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THE TEN SPECIAL ORDER SMITH & WESSON K-32 MASTERPIECE (PRE-MODEL 16) REVOLVERS IN THIS SHIPMENT WERE THE FIRST TO BE MANUFACTURED WITH A 4 INCH BARREL
LOT 629
Extremely Rare and Documented Smith &
Wesson K-32 Masterpiece
(Pre-Model 16) Double Action Revolver with Special
Order 4 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. K68489, 32 S&W Long cal., 4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This S&W K-32 Masterpiece (pre-Model 16) revolver has a special order 4 inch barrel and is built on the 5-screw frame. The standard barrel length for this model was 6 inches. This is one of only 3,630 K-32 Masterpiece (Model 16) revolvers S&W manufactured over a 26 year
period starting in 1947. It is the rarest of the standard K-Masterpiece series. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on March 4, 1949, and delivered to B.W. Folsom, Warren, Ohio, with a special order 4 inch barrel, blue finish and checkered walnut grips (currently wearing a set of Magna grips numbered to another gun). This
shipment was for ten units which were billed at the wholesale price of $39.69 each plus an additional $6.00 for each of the 4 inch barrels. The included S&W invoice confirms the 4 inch barrel and lists the serial numbers for all 10 guns in the March 4, 1949,
shipment. These 10 guns were the first 4 inch K-32s ever manufactured, and, other than two others produced in 1951, the only 4 inch barrels built on the 5-screw
rame. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, cylinder, and barrel. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% original blue finish with some muzzle and high edge wear and some thinning to brown on the cylinder. 97% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The left panel has a couple small chips and a small repair on the left panel towards the
top; otherwise, the grips are fine with a few minor handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dave Ballantyne Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
LOT 630
Smith & Wesson .357 Registered Magnum Double Action Revolver with
Factory Letter, Registration Certificate, and Box - Serial no. 57117, 357 magnum cal., 6 1/2 inch
solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This particular Registered Magnum (reg. no. 4593) is one of 1,518 manufactured with a 6 1/2 inch barrel. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on September 14, 1939, and
delivered to Dr. E.A. MacCormack, Lynchburg Virginia, with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, Call gold bead front sight, square notch rear sight,
blue finish, and Magna stocks (currently fitted with a set of Roper grips). As noted in the factory letter, the frame is stamped with the large S&W logo and the
“Marca Registrada.” This marking was used on all revolvers being shipped to Spanish speaking countries. The registration certificate confirms the specifications and lists the recipient as Dr. E.A. MacCormack, Lima, Peru, South America. Period sources cited Dr. E.A. MacCormack as a missionary living in Peru. The .357 Magnum was the most powerful handgun cartridge at the time, and this S&W 357 Registered Magnum certainly would have made for a great companion in Peru,
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home to the Amazon rainforest. The included S&W invoice shows that the
revolver was shipped to Dr. E.A. MacCormack, Lynchburg, Virginia. Comes with a
correct S&W model box.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original blue finish with some holster
wear and a light cylinder drag line. Nearly all original case colors remain on
the hammer and trigger. The grips are fine with two tiny holes drilled on the
bottom, high edge wear, some minor handling marks, and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very good. Provenance: The Gary Garbrecht Collection; The Dave Ballantyne Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 11,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "The Blue Book of Gun Values", only 1,518 Smith & Wesson Registered Magnum revolvers were produced with a 6-1/2 inch barrel.