Two Very Different K32's, Letter arrived
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OP
More of the K32 M&P. This is the only one I have ever seen. According to what I have read there are only 910 of the 5" variation, which is about 19% of the total manufactured. I'm requesting a letter, but from what I have seen it will be pretty ho-hum. This hardware store or that gun shop. That's OK. I'm curious. Beyond that, I plan on shooting it a lot.
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How did you acquire these two beauties?
This was a grail gun for me- serial number K1366XX, I took the photos at the range. Shown with a pre-war Colt Officers Model .32. Looking forward to more pictures of yours.
Regards,
Regards,
I have a similar pair...looked a long time for the 32 m&p
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Grail gun(s) for sure.
That isn't accurate. One of the shipments of the .32 M&P to Sloane's Sporting Goods in NY on April 21, 1948, contained 910 units, most of which had 5" barrels. I actually own one of those and a picture appears below.
However, that is not the only shipment of the .32 M&P, and other shipments also included units with the 5" barrel. We don't actually know how many were produced in total, nor how many of them had the 5" barrel.
In addition, yours has the High Speed hammer. The April 1948 units all had the long action, so yours is not one of those. Notice the long action on the one in my picture.
There were some .32 M&P units with 2" barrels that were purchased by the Chinese in Shanghai that had the High Speed Hammer. One known example that did not go to China is serial number S998587. It shipped to Springfield, IL, on August 12, 1949.
I also have in my database a .32 M&P with an unknown barrel length with serial number C54973. So evidently there were some .32 M&Ps made after March 1948, when the first C prefix guns were produced.
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cgt4570
Member
I don't think I have a pic because I need to rust blue it. I found a NOS in the white 2" K frame .32 half moon barrel years ago. I finally had my gunsmith build me a round butt .32-20 snub with it last year. Another one they never made but should have!
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Here is mine with a letter.
bdGreen
Oh, and my K-32 Masterpiece.
Enjoy.
bdGreen
Oh, and my K-32 Masterpiece.
Enjoy.
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Now, thanks to bdGreen's letter, we know that 4813 .32 M&P units were produced. My letter does not have that detail.
We still don't know how many had the 5" barrel. However, the letter's statement that there was "a small quantity of . . . five inch lengths" seems odd since the vast majority of those that have surfaced have 5" barrels.
Note that bd's revolver has both the High Speed Hammer and a C prefix serial number, just like the one that launched this thread.
Wow, you guys not only have some great .32 K-frames, but you've really done your homework.
The pictures and letters are like a little time machine back to a great period of American gunmaking.
As the old ad used to say: "Calgon, take me away!"
The pictures and letters are like a little time machine back to a great period of American gunmaking.
As the old ad used to say: "Calgon, take me away!"
OP
The numbers I quoted were from letters I have seen and, of course that which was published in SCSW.
Mine is SN: C 54785. One question I have concerns the boxes. Most pictures I've seen are 5" 38 M&P boxes with 38 blacked out and 32 written in. Do 32 M&P boxes exist? I'm guessing S&W did not see the need to have gold picture boxes made up for such a small quantity of guns so they just used the 38 boxes. Similar thing are seen with 22 CM's in Masterpiece boxes with 4" labels glued to the end, although there were plenty of 22 CM's produced. Apples and oranges, I know, but it makes me wonder.
All this kind of overshadows my 5 screw K32 Masterpiece (Pre-16) which was also produced in very small numbers. According to my letter only 3630 32 Masterpieces (post war guns) were produced over 26 years. I have no idea how many of those were of the 5 screw variety. I've caught the K-32 bug with these two and my Model 16 (ND) and another on the way. Still searching for the elusive 4 screw pre-16. I understand that the 16-1 was not produced. Is there no cure for this bug?
Mine is SN: C 54785. One question I have concerns the boxes. Most pictures I've seen are 5" 38 M&P boxes with 38 blacked out and 32 written in. Do 32 M&P boxes exist? I'm guessing S&W did not see the need to have gold picture boxes made up for such a small quantity of guns so they just used the 38 boxes. Similar thing are seen with 22 CM's in Masterpiece boxes with 4" labels glued to the end, although there were plenty of 22 CM's produced. Apples and oranges, I know, but it makes me wonder.
All this kind of overshadows my 5 screw K32 Masterpiece (Pre-16) which was also produced in very small numbers. According to my letter only 3630 32 Masterpieces (post war guns) were produced over 26 years. I have no idea how many of those were of the 5 screw variety. I've caught the K-32 bug with these two and my Model 16 (ND) and another on the way. Still searching for the elusive 4 screw pre-16. I understand that the 16-1 was not produced. Is there no cure for this bug?
Could it possibly be that the greatest number of 2" barrels were sent overseas?
OP
The Masterpiece came out of auction and the M&P from member Flygas. Thank you Shane.
Yes. This was a special order for the Shanghai police. The one I mentioned was an over-run from that production. Very few of them stayed in the USA.
Yes. I believe all of them shipped in gold boxes for the .38 M&P.
I do not believe they do.
"Is there no cure for this bug?"
Correct- this disease is chronic, it flares up at gun shows and Symposiums.
Regards,
Dr. Witty
Correct- this disease is chronic, it flares up at gun shows and Symposiums.
Regards,
Dr. Witty
OP
Letter Arrived
My request for my 5" K-38 went out and the letter for this one showed up at the same time. Ship date was Aug. 16, 1950 to Beck & Gregg right here in Atlanta. This is the second gun I own that shipped to B&G Hardware. The other is my 5 screw 44 Magnum, SN: S130881.
My request for my 5" K-38 went out and the letter for this one showed up at the same time. Ship date was Aug. 16, 1950 to Beck & Gregg right here in Atlanta. This is the second gun I own that shipped to B&G Hardware. The other is my 5 screw 44 Magnum, SN: S130881.
Sorry, but I'm confused. Are you referring here to the K-32 or the .32 M&P?
Wait. Maybe I figured it out. In Post #1, you said the K-32 was from 1955. So, 8/50 must be for the M&P. Do I have that right?
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OP
Correct. The 32 Masterpiece 1955 and the 32 M&P 1950.
Beck & Gregg ordered 20 of the 5" 32 M&P's according to the invoice. On the same invoice there are 40 2" 38 M&P SB's and 10 6" 38 M&P SB's. They must have been the biggest gun dealer in Atlanta back then.
Beck & Gregg ordered 20 of the 5" 32 M&P's according to the invoice. On the same invoice there are 40 2" 38 M&P SB's and 10 6" 38 M&P SB's. They must have been the biggest gun dealer in Atlanta back then.
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Obe
Member
Also known is a lettered C prefix .32 M&P 5" shipped in November 1949.
Jack,
I finally found my folder of Historical letters after my move of last year, and I need to make a small correction on the data I gave you on C54973 back in April of this year:
From the letter from Roy, dated 2/21/2007, addressed to a previous owner:
"We have researched your Smith & Wesson .32 Military & Police, Special Production Model, caliber .32 S&W Long, revolver, with serial number C54973, in company records. Our records show this handgun was shipped on September 22, 1949, to Sutcliffe Hardware Co., Louisville, KY. The records indicate that this handgun was shipped with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut grips."
The 10/49 date I originally gave you was from memory, which ain't what it used to be.....
Randy
Thanks, Randy. The database is now corrected.
Jack..............
Do you have C55894 in your database? It is currently in my care and was one of my 12 guns displayed in Concord at the Symposium.
Shipped 11/1/1949 with a 5" barrel. My Letter of Authenticity says the .32 MP revolver is one of the rarest production Military and Police models manufactured. It also lists the following numbers:
4" barrel- 3132 units, 5" barrel- 936 units and 2" barrels- 466 units for total of 4813 produced. Most 32 M&P models were shipped overseas.
"We have researched your Smith & Wesson . 32 Military & Police, Five Screw Variation, caliber .32 S&W Long, revolver, with
serial number C55894, in company records. Our records show this handgun was shipped on November 1, 1949, to Frank Budge Co. ,
Miami, FL. The records indicate that this handgun was shipped with a 5 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut grips."
My invoice shows fifteen 32 M&P shipped at the same invoice with 5" barrels.
Gil in Sunny Arizona........................
Do you have C55894 in your database? It is currently in my care and was one of my 12 guns displayed in Concord at the Symposium.
Shipped 11/1/1949 with a 5" barrel. My Letter of Authenticity says the .32 MP revolver is one of the rarest production Military and Police models manufactured. It also lists the following numbers:
4" barrel- 3132 units, 5" barrel- 936 units and 2" barrels- 466 units for total of 4813 produced. Most 32 M&P models were shipped overseas.
"We have researched your Smith & Wesson . 32 Military & Police, Five Screw Variation, caliber .32 S&W Long, revolver, with
serial number C55894, in company records. Our records show this handgun was shipped on November 1, 1949, to Frank Budge Co. ,
Miami, FL. The records indicate that this handgun was shipped with a 5 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered walnut grips."
My invoice shows fifteen 32 M&P shipped at the same invoice with 5" barrels.
Gil in Sunny Arizona........................
Excellent information, Gdogman. Thank you very much!
That's a very nice example. Happy to see it.
That's a very nice example. Happy to see it.
Gunhohulk
Member
Do you keep a K-32 database as well? I have a lettered 16 no dash that might not be in there yet.
