K32 Masterpiece

[rct269]

In the category of for what it's worth, my K-32's sold recently (on GB within the past year) as follows:

K-32 1st Model, 95%, but scruffy (A combination of honest wear, poor care, and abuse.) $7135.

K-32 2nd Model, 97-98%, $3800.

K-32 3rd Model 99%, Original box, $3500.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[bigmoose]

Are you going to letter that gun? The grips put me in mind of the grips that H.H. Harris liked to put on his unusual guns. Here is a thread about a Harris gun I owned, the grips are striking. http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...else-have-seen-one.html?441760=#post138670578

Yes, I have requested an Historical Letter. The Factory Jinks Letter was included in the sale, dated August of 1991. Unfortunately the letter stated only that it was shipped to Smith and Wesson in Germany.

 

[bigmoose]

Well bring it on down my friend.
Then I can say I shot that unicorn

We certainly need to meet up again for a 'show and tell' Paul.

 

[StrawHat]

What about this K-32?

Is that a 5" barrel?

Kevin

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Yes, and a Baughman ramp front sight. I acquired it cut and severely corroded. It looks better now. It won't letter as one, but it's a K-32 Combat Masterpiece.

 

[StrawHat]

^^^^

Nice looking! 5" barrel just look right on K frames.

Kevin

 

[handejector]

It won't letter as one, but it's a K-32 Combat Masterpiece.

Here's a real 32 CM for ya.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Yeah, I read about them, Lee. How many were made? 10?

 

[Jebus35745]

My gun is just 20 numbers off from the original gun in this post, mine is higher. The gun mentioned is also one batch past the lerk pre-K32's as is the one downstairs. Larry

 

[s&wchad]

I got this 16-2 from the estate of a friend. It's blued and a standard 6", but I wouldn't let it go for $3500.

The grey that you see around the sideplate seams and screws is dried grease. The photos were taken the day I got it home.

 

[stu1ritter]

Yeah, I read about them, Lee. How many were made? 10?

Yup, there were 10 made for B. W. Folsom in Warren, OH. shipped on March 4, 1949. I owned K67160 for awhile. It now rests with another collector on the forum.

Stu

 

[Dale53]

I lusted after a K-32 for many, many years. I was always behind the "price curve". Call me a slow learner, but I couldn't understand why they were so "high priced" at the time. It was MUCH later that I finally figured out why used ones were so high. The reason is that, as you can see above, almost none were made. See the Roy Jinks letter above. If I had known that earlier in my quest, I probably would have paid the price, even tho', in those days, spendable income was quite low while I was buying a home and raising a family, etc.

Finally, when Smith released the 631 and 16-4, I nearly broke my arm getting the money out. I was NOT disappointed and still have both. I have shot them a good bit over the years and hunted small game successfully with the 631. It WAS very satisfying to finally have a couple of Smith .32's.





FWIW
Dale53



FWIW
Dale53

 

[NavySCPO]

In the category of for what it's worth, my K-32's sold recently (on GB within the past year) as follows:

K-32 1st Model, 95%, but scruffy (A combination of honest wear, poor care, and abuse.) $7135.

K-32 2nd Model, 97-98%, $3800.

K-32 3rd Model 99%, Original box, $3500.

Ralph Tremaine

Ralph, pardon my ignorance, but I have an abundance of it, and it spews out from time to time.

When you mention the 1st, 2nd and 3rd models, how does that work? I assume the 1st is the original K-32 Hand Ejector First Model (K-32 Target), correct?

If so, what are the 2nd and 3rd models, and years of manufacture? Confused because I know after the K-32 Masterpiece there was a Model 16, then a -2 and -3, with the -4 changing calibers to the 32 Magnum.

I have a 1955 K-32, and thought I knew what I had, but maybe not.

Much appreciated!

 

[delcrossv]

I know the 1st is the prewar model (94 made IIRC)

I think 2,3, etc go like this:

k-32 Narrow rib est. 400
k-32 Wide rib est. 2030
K-32 4 screw est. 400
K-32-2 est. 300
k-32-3 est. 500
(courtesy of bmg)

Hopefully Ralph will enlighten us.

 

[rct269]

Ralph will------------------

The first model is just that.

The second model is the post-war narrow rib version---with the funky finish.

The third model is the post-war wide rib version----bright blue.

I don't know the years of production, but they're probably pretty easy to figure out---except maybe for when they stopped the second model.

This second/third model business is just me----I know of no such designation assigned by S&W/anybody else. (This collection started with the several target variations of the NM #3, stopped with the 5 screw hand ejectors---and the Models 41 and 52 auto-loaders. I have little knowledge/interest in anything after (although I accepted a new K-22 (Model marked 17) and a new K-38 (Model marked 14), in settlement of a debt several years ago----figuring I'd shoot them). I'm still figuring I'll shoot them, although they've yet to be fired by me.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Green Frog]

This has come up before, but I'll renew the question here. I purchased a standard length (6") factory marked barrel for a K32 from a member here. It had never been on a gun... the groove was never cut for the cross pin. What I'd like to know about is the front sight. Instead of the expected Patridge style, my barrel has a ramp (Baughman style?) front sight. Does anyone know of any complete K32s that came from the factory with this sight, when, which dash number, and how many? I only know of one other and don't know anything about it.

Froggie

PS I used it to construct a faux Model 16-3 as you may recall.

 

[Green Frog]

A fellow member here informed me that a lettered 16-3 is for sale on GB with a red ramp front sight (lettered.) This makes me think maybe my barrel was a late production item and available as a special order only. The fact that I used a Model 14-3 as the donor gun for the project is appropriate, since toward the end of 16-3 production, S&W was known to take a finished 14-3 out of stock, rebuild it in 32 S&W, overstamp the 4 with a 6, and complete the special order!

In other news, Roy's letter mentions that there were a few late K-32s built as single action only... this would be a gold unicorn blowing pixie dust out of both nostrils!

Froggie

PS If I were trying to sell a gun for $4500 or more, I would take much better pictures than those in this auction!

 

[lowriderfxr]

I know of at least 1 Nickel K32! I held it.