K-32 Serial Number K2244 - new info from Roy in posts #29 and #39

[VM]

Dennis:

Lee had a set of grips like that at the Tucson Collectors' Assn. annual meeting several years ago. I think that he also posted some of his great photos here somewhere. Here's a link to the post - unfortunately the photos did not come up, but I think they were similar to the ones on your gun.

The RAREST Target Stocks

Can't wait for your daughter's additional photos....

Richard/Dennis-
Lee's grips were exactly the same.
Lee eventually sold them on Ebay with some of his other amazing grips and accessories. For memory they brought $700-$800.

 

[bullmack]

Richard/Dennis-
Lee's grips were exactly the same.
Lee eventually sold them on Ebay with some of his other amazing grips and accessories. For memory they brought $700-$800.

Richard/VM - I had a brief post on the gun on the members forum prior to this post and 410bore (Kris) sent me the link to Lee's post - the pictures were still coming up. I saved Lee's post complete with pictures as a pdf file. Scoring these grips was a double bonus. I knew nothing about them till the heads up from Kris. In fact I had not even spotted the adapter from the sellers pictures. I can see why they made so few pairs - they were an ill-fated attempt to cut costs that looked way better on paper then in execution!

When we take pictures later today I will get several shots of the stocks in various stages of install.

 

[rburg]

Keep in mind this isn't just an early shipment, it means the first K32 shipped about 6 months before the first K22. The world of S&W is kind of odd. Consider that K101 or K102 or whichever went out in December of 46 and now we hear K2,000+ was out in June.

 

[bullmack]

Keep in mind this isn't just an early shipment, it means the first K32 shipped about 6 months before the first K22. The world of S&W is kind of odd. Consider that K101 or K102 or whichever went out in December of 46 and now we hear K2,000+ was out in June.

Dick - The database says the K102-K103 shipped in the 1st 3 months of 1947. This K-32 shipped March 1948 according to Roy - so the K-22's preceded the K-32's - at least based upon what we know so far.

 

[bullmack]

New Pictures - Upload #1

I am uploading the pictures we took today. The pictures show the condition much worse than does the eye. Nevertheless it is far from a +90% gun.

I have also created an album in the Albums and Pictures section that has all of these pictures in one group, a narrative on what we know so far about the gun, and the features.

 

[bullmack]

Upload #2

Close ups of LERK, caliber stamping, and hammer. Also of the right side of the frame showing there are no rework stamps.

 

[bullmack]

Upload #3 - the ugly!

The scuffing/marring on the side plate is interesting. It almost looks like it occurred with the side plate off as the damage doesn't really cross onto the frame! The cylinder has an overall dullness to the blueing to the extent it's mostly patina. Again, it looks far worse with the camera then it does with the eye.

 

[bullmack]

Last one - Upload #4 - the stocks

Until I am able to obtain more info from Roy I think we have to assume these stocks may not be original to the gun. The literature shows the non relieved Diamond Checkered Targets with Adapter becoming available in 1950 - yet this is a March 1948 gun.

As you can see both stock panels are stamped 2244. This could have been done anytime. Be nice to find out what J B G stands for.

The stocks and adapter actually go on/off real easy. Lee must have been on a caffeine high when he did his write up on the set he had

 

[bullmack]

I received the following email from Roy this morning regarding this gun. Obviously I'm delighted

Dennis, I just finished your letter on the K-32 and it is a very exciting gun in my opinion. The first place it is a very early K-32, but to me what is exciting about it is that it was ordered by E. F. Warner, Publisher of field & Stream Magazine, Madison Avenue, New York City, NY. It is not very often that I get to letter a revolver to such an important person, Mr. Warner also ordered a K-38 Masterpiece, a .357 Magnum, and a 38-44 Outdoorsman. The grips on your gun are very important as they are the very early supper rare S&W Target grips. They were added to your revolver probably in 1950 after they became available. It is a great gun and you are luck to own it in my opinion. Your letter will go out in tomorrow's mail. Roy G. Jinks, S&W Historian

 

[JayCeeNC]

The provenance on this gun just gets better and better!

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

How come I don't get personal E-Mails from Roy when I letter a Gun?

 

[DCWilson]

I am so happy about the K-32 news this week that I don't even mind that the guns involved aren't resident in my safe!

Brilliant, as the Brits say. Brilliant.

 

[DWFAN]

If that's not the cats meow I don't know what is. K 32's popping up all over the place here lately. I'll go hide in the corner with mine and ask it why the serial number isn't one digit lower. Great gun.
DW

 

[opoefc]

It's easy to see what happened here. A VIP orders 4 S&Ws,and one is a K32, so the factory makes up the very early K32 and the other guns and ships them off to the VIP. I wouldn't be surprised if the other 3 might not be in one of our members collections, but hasn't been lettered to see that it went to Mr. Warner. As we used to hear in our military days "RHIP !" Ed.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I missed this the first time around.

Absolutely fascinating...congratulations on snagging this one!

 

[dacoontz]

It's easy to see what happened here. A VIP orders 4 S&Ws,and one is a K32, so the factory makes up the very early K32 and the other guns and ships them off to the VIP. I wouldn't be surprised if the other 3 might not be in one of our members collections, but hasn't been lettered to see that it went to Mr. Warner. As we used to hear in our military days "RHIP !" Ed.

I wonder if Roy wouldn't care to share the serial numbers of those guns in the shipment.

Very cool gun and history. Great score Bullmack.

 

[bullmack]

I wonder if Roy wouldn't care to share the serial numbers of those guns in the shipment

I'll will followup with Roy and ask.

 

[JSR III]

That gun would go nicely with my K 1722 that shipped in May of 1947. Being a pre 17 and a K 22, I just couldn't resist that serial number.

PM me if you need my shipping address.

 

[bullmack]

I wonder if Roy wouldn't care to share the serial numbers of those guns in the shipment.

I asked Roy this question - his response was....

"Dennis, I would gladly share them if I had them, but I did not have them and the serial numbers were not listed on the invoice. I might be able to find the K-38 as it could be near your revolver, but the others I would have a tough time finding. Roy"

Then an hour later he sent me another email - Dennis, since I knew the date and understand the serial numbers fairly well, I took a shot at finding them. So luck was on our side. The K-38 was the hardest to find, K-38 serial number K4639; the .357 Magnum S71352; and the .38/44 Outdoorsman S71794. So now you have all four of them and if you want go ahead and put them on the forum. Roy

So these three guns and my K-32 all shipped to E. F. Warner, Publisher of field & Stream Magazine, Madison Avenue, New York City, NY.

 

[LarryC213]

Congratulations

Congratulations on a great find. She's a real beauty. I am very glad that she has found a proper home.