I have an old pre-19 Combat Magnum. I'm interested in confirming the date of shipment. Is requesting a letter the only way to confirm the shipping date?

I was kind of wondering the same thing. I am sure that I have seen where people have only called S&W and gotten just the ship date. But I don't know if this is for everyone or just some people.

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

It's the only way to get an exact date that I know of. Otherwise, the old shipping records, which are not computerized, must be searched.

Bruce

A call to S&W might yield some information (I have heard mixed reviews), but a factory letter will definitely give you the shipping date and location.

Bill

Wondering why it is worth $50 to know a shipping date when you can get a close date from a serial # check? Is there something real special about your gun?

I hope so, but how does one know without a letter? I've previously posted about this revolver. The serial number is very early; K2602xx ....

I would request a letter as it will also verify if the TH and TT are original to the gun. I think it would be $50 well spent. I have K260190 that was shipped on May 1, 1956.

Bill

I have called S&W plenty of times for a build date, and I usually do it even though I request a ship date from Mr. Jinks. My practice has always been to call the factory at least three times about a month apart to see if the build date is always the same. It always has been so far. all they do is look up the serial # on their computer.

The only thing that the factory can tell you is when the frame was serialized. To them it is the same thing as when it was built, but you have to remember that they have to answer a lot of calls and some of the guys who answer aren't that old or familiar with the older guns, or all that hardcore about S&W guns like some of us here are with all the details. It's just their job to them and close is good enough for answers on when a gun was made.

I'll probably go ahead and request a letter, but I would be very surprised if the target hammer and trigger aren't original. The letters TH and TT are written in white grease pencil right below the serial number on the bottom of the box.

The best reason to get a letter on any gun is that it verifies for future sale what the configuration of the gun was when S&W shipped it, as well as who received it and when. Then there's no doubt as to whether target sights, etc. are original to the gun or were a later addition. The second best reason is that the bottom line bean counters at S&W need to see a positive cash flow from their investement in Roy Jinks services as Historian and keep on renewing his contract. If they stop that, letters & historical research will become just a memory ( except for a small portion if the archives being digitized by the SWHF) . Ed #15

tocohillsguy...I agree the TH and TT are most likely original since they are written on the bottom of the box.

Bill