S&W K32 Project...

[Boge Quinn]

Lately I've been really jonesin' for a K32, to go with my K22s and K38 - have y'all SEEN what K32s are bringing these days?!?! JEEZ.

Terry Murbach has told me a few times about a K32 he had made up by Bowen many moons ago after his own fruitless search for an affordable original, and hinted that he had an extra brand-new K32Mag cylinder and original in-the-white K32 barrel laying around, which could be had for a specified sum if I could find a base sixgun. That proved to be easy, as my pal Matt Olivier told me he had an old K38 that had finish issues and a slightly-bulged-but-still-shootable barrel, which said sixgun could be had for a song. Furthermore, Matt offered to send Terry a brand-spankin'-new Ruger SR22 in exchange for Terry sending me the K32 parts (!), and it all came together yesterday when the package from Matt landed at the Hardware Store and the package from Murbach landed in my mailbox. I had thought about having some nice custom stocks made for my K32 project, but the K38 arrived with a nice set of Diamond Targets numbered to the sixgun, so I'm thinking that will be about right.

Murbach also had a brand-new K22 cylinder/ejector, and sent it along. I had already corresponded with Bowen about the project, and he seemed genuinely excited about the prospect - he said it was one of his favorite sixguns in two of his favorite calibers: the K32 cylinder will be rechambered for 327 Federal, and the K22 cylinder will be rechambered for 32 WCF, making a neat little combo gun (able to shoot 32 WCF, 327 Federal, 32 Magnum, 32 S&W, and 32 ACP).

Good news / bad news on the Bowen front: GOOD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself; BAD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself. In other words, my sixgun will be built by the Master, but it may take a while.

Anyway, thanks to Terry and Matt (and Hamilton) for their contributions to this project! Now to send the parts off to Bowen and WAIT...........

Y'all see a future Gunblast article?

 

[DCWilson]

That's a great project! Please keep us posted.

 

[weatherby]

Very nice and the non relieved diamond targets definitely add to the look IMHO

 

[410bore]

those grips are stellar....a set of those sold on Gunbroker last night (yes, they were numbered too) for $207.50

 

[Boge Quinn]

those grips are stellar....a set of those sold on Gunbroker last night (yes, they were numbered too) for $207.50

Wow, cool! I guess Ol' Matt really took care of me, that's not much less than I ended up paying for the whole K38 - and Matt even threw in a "little something extra"!

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

You, sir, are a very blessed man. The K-32 has become my Holy Grail gun and the only K series revolver I still drool over!

Hog
"I'd eat acorns for a K-32" (welllll.... not really!)

 

[Boge Quinn]

Yessir, I am! Matt really made this thing come together for me - first, he sold me the base gun for CHEAP, THEN he gave Murbach another gun for the parts on my behalf, THEN he threw in a collectible Ruger sixgun with the K38 for nothing!

 

[PMRet]

As a big K-32 fan I really like this, keep us posted. Forum member Green Frog has a similar project in the works (Project 616) using stainless components.

 

[peyton]

Boge, keep us posted on the project. It is interesting that Mr. Bowen has no doubts about the K32 cylinder being strong enough to be rechambered for 327 Federal strength. I had bought a K22 cylinder a while back with the rechambering in mind. Yes we do expect a report on GunBlast as well.
My wife got me a K32 from a fellow who inherited it two years ago. She bought it for $600.00, met the guy at the Walmart parking lot. I did tell the seller the gun was worth a lot more, he said he did not care, he only liked tupperware guns!!

 

[glenncal1]

Good news / bad news on the Bowen front: GOOD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself; BAD NEWS is that he is a bit short-handed in his Shop, especially for S&W work, so he'll have to do the work himself. In other words, my sixgun will be built by the Master, but it may take a while.

To me knowing that Mr. Bowen did the work himself would be worth the wait. You will have a special gun when all is done.

 

[H Richard]

That is the same project I desire to do, and I have a K38 that could be a donor gun, now I only need the barrel & cylinder!

 

[Boge Quinn]

That is the same project I desire to do, and I have a K38 that could be a donor gun, now I only need the barrel & cylinder!

A K22 barrel can be easily rebored, or the K38 barrel lined. Bowen offers K-frame cylinders:
+ Bowen Classic Arms + Parts Store

 

[Boge Quinn]

Boge, keep us posted on the project. It is interesting that Mr. Bowen has no doubts about the K32 cylinder being strong enough to be rechambered for 327 Federal strength. I had bought a K22 cylinder a while back with the rechambering in mind. Yes we do expect a report on GunBlast as well.
My wife got me a K32 from a fellow who inherited it two years ago. She bought it for $600.00, met the guy at the Walmart parking lot. I did tell the seller the gun was worth a lot more, he said he did not care, he only liked tupperware guns!!

I love guys like that, who see no value in their coolest stuff!

Bowen has done K-327s, he says they make great sixguns.

 

[Green Frog]

A K22 barrel can be easily rebored, or the K38 barrel lined. Bowen offers K-frame cylinders:
+ Bowen Classic Arms + Parts Store

K22 barrels can indeed be rebored, but Bowen and others I have talked to refuse to talk about relining a K38 barrel for the 327 FM due to the pressure. That's why I had to track down a M617 barrel for Project 616. AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!

Froggie

 

[Jebus35745]

Those grips would be perfect for your gun. I have the same project going on with Andy Horvath right now. My bbl is being cut to 5" to match my 5" pre 14. It has a set of Keith Brown Ropers waiting for it. Sort of a bucket list gun. Larry

 

[Boge Quinn]

K22 barrels can indeed be rebored, but Bowen and others I have talked to refuse to talk about relining a K38 barrel for the 327 FM due to the pressure. That's why I had to track down a M617 barrel for Project 616. AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!

Froggie

Yessir, Hamilton told me yesterday that it could be done, but it would be very expen$ive. I am sending him a package tomorrow, but he does see ONE potential problem: the K32 barrel I am sending him may or may not be heat-treated, he won't know until he tests it. If it is not heat-treated, we'll have to make the project a 32 H&R Magnum, but if it is then it will be fine with 327 Federal. No worries about the cylinder, it's an M16-4 cylinder so it should be fine either way.

Froggie, is Bowen doing Project 616?

 

[Hondo44]

Yessir, Hamilton told me yesterday that it could be done, but it would be very expen$ive. I am sending him a package tomorrow, but he does see ONE potential problem: the K32 barrel I am sending him may or may not be heat-treated, he won't know until he tests it. If it is not heat-treated, we'll have to make the project a 32 H&R Magnum, but if it is then it will be fine with 327 Federal. No worries about the cylinder, it's an M16-4 cylinder so it should be fine either way.

Froggie, is Bowen doing Project 616?

Since you ultimately want a 327 Fed Mag, I think the project begs for a Model 53 barrel with it's heavy straight taper barrel and shrouded extractor rod like all Smith bonifide magnums. They come up for sale often enough to find one and it sounds like you're in store for a long wait which will give time to find one.

 

[Boge Quinn]

Nah, most of my shootin' will be with the 32 H&R Mag anyway. I just thought it would be nice to have a bit more versatility in being able to shoot 327 Federal. I told Hamilton that I'd send what I have, and if it works for 327, fine, and if not, fine.

 

[Green Frog]

Yessir, Hamilton told me yesterday that it could be done, but it would be very expen$ive. I am sending him a package tomorrow, but he does see ONE potential problem: the K32 barrel I am sending him may or may not be heat-treated, he won't know until he tests it. If it is not heat-treated, we'll have to make the project a 32 H&R Magnum, but if it is then it will be fine with 327 Federal. No worries about the cylinder, it's an M16-4 cylinder so it should be fine either way.

Froggie, is Bowen doing Project 616?

No, Andy Horvath of Ohio also has a very good reputation for this same kind of work. He came to my attention years ago with his N-frame conversions to 44 Spl and 45 Colt, so when this project was coming together, his name came back to my attention. I've heard nothing but good about him, and when I stopped by to drop off the parts I was very impressed with him... hopefully I'll be reporting on the completed project in about another 4 months.

Froggie

 

[Muley Gil]

Froggie, you should have taken your revolver to David Clements in Woodlawn, VA. Then, you would have only been 15 miles from my house and we could have gotten in some range time together.

Seriously, I've heard many good things about Andy as well.