First, let me THANK all of you who donate to this forum.
We would not be here without you!
I sincerely appreciate it.

We have Four levels of Donations:
Bronze at $30 per year
Silver at $60 per year
Gold at $120 per year
Platinum at $200 per year.
There are many great benefits for donors.
The ads on the left go away and you have full screen viewing, like this:

with ads on LEFT-



ads on LEFT go away for donors-


All levels give you extra benefits as described below, like larger PM storage and Pic albums that host photos just like Photobucket and other hosting sites.

We accept donations via PayPal, the U.S. Mail, and Zelle.
The MAILING ADDRESS is at the TOP of the Donations page.
BE SURE to INCLUDE YOUR USER NAME WHEN MAILING DONATIONS OR SENDING via ZELLE !!!
Send me a Private Message for Zelle instructions.

Bronze Level Contributor $30/yr
Includes:
• Custom Bronze Level Identification
• Remove ALL ads except the main leaderboard
• Personal Photo Gallery 5mb
• PM storage:50 Messages
• Ability to deny PM read receipt
• Ablility to customize your profile
• Profile Picture 100x100
• Avatar 70x70
• Can post Events in Public Calendar
• Can be "Invisible"


Silver Level Contributor $60/yr
Includes:
• Custom Silver Level Identification
• Remove ALL ads except the main leaderboard
• Personal Photo Gallery 10mb
• PM storage:100 Messages
• Ability to deny PM read receipt
• Ability to customize your profile
• Profile Picture 110x110
• Avatar 80x80
• Can post Events in Public Calendar
• Can be "Invisible"


Gold Level Contributor $120/yr
Includes:
• Custom Gold Level Identification
• Remove ALL ads except the main leaderboard
• Personal Photo Gallery 25mb
• PM storage:250 Messages
• Ability to deny PM read receipt
• Ability to customize your profile
• Profile Picture 120x120
• Avatar 90x90
• Can post Events in Public Calendar
• Can be "Invisible"
• Can "see" who is "Invisible"


Platinum Level Contributor $200/yr
Includes:
• Custom Platinum Level Identification
• Remove ALL ads except the main leaderboard
• Personal Photo Gallery 50mb
• PM storage: 500 Messages
• Ability to deny PM read receipt
• Ability to customize your profile
• Profile Picture 150x150
• Avatar 100x100
• Can post Events in Public Calendar
• Can be "Invisible"
• Can "see" who is "Invisible"

We accept donations via PayPal, the U.S. Mail, and Zelle.
The MAILING ADDRESS is at the TOP of the Donations page.
BE SURE to INCLUDE YOUR USER NAME WHEN MAILING DONATIONS OR SENDING via ZELLE !!!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

A minimum of 8¢ per day. What a bargain!

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I hadn't read the finer print and don't like PayPal; but today, I read you can use PayPal without becoming a member to PayPal.

ALL RIGHT... It was quick, easy, and painless using my credit card through PayPal to make a donation and become a silver member.

Well worth it.

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

Agreed. Becoming a donating member solves several issues that are oft discussed in the Lounge and Office, and helps ensure a place for us to pass our time for years to come . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

It is worth it to me.

I want it to be there in the future.

Bekeart

PS: Should have wrote:

I want it to be here in the future.

Just renewed! The best-moderated forum on the 'net!

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Keep on Chooglin'

The Lounge is a great place to share stories but it's not the real purpose of the Forum. The serious collector as well as the novice seeking info on a family heirloom can find information here they can find no where else. The depth of knowledge here is incredible.

The Classified section offers a means for people to buy and sell items, again difficult to find elsewhere, without exorbitant fees or taxes. Even in the few cases where we require sellers to contribute at the Silver level, those fees can be quickly recouped with the sale of one firearm, and that $60 donation allows them to sell as many items here as they wish. I recently sold a pair of Browning shotguns for my brother in law on an auction site and the fee was over $200!

This forum is privately owned without any sponsorship from S&W. That means Lee chins the cost for server space, IT support and the like, not to mention the commitment of time. The ads that non members see help to defray the cost but they certainly don't cover the entire expense.

The Forum also hosts the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, a section set aside for serious collectors of all things S&W in nature. There, one can find the likes of people like Roy Jinks who provide historical information, shipping dates and letters of authenticity. Lee provides that space free of charge to the Association. And while I'm on the topic of the Association, anyone who considers themselves to be a serious collector should consider joining them. Besides the above mentioned benefits, the annual symposium they host is well worth the cost of joining. You can find more info here: Information about the SWCA

So as you can see, this site is far more than your average "gun forum" and deserves your consideration for support.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

There is one more major benefit in becoming a paying member. Not only do you get the visual improvement in the picture when the ads are not presented, but when the ads are not brought up there is a HUGE reduction in the loading time for each thread. When you are at the age that a lot of us are getting to be, time spent in loading each post got to be a real issue for me.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoy being a part of this great group. This forum not only provides information and entertainment, but over the years, I've gained some wonderful friends...some I've never met personally, but great friends just the same.

When it comes to forum moderators, these folks are tops. They keep us in line and eliminate those who abuse the privilege of being on this forum.

Currently, I'm only a silver contributor, but think about it...five bucks a month. It costs more than that to go to a movie...and most movies nowadays aren't half as entertaining as some of the posts on this forum. Well worth it in my opinion...and that's just my view from the saddle.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

My Bronze expires in Jan. If I renew as a Silver now will it be added to the remaining Bronze time I have left?

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Paul
Salome, AZ

Not exactly, but Lee pro-rates your remaining membership and applies it to your new membership.

As an example, let's say you have 2 months Bronze membership remaining. That's 1/6th of $30, or $5.

$5 is the monthly cost of a Silver membership. If you enrolled at the Silver level today, the Silver status would remain active until December 13th, 2023.

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"I also cook."

Thanks I just now re-upped for Silver.

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Paul
Salome, AZ

If you are a paid member you don't get infractions! Oh wait, never mind.....

Seriously if you have some pocket change send it to the S&W Forum instead of buying a mocha latte pumpkin whatever at Starbucks.

A very small price to pay for the best forum on the interweb!!

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Pass it on.
Mark

Lee, thanks for everything you have done, and I believe will continue to do. In spite of my ill Conceived comments a few years ago. I believe that you would make an excellent leader of any group.


I have just renewed my membership at my current level, and hope to be able to do so for many years to come.

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Always Stay Strong!

I will be making a contribution after the holidays. If Santa rewards me for being a good boy this year it will be more substantial. ;^)

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Real men love cats!

Other than the SWCA I have never been a contributor here, however I do like the way those badges look. If I give money to the SWCA again, do I get to keep the number I was issued close to a decade ago?

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

s&wchad summed it up pretty well.
I actually prorate a remaining donation down to the day. When you made the Silver donation on 11-13-22, you had 69 days remaining on your Bronze. Since Silver (60) costs exactly twice as much as Bronze (30), those 69 Bronze days added 35 days to your Silver since I round up in your favor. You made the Silver donation on Nov 13, so it was extended 35 days to Dec 18, 2023.
THANKS for your Support.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I do not handle funds for the SWCA. You are not donating to this forum when you join the SWCA. I think they are now assigning new membership numbers to members who rejoin after lapsing. You will have to talk to the SWCA Administrator about that. Cotact- Smith & Wesson Collectors Association – The Collectors Resource for Historic Smith & Wesson Firearms

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Just joined at the basement level, and I already have a badge next to my user name..Great place to be part of.

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Todd

I've been a contributing member for a good many years. Well worth it. I encourage everyone who enjoys the forum, especially on a daily basis, to chip in.

Back to the top.
TB

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frontsightnsqueaz

I'm pretty tight with a $ and consider this money well spent.Here is my plug for membership, lots of knowledge and good people here.

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SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

My thoughts exactly. I didn't know I had this infatuation with handguns until I joined this support group. The free technical support makes it well worth it.

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Someone’s Crying to be Heard

Lee,

Is there a Membership Level which allows more than 5 Dings before being put in Forum Lock-Up?

I get in a hurry and seem to make some mistakes every now and then, mostly due to Senior Moments and Excitement of posting something.

MartyD

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Who are? "They"

I have never run an internet forum. I have zero experience with owning or running even a website let alone a forum that is frankly THE unparalleled modern source for all things S&W.

I would be happily surprised if somehow, Lee made any manner of even a laughable "profit" at this venture. And that's only considering the almighty dollar and does not make any consideration for the time, knowledge, care and skill that it takes to make this place survive.

As with television, we all have the opportunity, if not the responsibility, to change the channel if we are not enjoying the programming.
Any who are not enjoying themselves here need not comment, rather go to a safe place where you can enjoy life on your own terms.
It is a bit early for me to renew, but I think that will be my next order of business today.
My thanks go to the owner and the management for a job well done with very few rewards.

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NRA Endowment Member

There is enough money to keep the forum going and growing

Unfortunately it is still in the pockets of the members.

Bekeart

I stole this from a site about a building fund that involved a steeple.
Quoting original would get a ding.

If there was I'd chip in to get Gary...CAJUNLAWYER one!

I've been an administrator on a Surfing forum, and one busy FaceBook group.

Was a moderator on a photography forum.

It was like a full time job keeping up with things.

Couldn't begin to imagine the work put into owning/running a forum.

Mass props to all that keep this one, which is the most civil forum I've ever been on running so smoothly.

I've read this thread a few times now and started to respond but didn't. Well here goes.
I visit this forum just about every day and some days multiple times. I enjoy reading, learning, laughing and many times just looking at beautiful pictures of guns and other things. I contribute to the forum because i enjoy it so much.
I personally don't care if Lee or anyone else gets rich from it. More power to them. Just please keep it going and continue to run it in the same way.

I'm somewhat (or a lot) computer challenged. Where do I check to see when my donation is due for the Bronze level? I will renew, but don't see when it is due.

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Kevin in Oregon

Lee, got er done.

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SWHF

Just click on the "Donations" link at the top of this page. It'll be the first thing you see . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Glad you posted this. Saw mine was up 12.28.22

Just renewed it for another year.

I thank you all for your support and kind words.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Moderators (or Lee):

I have been collecting S&Ws since the early '60s and have bought a few from members of this forum. You guys are doing a superb job and always remember the latin saying: "illegitimus non carborundum"* when dealing with malcontents on YOUR forum. It is YOUR forum and you are certainly free to set the rules and demand compliance with them. OK, now off my soapbox and on to the real question (glad I got that off my chest)...

I would like to begin selling-off my collection of 347 vintage S&W firearms as I'm getting up in years and none of my heirs are interested in inheriting them. At what level of contribution would you consider to be appropriate to advertise these guns for sale? I am NOT an FFL holder nor a dealer of any kind but just a collector who's finally realized I can't take 'em with me when I go

Thanks!

*"don't let the ******* wear ya' down"!

We ask that people who benefit from the ads by buying or selling often donate at the Silver level of $60 per year. Larger donations are gratefully accepted.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Joined at the Gold Level. Glad to help out!

I fugured the information I learn here is worth $10 a month.... :-)

It's worth it to me for Cage's humor and Rusty's wit.

My sincere Thanks to all you donors.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

This Forum is so much better now than when I joined. You don't have members cussing and making fun of people. It is now a place to come and enjoy a few hours, not to mention all the knowledge available.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I love this place. It's a superb combination of entertainment and education. It's more amusing than War and Peace, and more educational than What's Happening with the Kardashians. What a value! That's why I went for the Gold.

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What, me worry?

Reading a fortune cookie would do that.

Why?

Because it's the right thing to do!

Great conversation and EXCELLENT moderation.
I come to this site daily (almost).

I know I will find good information and interesting topics.
This is a wonderful place to gather!

The rules are very reasonable, and Mods enforce them rigidly (as they should!)

I thank the ownership for creating and maintaining a great web site
The Internet is a sewer, but this site is an oasis!

Thank you!

Great picture.

All I have to say is that.................

"It's in the mail" .