S&W letter of authenticity?

bhcarl · December 9, 2012, 09:41 AM

What info do you receive back when you request this letter?

Webleymkv · December 9, 2012, 10:22 AM

You will, at the least, recieve the following information: the gun's original date of shipment, to whom the gun was shipped (usually a retailer or distributor), and the gun's original factory configuration (barrel length, sights, stocks, etc.). The primary value of the letter, other than to satisfy one's curiosity, is to authenticate the gun's vintage and configuration. This is particularly valuable to collectors who are buying, selling, or trading rare or desirable models.

James K · December 10, 2012, 08:57 PM

Before anyone asks, a factory letter (except in rare circumstances) will NOT identify who owned the gun. So unless the factory shipped the gun directly to Wyatt Earp or Buffalo Bill, that name will not appear on the letter.

This may seem self-evident but on one site a man was highly perturbed because he paid for a letter and it didn't show the full list of owners of the gun.

Jim

hikingman · December 10, 2012, 09:25 PM

That's good news for the OP!

When I did this for the grandfather's gun from Winchester, I got a letter from Olin that simply stated the year of manufacture, and thanked me for the inquiry.

**Mike Irwin** · December 10, 2012, 09:45 PM

"This may seem self-evident but on one site a man was highly perturbed because he paid for a letter and it didn't show the full list of owners of the gun."

Wow. Just wow.

I wonder where he thought that S&W was going to come up with that information over the years, especially on a revolver that is most likely being lettered due to its age.

fdreano · December 11, 2012, 04:35 AM

Well then - welcome to the brave new world of personal privacy laws.

State DMVs block the same info on prior owners of vehicles - such as who previously owned my '61 Corvette when I inquired. Get over it.

**Mike Irwin** · December 11, 2012, 07:37 AM

I know exactly who owned my 2006 Subaru before I bought it.

Guy left his business card case between the seats.

glenncal1 · December 12, 2012, 05:05 PM

Sometimes (depending on model I guess) you will get a little history of the particular model. I got a letter (came with the gun) on one of my Model 53's and there was a paragraph about the history of the 53 and .22 Jet.

December 9, 2012, 09:41 AM	#1
bhcarl Member Join Date: November 16, 2011 Location: northeast ms. Posts: 54	S&W letter of authenticity? What info do you receive back when you request this letter?

December 10, 2012, 09:25 PM	#4
hikingman Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 301	That's good news for the OP! When I did this for the grandfather's gun from Winchester, I got a letter from Olin that simply stated the year of manufacture, and thanked me for the inquiry. __________________ NRA Life Member

December 10, 2012, 09:45 PM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	"This may seem self-evident but on one site a man was highly perturbed because he paid for a letter and it didn't show the full list of owners of the gun." Wow. Just wow. I wonder where he thought that S&W was going to come up with that information over the years, especially on a revolver that is most likely being lettered due to its age. __________________ "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.

December 11, 2012, 07:37 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	I know exactly who owned my 2006 Subaru before I bought it. Guy left his business card case between the seats. __________________ "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.

December 12, 2012, 05:05 PM	#8
glenncal1 Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2009 Location: Denver area Posts: 504	Sometimes (depending on model I guess) you will get a little history of the particular model. I got a letter (came with the gun) on one of my Model 53's and there was a paragraph about the history of the 53 and .22 Jet. __________________ Jim Many K and N Frames

December 9, 2012, 10:22 AM	#2
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	You will, at the least, recieve the following information: the gun's original date of shipment, to whom the gun was shipped (usually a retailer or distributor), and the gun's original factory configuration (barrel length, sights, stocks, etc.). The primary value of the letter, other than to satisfy one's curiosity, is to authenticate the gun's vintage and configuration. This is particularly valuable to collectors who are buying, selling, or trading rare or desirable models.

December 10, 2012, 08:57 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Before anyone asks, a factory letter (except in rare circumstances) will NOT identify who owned the gun. So unless the factory shipped the gun directly to Wyatt Earp or Buffalo Bill, that name will not appear on the letter. This may seem self-evident but on one site a man was highly perturbed because he paid for a letter and it didn't show the full list of owners of the gun. Jim

December 11, 2012, 04:35 AM	#6
fdreano Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Posts: 174	Well then - welcome to the brave new world of personal privacy laws. State DMVs block the same info on prior owners of vehicles - such as who previously owned my '61 Corvette when I inquired. Get over it.