Model 16 Factory Rework?

[Springfan]

Let me see if I have learned anything from following the Forum for almost two years. The photos attached are of my Model 16, purchased last year through an on-line auction from a many-satisfied-customers seller. The four-screw firearm was shipped from S&W in October, 1959 (that's easy, the gun came with a letter from Roy Jinks). Serial number is K 363206. There are no numbers inside the diamond Magna grips. There is a diamond and an S marked on the barrel flat after the serial number, and on the face of the extractor. There is no diamond or S on the bottom of the grip frame. The grip frame shows R-S inside a rectangle, with the numbers 477 nearby.
My take on this is that the firearm was sent back to S&W for rework, including at least a standard reblue, and this work was performed in April of 1977. Am I correct on this, and is there any more information to be learned from the photos and these numbers?

Thanks in advance,

Robert Fisher

 

[Springfan]

Additional Model 16 Photos

Additional Model 16 photos

 

[gruntdeputy]

That is pretty!

Frank

 

[Springfan]

Even More Model 16 Photos

No more I promise.

 

[VM]

My take on this is that the firearm was sent back to S&W for rework, including at least a standard reblue, and this work was performed in April of 1977. Am I correct on this, and is there any more information to be learned from the photos and these numbers?

Thanks in advance,

Robert Fisher

Robert - I believe you hit the nail on the head!
Pretty gun

 

[DCWilson]

I would interpret the markings the same way you do. S is usually associated with the Service Department. I may be wrong, but it looks as though the flat underside of the barrel got a star stamp first, and then a square (or diamond, depending on the angle at which you are holding the gun) was stamped on top of it. In any event, I think the gun was refinished in April 1977 and perhaps given some other service work at the same time.

With the radiused lower edges, those stocks are PC magnas ("plain clothes," in common interpretation, but the abbreviation also stands for something else that I forget). Those grips were often seen on K-frames of the 1950s and 1960s with two or four inch barrels; I don't think they were original to the six-inch Masterpiece revolvers, but I could be wrong. I notice a target hammer and target trigger. I wonder if your gun came with target stocks originally. Does that box number to the gun? Are there any configuration notes on the end that point to target features?

The letter you show has the format of the old, shorter letters sent 30 years ago or more. If you relettered that gun, you would probably get the revolver's destination (regional distributor or specific hardware store, probably) as well as a list of features as enumerated on the invoice. If the invoice details do not include target hammer and trigger, those are perhaps later modifications that date to its return trip to the factory.

On second thought, the gun probably would NOT have come with original target stocks. I don't think K-frame with target stocks would fit in the standard Masterpiece box. This may be irrelevant since target stocks could have been ordered as a supplementary item and still have been shipped as part of the original order. That would make them original to my way of thinking.

Very pretty revolver! Congratulations on being permitted to care for it in the next several years of its existence.

 

[bigmoose]

Bottom line? You have one hell of a nice revolver in a great caliber. Most guys would love to have that in their collection. Shoot it in good health.

 

[Hondo44]

It's a beautiful M16, refinished not withstanding!

Use of the star on the butt to indicate a return to the factory ended in the early '60s. But the diamond originally used in conjunction with the star, continued in use for some time after the star and usually indicating a replaced part; in your case, the barrel and cylinder.

 

[smitholdtimer]

M-16, K-32

Springfan, not sure this is significant but I see no "K" prefix on the cylinder before the S/N, could be nothing but I believe most if not all Pre model K series had the prefix. Yours being a 4 screw Model marked K-32 it is unusual for the cylinder to be numbered at all as well as the barrel flat. Someone will surely correct me (I Hope) if I'm all wet. I do really like your revolver and this is not a criticism just an observation.

 

[larryofcc]

As I understand it, numbering the parts in a "K" frame stopped early in 1957. I have K38's # 272318, all numbered, and # K 286893, shipped one month later 2-1957, that only has numbered stocks. Also, I have a pre M27 shipped 3-1957 that is totally numbered. 1959 most certainly would be a stretch. I also have a M19 and M48 from 1959 and no parts are numbered except the stocks on the M48. Another S&W mystery. Big Larry

 

[Hondo44]

Big Larry,

Are you sure there's no number on the backside of the extractor star? I was surprised to find out many models still have the number there thru the '60s.

 

[larryofcc]

No numbers under the extractor star on the 4 screw K 38 Masterpiece. My M19-0 4 screw, is numbered K 358063 under the extractor and was shipped 2-1960. Also my early M48-0 4 screw, is numbered K368119 under the extractor and it was shipped earlier, 7-1959. I doubt any parts were changed on the K38 as it is in real great condition.?????? I also have a boxed 22 Jet, M53, that has the serial number stamped into the face of the cyl. under the extractor, in tiny numbers and it was shipped 11-1974. Thanks, Big Larry

 

[Hondo44]

Big Larry,

Thanks for the info, very interesting! I'm sure your K38 is just as it was when shipped. Just proves the rule; "with S&W the main rule is, there are no rules". Smile!

 

[larryofcc]

This rule holds true for just about any firearm manufacturers products. A biggie is Winchester which I also collect. It is much worse there as factory records are near non existent. Have to use your own theories at times. Big Larry

 

[rbmac52]

The stocks intrigue me, in that they are the PC (plain clothes rounded bottom) magna variety, and not the standard magnas or targets you would expect to see on this model.

What an exquisite specimen you have there, by the way.