Greetings,

I have a new aquisition that I am preparing to get a factory letter on and noticed that the pdf form on the S&W web site still has the fee at thirty dollars. I'm certain I have seen mention of an increase here on the forum, can anyone tell me the current rate for a letter from Mr. Jinks?

Thanks,

Doug

I believe this is the thread you are looking for. But, IIRC, the increase is not happening.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/540103904/m/1981012313

Is Roy working on the ones he currently has in house? I mailed in for a letter on May 14th and my check cleared the bank on May 22nd.

I had my last check clear on or about 7-10-08, but I also mailed one on 4-18-08, clear a few days later, but without a response. I can only assume the price hasn't changed.
I am close to 16 weeks on my first request, so it hard to say whats up.

I mailed my ($30-check) on July 16th and S&W cashed the check on July 23...

Mr. Jinks has been on vacation recently and has asked SWCA members to hold off on factory letters so he can catch up. I wouldn't expect them to arrive too soon, but they will get there, always do.

Over the past two years, I have ordered many, many letters. I personally like having a letter on each S&W in my collection. And, at $30 per letter, it seems like a good deal. Now, if the price goes up to $50 or more, I may change my tune.

I know that S&W is still cashing the checks because my check dated and mailed to S&W on August 6 cleared my bank yesterday, August 13. It was for one letter on a 4013.

Since they are still cashing checks and have not change their website, I think they may want to temorarily slow down or stop letter requests coming from SWCA members. If you think about it, it makes some sense because the serious collectors are probably requesting letters on older firearms that require significant research effort by Roy. On the other hand, a request for a letter on a more recent handgun probably requires little actual research. It is my understanding that on recently manufactured S&W hanguns, it is a simple matter of obtaining a factory "computer run or printout."

All the letters I have requested have been for revolvers and pistols made after 1971, and most made after 1985. It probably doesn't take very long at all in terms of actual research, and the letters themselves, at least each one I have received on my modern handguns, are form except for the last paragraph which contains the details from the computer run, i.e., ship date, destination and configuration when it left the factory. After all, the general history regarding the Model 29 is the same in each letter sent out for a Model 29.

Now, when requests come in from the "pre-1945 crowd", that probably requires quite a bit of actual research by Roy himself. And, I would imagine those really interesting (and lengthy) research assignments come in from Roy's fellow SWCA members. I mean, if they really want to stop the flow of all the letter requests, they would simply remove the form from the website to stop downloads and indicate a temporary moratorium on requests. They haven't done that, but according to some comments by SWCA members, Roy has requested SWCA members to stop for awhile.

I could be wrong, I've certainly been wrong enough in the past, but it seems to make some sense to me, especially since the website remains unchanged and checks are being cashed. FWIW

I believe they may have stop them now. I would think though if S&W cashed the check they will honor them.

http://www.theswca.org/factory_letter.htm

REQUEST A FACTORY LETTER
To request a Factory Letter for your firearm please click on one of the following links and fill out the form right on you computer. It may take some time to open, especially if you have a dial-up connection. Then just click on the print button at the top of the request form.
Sorry, but Factory Letter Requests are temporarily on hold. The form will once again become available when Letter Requests resume in the 4th Quarter of 2008. Please check back.

Factory Letter Request Form (PDF)

Factory Letter Request Form (Word Document)

The file will open automatically if you have Adobe's Acrobat reader installed on your computer. If it does not open, Acrobat Reader is offered free from Adobe. Just click on the Adobe logo on the right to download the application.

Optionally you can right click on either file name above and choose to save the file to your computer for future use.

Yeah, but it still looks like business as ususal at the S&W website: Firearms History Request

For me, it doesn't really matter whether it takes 8-12 weeks or 6 month, but the difference between SWCA's website and S&W's website is interesting. As long as the letters eventually come, that's all that really matters.

I just received three factory letters in yesterday's mail. Don't know what that means (if anything)...just the facts.

Bob

Good to hear Von Fatman. When did you request them?

KSCowboy,
It's been a while...I'm thinking 60 days.

Bob

FYI--today marks my 60th day of waiting as well. I"m not getting impatient, just letting you know what you might want to expect.

Check that, after thinking about it, I was 60 days off on that figure. I sent my check on 4-18-08...that makes it 120 days. It must be lost.

Gentlemen, Patience is the name of the game. If your check has been cashed, then it's a pretty good sign that your letter request is in the que of approx. 800 backlogged requests that Roy is working overtime to reduce. However, please don't call him to ask about your letter. It only further takes away time he can devote to getting out letters. Ed.