Why not? Make a custom 6" 632 K32

[Old No7]

My older brother made the "mistake" of letting me shoot his 6" K32 in .32 S&W Long -- that he paid all of $100 for ~20 years ago -- wow, what a sweet shooter she is!!!

I offered right then and there to "triple his money", but he's declined... Since then, I've done a little looking and I think he could likely get 10 to 12X it if he found the right buyer (uh, that won't be me).

I've seen some K32 Masterpiece's that sold for 12X to 14X+ that, and they're not exactly giving away any Model 16s (.32 H&R) today either; in fact there's a nice 4" model on GB now for a measly $1,100...

So I got to thinking today........................

"Why not" find a nice used 6-shot Model 17 or 617 and have it rebored/rifled to .32 S&W Long?

From my estimates, and comparisons to his K32 (from my 617 10-shot), there should be enough steel in the .22s barrel to redrill and rifle the bore; likewise, there should be enough steel in the 22s cylinder to allow the rebore up to .32 caliber.

Cost to do this, of course, will be a determining factor (after feasibility is confirmed), but "if" I could find the right 17/617 to start with and then get the work done for another $300 or so, I'm thinking that I'd come out ahead and have a neat custom Smith to shoot 32s!

"Yes", I am now addicted to the sweet-shootin' l'il 32s, and I already load for the 357s/38s, so I don't need another one of those... I also have a nice l'il SP101 in .32 H&R, but it's not 6" or an S&W...

I'd appreciate any comments or insights on whether this is possible, or if you know it's been done before, or who you'd recommend to do the 'smithing. Thanks!

Tight groups,

Old No7

 

[hsguy]

Here is a thread about the same idea, the work is in progress.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a.html

 

[Green Frog]

Here is a thread about the same idea, the work is in progress.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/260686-project-616-a.html

Yep, I've got that project in the works. I went about it in a different way than you describe though, ON7. All of the 17s and 617s I found were pretty pricey, so I bought new Model 617 barrel (4") and cylinder to have altered and will have them installed on a Model 66. Also, if you use a donor gun that was originally a rimfire, you have the additional expense and effort of converting it to centerfire. It can be done of course, but I didn't see the need.

Feel free to contact me by PM if you have any questions that aren't answered by the info in the thread cited.

Regards,
Froggie

 

[K&Nframe]

This is being done quite often lately. I have most of the parts gathered for mine. Your estimate on having someone do the work is low though. It is more in the $600-$700 range depending on how you go about it.


Kevin

 

[DCWilson]

One possible approach is to get a sacrificial K-38 and have the cylinder and bore sleeved. That would at least do away with the rimfire conversion issue.

But yes, guns are being modified all the time to produce revolvers similar to models that S&W no longer offers, or that have become too expensive in the aftermarket world where demand outstrips supply.

I applaud your willingness to build a .32 revolver. That is a very accurate target and small game caliber.

 

[Marvin Gardens]

I started off on one of these projects about ten years ago. I only got as far as gathering parts. The biggest problem I had was finding K-22 cylinders and a barrel to re-bore. I think Hamilton Bowen makes 6-shot K-22 cylinders now. I was going to make a .32 long/32-20 combination gun. I'd probably explore the .327 Federal now. I have a K-38, a Model 17 barrel, and two six-shot K-22 cylinders in a box in my safe. I Will get around to it one of these days. I am guessing $900 and a year or so wait for the project to be completed. I think the company that does the re-boring is the bottleneck.

Regards.

Bob

 

[bgrafsr]

Jebus35745 did what you want to do. He took a Model 17 to Andy Horvath, LaGrange, Ohio and had a custom .32 S&W Long revolver made. Barrel was bored out by a company in Washington State, I believe, and Andy did the rest of the work. Hopefully he will show off his revolver in this thread.

 

[Old No7]

"Cost to do this, of course, will be a determining factor (after feasibility is confirmed), but "if" I could find the right 17/617 to start with and then get the work done for another $300 or so..."

I got an e-mail from a well known 'smith the other day who responded to my inquiry...

My cost estimate above was off by a factor of 5X ! ! !

And, I would still need to fund the base Model 66 to build it upon.

So I think I'll just hang on to my brother's K32 for as long as I can... (He doesn't shoot much anyhow.)

Old No7

 

[Jebus35745]

Thanks Bill, it cost 1100.00 to convert a K-22 to .32 long. I also had the bbl cut to 5" to match my 5" pre-14 and added a Weigand interchangeable front site base. The bbl cut cost me abt 400 or so. To sleeve the cyls and bbl would be very expensive. Re-blued and shoots great. Added some Keith Brown Ropers to it, its my bucket list gun. Larry

 

[kamloops67]

.32s are prohibited in canada...can i come and live in the 'states with you guys? just kidding...kinda

 

[Chaosrob]

Thanks Bill, it cost 1100.00 to convert a K-22 to .32 long. I also had the bbl cut to 5" to match my 5" pre-14 and added a Weigand interchangeable front site base. The bbl cut cost me abt 400 or so. To sleeve the cyls and bbl would be very expensive. Re-blued and shoots great. Added some Keith Brown Ropers to it, its my bucket list gun. Larry

That is really neat. Thank you for sharing.

 

[mag318]

Love the grips.

 

[tek4260]

Why not just rebarrel a 632 with longer one? Or are you wanting a K frame?

 

[Green Frog]

Why not just rebarrel a 632 with longer one? Or are you wanting a K frame?

The model 632 has gotten fairly hard to find and is rather expensive, then you stlll have the problem of making or modifying a longer barrel. I wanted a K-frame anyway if I was foing to go to the trouble and expense of having a gun built.

BTW, both Bowen and Horvath stated that they would not do a 327 FM with a sleeved barrel because of pressure issues, hence the rebore. Both like to use Delta Gun/Clearwater Reboring and my barrel has been out there since the first week in August... that's the bottleneck on my project so far!

Froggie

PS I'm calling mine a "616" in keeping with the blued Model 616 and the Model 17/617 designations. Besides, I think "Model 632" has been used for a J-frame, hasn't it?