarded as "underpowered for the frame size."Froggie

Froggie, you are most likely correct.

I've always been interested in the way Smith & Wesson standardized the loaded weight of the K-22 (top) K-32 (center) & K-38 (Bottom) starting in 1950 and marketed them to target shooters as "Companion Guns". Wonder if they expected the demand for the K-32 to be anywhere close to that of the other two calibers?

 

[M29since14]

Wonder if they expected the demand for the K-32 to be anywhere close to that of the other two calibers?

Of course not. They knew the competition rules as well as anyone. If you have a K38, you don't need a K32 - simple! - a K32 really made no economic sense since it was not eligible for some matches. It might give a tiny advantage in matches that allowed it, but in those that didn't the .32 was on the outside looking in. The K22 and K38 were the "natural" sellers to target shooters and the K32 was the red-haired stepchild.

I'd guess the K32 was always really just a toy that was meant to appeal to the "gamers" of the day - like Charlie Askins - and maybe a VERY few field shooters who handloaded .32s for small game hunting and trapping. I have never heard of any of the top competitors of that era using a K32. Does anyone here know of any who did?