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S&W K32 Masterpiece Value?

gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
edited February 2009 in Ask the Experts
What would you guess the age and value of this old K-32 is? I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it or list it! Serial# K 319445
All opinions will be greatly appreciated,
Ed
[img][/img]K32002.jpg/img]
[img][/img]K32003.jpg/img]
[img][/img]K32001.jpg/img]
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Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello The BIG question you have to ask yourself is. Are you a collector or a shooter? The pistol you have with the box and in the condition it seems to be is highly collectable but not really used by many shooters anymore . It will if listed correctly NO RESERVE and LOW starting price .amaze you on the number of bids you don't see these come up for sale very often . The other Question you need to ask yourself. what are you going to do with the money ? Will this $$ buy me something I really want or am I just going to put in an investment that might not be as good of an investment as collector grade pistols.
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  • Laredo LeftyLaredo Lefty Member Posts: 13,451 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ed...... Your K-32 was made in 1958. There were only 3630 of these made between 1947 & 1974. Since there were so few made the value is rather high.

    Yours is a post war model 16. The box should have the guns serial number in the bottom in grease pencil if its the original box.

    These have been selling for well over $2,000 recently as they are very hard to find. The decision to sell or keep it is something you will have to make on your own.

    As PS stated, .32 S&W revolvers are not used much as shooters anymore. That could explain why so few of them were made. The S&W K-22 and K-38, sister guns to the K-32, were made in much greater numbers due to the popularity of those calibers.

    I have 2 K-22s and 3 K-38s in my collection and would love to add one of the K-32s.
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I will probably be listing it soon. I'm not a shooter and it just doesn't fit into what I collect.
    A large portion of the serial# is still legible on the bottom of the box, along with a $76.00 price tag from Kleins Sporting Goods in Chicago!
    No, I won't sell it for $76.00!![:D]
    Thanks for the input,
    ED
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    To determine real world value, multiply the number of "I'll buy it" e-mails you get by 500 ..... [:p]
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Currently there is a box, a little nicer than mine on auction with a starting bid of $500.00 and a buy it now of $750.00! Oh yeah, it's an empty box too!! my box has the gun in it! I wonder if he will really get $500 for the box?
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  • dfletcherdfletcher Member Posts: 8,179 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Currently there is a box, a little nicer than mine on auction with a starting bid of $500.00 and a buy it now of $750.00! Oh yeah, it's an empty box too!! my box has the gun in it! I wonder if he will really get $500 for the box?


    Could be - if I owned the gun and were looking at it purely from dollars and sense the question to ask is would I make more $$$ selling the box, the gun and the grips separately or as a unit? Personally I'd sell it as a unit, because I like guns and would want to keep the items together.
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  • cussedemguncussedemgun Member Posts: 985 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    gearheaddad,

    Truly a trophy, not everyone has a classic like that in their closet. It was made the year I graduated from high school. Wished I had survived the 'tween years as well!

    The box mentioned at auction for $500 might be a little optimistic. That is about what premium your gun should fetch with the 'original' box. The buyer of that box will have to counterfit labels to match his serial # to realize that value with an otherwise mismatch. And only will the proper box add that money if the gun is "As New In Box". How many guns have you seen advertised as "well used in box"?

    For top dollar collector items as you obviously have, as complete as possible "as purchased" is required. You have seen military rifles advertised as "all #s match" & others mismatched. Obviously the matched gun will bring the top dollar.

    Expect your gun to bring in excess of $3000 with correct box, papers, & tools. If any of the above is missing, deduct accordingly.

    Jim
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by cussedemgun
    gearheaddad,

    Truly a trophy, not everyone has a classic like that in their closet. It was made the year I graduated from high school. Wished I had survived the 'tween years as well!

    The box mentioned at auction for $500 might be a little optimistic. That is about what premium your gun should fetch with the 'original' box. The buyer of that box will have to counterfit labels to match his serial # to realize that value with an otherwise mismatch. And only will the proper box add that money if the gun is "As New In Box". How many guns have you seen advertised as "well used in box"?

    For top dollar collector items as you obviously have, as complete as possible "as purchased" is required. You have seen military rifles advertised as "all #s match" & others mismatched. Obviously the matched gun will bring the top dollar.

    Expect your gun to bring in excess of $3000 with correct box, papers, & tools. If any of the above is missing, deduct accordingly.

    Jim

    What tools and paperwork would have come with it?
    All that is in the box is the "warranty card"
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  • cussedemguncussedemgun Member Posts: 985 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    gearheaddad,

    Per "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd edition" your gold box is the correct one for a 1958 model 16.

    First included items other than the gun would be the brown wax paper for anti corrosion & anti abrasion protection during shipping & storage.

    An owners manual would also be included with operation instructions, warranty info. & parts breakdown diagram. The original sales reciept & any hang/display tag would also be a plus. The warranty card you already have.

    The tool kit would include a cleaning rod, mop, & brush plus the famous S & W screwdriver. Proper issued screwdriver for your era gun was blued steel serrated handle with long tapered black oxide shaft.

    On the plus side, the most important part you have, THE GUN!

    Jim
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  • cody45cody45 Member Posts: 570 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have one of these that I bought on {elsewhere} two years ago from a collector for $1200. I then found a box for $50 on the same site.
    The guy told me its easier to find a box for the K32 because they made many more than they needed because the K22 and K38 outsold the K32 many times over. The guy with the $500 box is dreaming. Its also important to remember the 5 screw guns bring more than the 4 screw models. If the value has gone up as much as has been stated Im a happy camper. I bought brass and dies and intend to shoot it soon. Good luck with your sale.
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