Pre K32 First Model/Humpback Hammer **Up Dated with Letter***

[Rigmover]

Hi i just bought this gun and its got a Hard Case Colored Vented Rib on it with the adjustable sights which looks like someone took a file to it as you can see in the pictures also has a full knurled type of humpback hammer too which makes me think its an aftermarket Target Kit that someone added on. I dont think they came from the factory this way anyone have any clue what make of a Rib. Will i still be able to find a rear blade for that adjustable rear sight. Overall the gun looks pretty clean can't wait till it arrives next week. Heres some pics Enjoy!!... Rick

 

[jesseatamez]

.

Rigmover,

It would appear to be very similiar to a King Super Target Rib. Also, you most likely have a Wesson grip adapter there, which is another fantastic pre-war accessory. The humpback hammer is a factory option btw. Further, I just want to say wow, K32s are rare, but the pre war models are so rare as to be beyond the reach of almost all but the best and wealthiest S&W collectors. But if you have the gun you probably already know that and are one of those collectors.

Regards, J. Tamez

PS: Rename your post "Pre-War K32 w/humpback hammer" and you'll get many responses from far more educated members.

 

[Hondo44]

I concur with everything J. Tamez said. He is correct in every detail.

You have a very rare gun w/rare factory options in its own right but in addition, a rare vintage period after market target accessory rib. Look it over very carefully with a magnifying glass for a makers name or mark.

 

[DCWilson]

GASP! One of the rarest of the rare, and with an additionally rare aftermarket sight on it. The humpback hammer is probably original from the factory. The rib sight is indeed very like a King super target rib sight. The notch in the rear sight was probably widened to accommodate the particular dimensions of the front sight blade on the added rib.

There are said to be only 94 (or possibly 96) prewar K-32 target revolvers. I believe some have traded hands at over $10,000. One sold at auction a year or so ago for about $7,000, which I thought was a bargain price. This one looks to be in about 97% condition and does not appear to have been refinished. Are you willing to share the serial number? I believe the serial number of every prewar K-32 is known to collectors.

You should letter that gun in the event that it did not come to you with a letter already in place.

That is a stunning acquisition. Congratulations.

 

[Jebus35745]

Very nice find, make sure you follow up with more pics. On my pre-war 38/44 outdoorsman, I found a ruger or colt rear site blade that fit the gun after a little filing on the bottom angles. My origional had a smashed corner and I took the sight blade to a gunsmith that matched it up with the new blade he found. Very close to the origional one, it had a larger notch in it. Good luck with it and give us a range report. Larry

 

[Rigmover]

Thanks all for the comments and yes will post more pics and serial # once its get here.

Rick

 

[opoefc]

If that's a King rib, it will have King's stamp on it. It could also be a Christy Gun Works job. You say "once it get's here.." so I assume the seller didn't know what the rib was, or he would have emphasized the King stamp, if it's there. Very nice find! Ed.

 

[mod34]

WOW!! Waiting with baited breath for additional details, serial number and pics. Talk about a "grail" gun!!!!
Congrats!

 

[red9]

For now, don't worry about the rear sight. It may have come with the front rib; in which case it should stay. Beautiful gun.

Bob

 

[sandwtrader]

Congrats on a great find. Hard to get gun (I don't have one). Even nicer with the add ons. Valuable piece!!!
Stay warm.
Larry

 

[Rigmover]

I contacted a fellow member in here and gave him the serial numbers of my gun and he contacted Mr. Jinks and run the serial numbers by him and was told that this gun left the factory in November 1937 as a .32 M&P Target ( K32 1st Model ) Serial 665XXX which makes it 75 years old. This gun was unknown to them till today as it was never recorded down on the 94 to 96 known list. WOW!! Now i will have to get a letter and see what all accessories came with it and where it was shipped too.They figure theres about a couple of dozen more out there hiding and waiting to be discovered the hunt is on...

Will post more pictures and a letter from Roy Jinks in the near future

Thanks for all the great comments and especially DCWILSON for helping me getting this gun checked out...

Rick

 

[DCWilson]

Rick, you are certainly welcome, but I have an ulterior motive. I like to track serial numbers of rare and uncommon models because it is sometimes possible from the distribution of their serial numbers to deduce details of production levels. I thank you for letting me know the serial number of this gun because the K-32 First Model is one of the guns that I follow in a database I keep here on my computer.

I don't want to blame other people for my wild notions, so let me clarify that I am the guy guessing that there are more K-32 First Models to be discovered. I could be completely out to lunch, so nobody should attribute my flights of fancy to Roy Jinks or anybody else. Roy is a serious records-based historian, and I like to speculate.

That said, it is true that in the last few years a handful of new specimens have been recognized that were not on the original list of nearly a 100 examples drawn up a few decades ago. I have no way of knowing for sure how many might still need to be identified, but I am just guessing there might be at least a dozen or two more in company records waiting to be recognized. I kind of doubt we will find that total prewar production approached 200, but you never can tell. If there really are that many, so much the better for collectors because it increases the chances that more of us will be able to acquire one!

Rick, I am really looking forward to seeing more pictures when you can get them posted. And congratulations again on a really nice acquisition.

 

[murphydog]

What a great find! Just as an FYI, if you look at the gun on the top of the home page of this site, you'll see how your gun appeared from the factory, with a different set of stocks.

 

[rfo1]

Hey Rick,
What a great find. That Gun Shop never knew what they had. What's that old saying? "Even a blind hog --- "
Rick

 

[RKmesa]

WOW - I have to break out the Cool Shades

Rick:

You made my day with your posting of the 32 Target. I am a big fan of the pre-war K-frame target revolvers, and I own more than a handful of both the 38's and the 22's. For comparison on the rib, here's an example of one of my K-22 Outdoorsman's that has been modified with the King Super Target rib (it continues to be one of the favorites in my collection). Interestingly, I had an "extra" grip adapter lying around that I put on the gun when I got it from a fellow forum member and I think that it is one of the coolest configurations.

A few shots of the sights and rib:

Congratulations on a great find! I'm looking forward to more photos and information,

 

[Troystat]

Those are some wonderful revolvers. I would love to have one like those. Thanks for posting the great pictures.

 

[Rigmover]

Thanks Richard for posting your K 22 Outdoorsman. What a sweet looking gun.That offset Hammer looks sharp on there were they a factory option. Someone on here posted a King Catalog that had them listed in there. Lots of different add ons in that catalog for different firearms. I wonder if this were Colt got the idea for the Python as its got a vented rib also.

 

[Hondo44]

The offset hammer is not a factory option and was made by aftermarket gunsmiths, probably originally designed by one of the best, King Sight Co., and copied by several including Microsight. The one shown is a "right hand cockeyed". Left hand and double cockeyed were also made.

 

[RKmesa]

That offset [hammer] looks sharp on there.

As Jim said, the hammer is a King cockeyed hammer and they really are nice. This widening of the hammer spur (double cockeyed) eventually resulted in the wide combat hammers that were factory issue on some of the later S&W's.

Were they a factory option?

I don't think that the factory installed the cockeyed hammers. But I have one registered magnum that was shipped to the "D. W. King Sight Co., San Francisco, CA.", where it received a King treatment, including, cockeyed hammer, along with front and rear sights.

Someone on here posted a King Catalog that had them listed in there. Lots of different add ons in that catalog for different firearms. I wonder if this were Colt got the idea for the Python as its got a vented rib also.

The King Gun sight Company was a very innovative bunch. I do believe and I think that I have read somewhere that King's "super target" rib was the inspiration for Colt's ribbed barrel on the Python. In my unscientific polling of guns that I have observed as modified with the King super target rib, I have found that it was much more common on the Colts than on the S&W's. Which leads me to believe that Colt's Python designers were strongly influenced by the King treatment.

I do find it interesting that in the King Catalog No. 19, King sold the 357 Registered Magnum for $60.00 and the K-22, 6" barrel with the Super Target treatment for $61.50.

 

[Green Frog]

Oh for a "time traveling letter" that could be mailed back to 1937 or so and order that stuff. Of course it would be best to order the less popular, therefore more collectible stuff. It would probably be available at "giveaway" prices if you you could (now) get it (then.) Are you thoroughly confused now?

I'd have to order matching K-22, K-32 and K-38 with the full King Treatment to go with a Colt Government Model with the Full Treatment (for a "wadcutter gun") and maybe even a "Kinged Out" 44 HE or Colt Flattop Single Action in 44. Then I'd have to send a letter to Lew Sanderson to order grips for all of them. Back to real life... I actually own a High Standard Model HE (the rarest regular production model) that had the full King treatment and Sanderson grips applied sometime prior to WW II. Yes it is way cool, but probably not for sale!

To quote Sam Spade, it's "the stuff that dreams are made of."

Froggie