My precious!

**Mike Irwin** · March 23, 2024, 09:25 PM

I've finally filled a hole in my S&W revolver collection that I was wondering if I'd ever fill.

I've added Model 16-2, K-32 Masterpiece, in .32 Long, to the stable.

A friend had it. I always told him that if he were to ever sell it, I got first dibs on it.

He finally sold it to me.

I'm one very happy camper.

radom · March 24, 2024, 01:48 AM

Still kicking my rear as found one for under 300 bucks some years ago and passed then found out they only made what 7-8K of them? That is a hens tooth gun there in .32 long.

**Mike Irwin** · March 24, 2024, 07:42 AM

Nope, they made fewer than 4,000 of them from the 1930s to the 1970s.

About 15 years ago my friend called me. He had stopped at a small semi-rural gun store and it was in the case.

He, at the time, shared my fondness for .32s and was wondering if it was a good deal.

IIRC price was right around $500.

I told him in no uncertain terms that he was either buying it for himself or he was buying it and I would buy it from him with a finder's fee, but he was NOT, under any circumstances, leaving that shop without it.

He bought it for himself and I staked my claim on it if he were ever to sell it I got first dibs.

It took awhile, but I've got it. And I'm very, very happy.

jetinteriorguy · March 24, 2024, 08:15 AM

Congrats, just goes to show all good things come to those who wait.

KyJim · March 24, 2024, 10:14 AM

Congratulations! Must feel great to get that unicorn.

jar · March 24, 2024, 10:44 AM

I have an old Regulation Police from 1942 and love it.

**Mal H** · March 24, 2024, 11:59 AM

Sweet!

Does your friend like to bike in the mountains?

If it was him, I thought he had a K-38.

**Mike Irwin** · March 24, 2024, 12:18 PM

Mal, it was him. And yes, he has a true K-38. With the correct box.

**Mike Irwin** · March 24, 2024, 07:31 PM

I've always loved, absolutely loved, the .32s. Not sure why, but I do. They're just so damned polite when you pull the trigger.

In addition to the new one...

I've got two in .32 S&W (both guns belonged to my Great Grandfathers, one on my Mom's side, one on my Dad's). One is a solid-frame US Revolver Company, the other is a breaktop H&R double action.

I've got a 1920s era Regulation Police. .32 Long. That's an I frame.

I've got a Model of 1902 in absolutely beautiful original nickel. That's an I frame.

I've got a Colt Police Positive from the 1930s. .32 Police, aka .32 Long.

I've got a snubby S&W Model 30 from around 1970. That's a J frame.

I've got a K frame .32-20 from the late 1920s/early 1930s.

I've got a Colt Police Positive Special .32-20 from around the same time.

And in semi-auto, I've got a CZ 70 and a Beretta 81.

I need an improved I frame .32 with the coil spring. I'll have to track down one of those.

PzGren · March 25, 2024, 07:22 AM

Very nice collection, Mike. I had two very rare Korth Sport in .32 S&W Long, one was bought defective and returned and the other one was with me for many years, I had cast my own RNL bullets for it but eventually sold it because it was my only gun in that caliber.

jar · March 25, 2024, 08:35 AM

32 really seems to be a generally accurate, soft shooting caliber and I too seem to have more 7.65 pistols and 32S&W (or Police & New Police) CTG than 9mm Para or .380.

CajunBass · March 25, 2024, 11:38 AM

I never thought I'd want a 32. Just seemed to be good for rabbits and not much else. Then a few weeks ago, my wife talked me into buying a little "I" frame Smith and Wesson Hand Ejector, third model because it was "cute" (1920) Well she was right about that, It was cute. It had been refinished, and was wearing stocks from a much later time period, but was mechanically good.

It turned out to be a fun little shooter, but I thought I needed somethig else too. So I did some research, found out the 32 was no longer just a little RNL bullet round anymore. So I ordered a Taurus 327 in 327 Federal Magnum. Now that's an attention getter.

This of course has led to dies, bullets, brass, shell holders, and so on. Someone told me once that 32's were addicting. They were right.

gwpercle · March 25, 2024, 02:45 PM

That's Awesome ... Nothing feels better than filling a big hole , with a friends help !
You are here-by awarded The Big ... ATTABOY ... for a great stalk and take down !
Congratulations !

Now ... Louisiana Swamp People say ... it's time to ... CHOOT E'M !
Gary
Certified Louisiana Cajun

ligonierbill · March 25, 2024, 06:07 PM

I'm jealous. Had one on my list, but the few I found were more than I wanted to pay. Maybe I should have anted up! Congratulations on a very nice piece.

**Mike Irwin** · March 26, 2024, 06:45 PM

Thanks, all!

Yeah, this one is a treat. A real treat to have. I never thought I'd find one.

I was starting to despair whether my friend would ever tire of it. But, finally, he did.

orionengnr · April 19, 2024, 09:27 PM

Funny, I just bought my first .32 revolver (I once owned a Kel-Tec P32, but that doesn't count).

Anyway, the S&W I bought has been languishing in my buddy's toolbox and is a bit dinged up, but still looks okay. I traded him a brandy-new S&W 380 Shield EZ, so I think we're pretty straight up.

Haven't shot it yet, but I bought a set of dies and some brass, and am awaiting some Missouri Bullet Company lead.

Also have a local friend who has recently gotten into .32 S&W revolvers.

Guess it's catching

March 23, 2024, 09:25 PM	#1
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	My precious! I've finally filled a hole in my S&W revolver collection that I was wondering if I'd ever fill. I've added Model 16-2, K-32 Masterpiece, in .32 Long, to the stable. A friend had it. I always told him that if he were to ever sell it, I got first dibs on it. He finally sold it to me. I'm one very happy camper. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 24, 2024, 07:42 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Nope, they made fewer than 4,000 of them from the 1930s to the 1970s. About 15 years ago my friend called me. He had stopped at a small semi-rural gun store and it was in the case. He, at the time, shared my fondness for .32s and was wondering if it was a good deal. IIRC price was right around $500. I told him in no uncertain terms that he was either buying it for himself or he was buying it and I would buy it from him with a finder's fee, but he was NOT, under any circumstances, leaving that shop without it. He bought it for himself and I staked my claim on it if he were ever to sell it I got first dibs. It took awhile, but I've got it. And I'm very, very happy. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 24, 2024, 12:18 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Mal, it was him. And yes, he has a true K-38. With the correct box. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 24, 2024, 07:31 PM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I've always loved, absolutely loved, the .32s. Not sure why, but I do. They're just so damned polite when you pull the trigger. In addition to the new one... I've got two in .32 S&W (both guns belonged to my Great Grandfathers, one on my Mom's side, one on my Dad's). One is a solid-frame US Revolver Company, the other is a breaktop H&R double action. I've got a 1920s era Regulation Police. .32 Long. That's an I frame. I've got a Model of 1902 in absolutely beautiful original nickel. That's an I frame. I've got a Colt Police Positive from the 1930s. .32 Police, aka .32 Long. I've got a snubby S&W Model 30 from around 1970. That's a J frame. I've got a K frame .32-20 from the late 1920s/early 1930s. I've got a Colt Police Positive Special .32-20 from around the same time. And in semi-auto, I've got a CZ 70 and a Beretta 81. I need an improved I frame .32 with the coil spring. I'll have to track down one of those. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 25, 2024, 08:35 AM	#11
jar Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2001 Location: Deep South Texas Posts: 1,670	32 really seems to be a generally accurate, soft shooting caliber and I too seem to have more 7.65 pistols and 32S&W (or Police & New Police) CTG than 9mm Para or .380. __________________ To be vintage it's gotta be older than me!

March 24, 2024, 01:48 AM	#2
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,358	Still kicking my rear as found one for under 300 bucks some years ago and passed then found out they only made what 7-8K of them? That is a hens tooth gun there in .32 long.

March 24, 2024, 08:15 AM	#4
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,182	Congrats, just goes to show all good things come to those who wait.

March 24, 2024, 10:14 AM	#5
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	Congratulations! Must feel great to get that unicorn.

March 24, 2024, 11:59 AM	#7
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	Sweet! Does your friend like to bike in the mountains? If it was him, I thought he had a K-38.

March 25, 2024, 07:22 AM	#10
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260	Very nice collection, Mike. I had two very rare Korth Sport in .32 S&W Long, one was bought defective and returned and the other one was with me for many years, I had cast my own RNL bullets for it but eventually sold it because it was my only gun in that caliber.

March 25, 2024, 11:38 AM	#12
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,768	I never thought I'd want a 32. Just seemed to be good for rabbits and not much else. Then a few weeks ago, my wife talked me into buying a little "I" frame Smith and Wesson Hand Ejector, third model because it was "cute" (1920) Well she was right about that, It was cute. It had been refinished, and was wearing stocks from a much later time period, but was mechanically good. It turned out to be a fun little shooter, but I thought I needed somethig else too. So I did some research, found out the 32 was no longer just a little RNL bullet round anymore. So I ordered a Taurus 327 in 327 Federal Magnum. Now that's an attention getter. This of course has led to dies, bullets, brass, shell holders, and so on. Someone told me once that 32's were addicting. They were right. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

March 25, 2024, 02:45 PM	#13
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	That's Awesome ... Nothing feels better than filling a big hole , with a friends help ! You are here-by awarded The Big ... ATTABOY ... for a great stalk and take down ! Congratulations ! Now ... Louisiana Swamp People say ... it's time to ... CHOOT E'M ! Gary Certified Louisiana Cajun

March 25, 2024, 06:07 PM	#14
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,459	I'm jealous. Had one on my list, but the few I found were more than I wanted to pay. Maybe I should have anted up! Congratulations on a very nice piece.

March 26, 2024, 06:45 PM	#15
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Thanks, all! Yeah, this one is a treat. A real treat to have. I never thought I'd find one. I was starting to despair whether my friend would ever tire of it. But, finally, he did. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

April 19, 2024, 09:27 PM	#16
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,177	Funny, I just bought my first .32 revolver (I once owned a Kel-Tec P32, but that doesn't count). Anyway, the S&W I bought has been languishing in my buddy's toolbox and is a bit dinged up, but still looks okay. I traded him a brandy-new S&W 380 Shield EZ, so I think we're pretty straight up. Haven't shot it yet, but I bought a set of dies and some brass, and am awaiting some Missouri Bullet Company lead. Also have a local friend who has recently gotten into .32 S&W revolvers. Guess it's catching