|
|
04-03-2019, 05:56 AM
|
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Marshall, MI
Posts: 512
Likes: 778
Liked 961 Times in 267 Posts
|
|
Fill me in on letters please...
Can anybody tell me what the difference is between a "Factory" letter and a "History" letter?
Also what is the turn around time? I mailed in my letter request on March 5th and have not heard anything.
Will a factory letter tell me what countries its been through or is that something for the history letter?
|
04-03-2019, 07:11 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bootheel of Missouri
Posts: 16,853
Likes: 6,981
Liked 28,083 Times in 8,897 Posts
|
|
Yours oughta show up any day now. If it's available in the records, you'll learn the date it shipped, where it shipped, what the original invoice price was, maybe how many other like pistols were in the shipment, and the original configuration within which it was shipped. There will also be some background information about the history of that particular model.
My understanding of the historical foundation records is that additional information may be available for the years contained in the records that they have organized, but you need the factory letter first so they can tell if it's available. Others will be along with more specific information about the latter search.
As for your question about which countries it's been through, that many times can be discerned by the various proof marks stamped on the pistol. Throw that question and a good description out on the correct subforum, with good clear pictures, and you might have an answer pretty quickly . . .
__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .
Last edited by Muss Muggins; 04-03-2019 at 07:16 AM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-03-2019, 08:24 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,316
Liked 30,337 Times in 4,353 Posts
|
|
A factory or letter of authenticity will tell you when and where your S&W firearm was shipped from the factory (nothing beyond that) and what the original configuration of your firearm was (barrel length, finish, stocks, etc.). A foundation or history letter is used to transmit copies of documents associated with your firearm. The number and type of documents available from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation varies depending on the age and model of your firearm. For example, a Registered .357 Magnum shipped in the mid to late 1930s will usually have three to five documents available, whereas, a "modern" revolver shipped in the 50s or 60s will only have the invoice. You never know what is available until a search is performed. The records digitized and indexed by the S&WHF cover the years 1920 to mid-1966.
Bill Cross
S&WHF
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-03-2019, 08:50 AM
|
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Marshall, MI
Posts: 512
Likes: 778
Liked 961 Times in 267 Posts
|
|
Thank you guys, that clears things up for me. I'll keep my eyes open for the mail and try to figure out the proof marks.
|
04-03-2019, 09:30 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 26,782
Likes: 936
Liked 18,873 Times in 9,241 Posts
|
|
A recent post from one of the SWHF Historians states the current wait time for a letter is 8 weeks. Posting photos of the proof marks here will probably get you an answer regarding their origin.
__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-06-2019, 12:49 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: VA & SoFL
Posts: 8,643
Likes: 469
Liked 5,692 Times in 3,185 Posts
|
|
Daniel, I just got one after five weeks. Very good turn time. I check to see if the check cleared. Im in South Florida, and USPS is notoriously slow.
__________________
Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
04-06-2019, 10:57 PM
|
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Marshall, MI
Posts: 512
Likes: 778
Liked 961 Times in 267 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmborkovic
Daniel, I just got one after five weeks. Very good turn time. I check to see if the check cleared. Im in South Florida, and USPS is notoriously slow.
|
Been four weeks and the check cleared so won't be long.
|
04-09-2019, 04:35 PM
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 527
Likes: 60
Liked 585 Times in 175 Posts
|
|
Letters of Authenticity (old factory letter) take from 8-12 weeks normally. Historical Letters normally take 2-5 weeks as the volume for these is much less.
__________________
SWHF
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
04-25-2019, 07:11 AM
|
|
US Veteran Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Marshall, MI
Posts: 512
Likes: 778
Liked 961 Times in 267 Posts
|
|
On March 5th I mailed in two requests. On April 17th I got them both. So 5 weeks? Not bad
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|