K32 Masterpiece Redux

[Wiregrassguy]

Some of you may remember my thread from a year or so ago on a pathetic Model 16, K32 Masterpiece that I took pity on. It came to me with a cut 5" barrel, heavily corroded barrel and frame. Here are some refresher pictures:

Some speculated that it was a working gun on a lobster boat.



After considerable searching for a new barrel and lots of expert advice, I decided to restore what I could. We left the barrel at 5" but polished out the corroded areas. I had replacement hammer and trigger installed as the originals were corroded. Then, it was reblued.


There was some bore corrosion at the muzzle and it was removed with a reamer. Here is how it turned out.

 

[Muley Gil]

Very nice! Iffn' it were mine, I'd rechamber the cylinder to .327 Federal and fit a second cylinder in .32-20.

 

[FifthWheel]

Looks great!

 

[fishwishin]

Good on you to save it!!

 

[SFIDEC]

Wow...Marvelous...Just Marvelous!!! Thanks for showing her off.

 

[Jetman22]

Awsome !!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[WILDPIG]

I really like the idea of reaming the bore, thus, removing the pitted rifling. Great job.

WILDPIG

 

[bluetopper]

Whoever did the work did a stellar job! Congrat's on mending her. It deserved it and you do too. Enjoy it.

 

[raljr1]

That is some amazing work.

Robert

 

[Targets Guy]

I think I just heard a bell tinkle.

 

[4thAlabama]

What a great job on a great gun. Enjoy.

 

[AlHunt]

Wowee kazowee. Now I'm jealous.

 

[Oldman11]

Were could you get a spare .32 cylinder? I have a k.32 masterpiece that is about 80 to 85% that I would like to be a .32-20. I don’t know about the .327 as it might be too much for the frame.

 

[Old TexMex]

NOICE! You are the man, Wiregrass.

Can you disclose who did the blueing?

 

[H Richard]

Oldman11, I understand a k22 cylinder has been made into a 32, but some gunsmiths don't like to do this work. If a K 22 cyl can be made into a 32 long it should be able to be maade into a 32-20.

 

[bruce5781]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Can you disclose who did the blueing?

I'd rather not say ATM. While some amazing work was done to recover corroded areas, my expectations for other areas were not. The consistency of polished surfaces were not uniform. That being said, I'm gratified to see the feedback. The intent was to recover this gun as much as reasonably possible and it seems it approaches that objective.

 

[Old TexMex]

I'd rather not say ATM. While some amazing work was done to recover corroded areas, my expectations for other areas were not. The consistency of polished surfaces were not uniform. That being said, I'm gratified to see the feedback. The intent was to recover this gun as much as reasonably possible and it seems it approaches that objective.

Fair enough, it’s a fine bit of work you’ve done. Respect.
Jim

 

[Green Frog]

Mr Wiregrass, that gun definitely qualifies for the 2019 Silk Use award. Well done indeed.

Oldman11, if you can find a K-22 or 22 Mag cylinder, folks like Andy Horvath (who built my Project 616) would probably be willing to ream and fit it for you. Hamilton Bowen used to do it as well, but I understand he has quit working on S&Ws and is concentrating on Rugers.

Froggie

 

[Krogen]

Great to see the rescue! I trust you will enjoy it.

I have to grin over something, though. Consider the discussions on this forum about some peculiarity of a given gun. People try to piece together a story from very limited information. Fast forward 100 years or so. On the assumption that some equivalent of this forum exists, can you imagine the discussion that gun will generate? I can see it sending people into a tizzy.