The Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation was founded in 2007 by Ray and Sheryl Cheely with the major mission of preserving the paper historical records of S&W that are housed at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts. Preservation of these records is critical to the collecting of S&W firearms as many of these records are used to create factory letters. It was decided to digitize and index these records in order to preserve them and also to make them "searchable" via computer. The period 1935-1941 was chosen as a place to start since Roy Jinks was quite familiar with the content of these records and they also cover the period of the introduction of the ".357" Registered Magnum that has become very popular with collectors.

I am happy to say the digitizing and indexing of the approximately 60,000 records in this period are now complete. The process took over eight months and cost approximately $217,000.

The S&W Historical Foundation is now accepting requests for letters for S&W firearms shipped during the period, 1935-1941. Go to our website at swhf to find out the process and cost. You can also learn more about our foundation and see examples of records that have been digitized.

If we research your firearm and do not find any records, there is no charge.

In addition, we are in the process of the raising the funds to digitize and index the records in the next period, namely, 1930-1934. The estimate to complete this five year period is approximately $220,000, so we need your help in raising this money. The website also tells you how to become a member of the S&WHF, or how to make a tax deductible donation as the S&WHF is a charity under section 501(c)(3).

The successful digitizing and indexing of the records of S&W will ensure they are available to current and future generations of collectors of S&W firearms.

Thank you for your interest and support.

Bill Cross
Chairman, S&WHF

Bill,

What is the normal turn around for a serial number search? Also what sort of communications should we expect?

Thanks

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SWCA 1646

The normal turn around time is a couple of weeks. I am not sure what you mean by communication, but once we research your revolver we will contact you by phone or email and tell you what we found (if anything) and what the cost of the letter is. Once you decide, the letter is done within a day or two and mailed. You send a check payable to the SWHF for the amount indicated. If you have additional questions, please let me know.

We have had very good results researching Registered Magnums (using the registration number, not the serial number), but our success on other models has been less satisfactory. However, we will search our database using as many parameters as possible.

Bill

Bill,

Are requests for 1930-1934 ship dates being accepted yet? I have a Factory Letter from Roy on M&P Target s/n 633616 that was a single unit order shipped to Western Cartridge in East Alton, Illinois on September 19, 1931.

Even though there are no inscriptions, the timeframe corresponds with the successful acquisition of Winchester Repeating Arms and I (want to) believe it was presented to someone instrumental in that endeavor.

I'm hopeful there is correspondence that may provide some insight into the special ordered ivory bead on the Patridge front sight and the lanyard ring that was obviously added to a finished gun.

Thank you,

Russ Lindenlaub
SWCA #853
SWHF #234

Any members out there who haven't availed themselves of this wonderful SWHF document service are missing a lot.
To actually hold information in your hand, and realize that it was processed 75 years ago, is a real thrill.
Bill Cross and Sheryl Cheely are performing a service that really 'fleshes out' those S&W's from the 1930's.
I just received several documents pertaining to the order, specs and shipment of a Registered Magnum, and I'm delighted with the results.
Join the SWHF.
Use this fine service.
You'll be glad on both counts.
Don Warner
# 1702
SWHF # 206

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OGCA Life
NRA Life

Excellent. I have no S&Ws from that era, but I'm looking forward to when records from the '50s will be available.

I have only one RM, #634, and I know it has had the barrel cut and is refinished. I love shooting the gun since it is incredibly accurate and silky smooth. Would you invest in additional documentation from SWHF, on a gun that is not factory original?



Terry
tjpopkin@mac.com

Terry...The documents won't tell you much more (if anything) about your RM, but you will have a copy of the invoice, order form, etc. Also, when was the gun returned for shortening of the barrel? If the date is in our database, I could search for those records. I will also need the s/n of the revolver.

Bill

i too eagerly await when records from the 1950's become available...

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

kennyb...Post-war records are invoices only as the correspondence has been destroyed. I was hoping for more, but that is what Roy Jinks told me and later showed me when I visited him a couple of years ago.

I am not sure what the status of post-war repair records is. That may be a separate project altogether, assuming the records can be digitized and indexed.

Bill

Is there any estimate on when the records for shipments made during and immediately after World War I (e.g., June, 1919) will be digitized?

Douglas Johnson
S&WHF member no. 365

Douglas...The records at the museum only go back to 1920. I am not sure where the earlier records are, or if any exist.

Bill

I have a 1938 S&W 38/44HD that was shipped from Wolf & Klar in 1938. Would a letter request identify who the revolver was sent to from W&K?

No, it would only state where S&W shipped the revolver.

Bill Cross

Model 10, shipped in 1961, letter'd as 'The invoice does not list any nickel revolvers' but there are two 'N' stamps; one on the grip frame & the other underneath the barrel near cylinder crane. Thoughts & would it be worth sending pics of 'N's for perhaps a letter correction? (I don't have a pic of the stamp underneath the bbl)

Attached Images

20728360_674812226051741_8038784922222119660_n.jpg (79.9 KB, 83 views)

Sodapop69...given an N is stamped in the correct locations, a second look at the invoice might be warranted. I would give it a shot.

Bill

Doc44, here are the pics of the N stamps (now I have found 3). Your opinions? I've had others tell me the N stamp doesn't necessarily mean the revolver was/is factory nickel'd, told it most likley an inspector mark because of who it shipped to & the contents of the letter. Thank you.

Attached Images

	1. barrel flat N.jpg (44.7 KB, 79 views)
	2. cylinder N.jpg (64.6 KB, 82 views)
	3. butt frame N.jpg (71.4 KB, 87 views)

The N stamps indicate a nickel finish. They are not marks of an inspector or someone who assembled your revolver.

Bill

Hello,
I am a little confused to what it said about this Magnum packer features. The letter didn't say any thing about the unfluted cylinder or the engraving of the bear. Just by chance could they have been a mistake on the research? Quad Port is correct, Satin finish does not appear to be satin, More of a brushed stainless steel. Combat rubber grips correct.
Thanks for any help

Attached Images

IMG_7986.jpg (105.8 KB, 68 views)

Bill,

I recently acquired a 44 Hand Ejector Second Model Target that was lettered in November 1979 as shipping March 30, 1922.
The letter stated that further information was not available and it could not be documented as a target model.

Are there any documents available as a member of the SWHF that could provide more information on this Hand Ejector?

Thanks,

Tom Davidowski

Tom...Send me a PM with the serial number and where the revolver shipped. I can search our digitized records that go back to 1920.

Bill

Hey Bill,

Is there a place I can point people to that explains the years covered by a SWHF Membership + a Letter?

I'm going to quote a fine gentleman who said it better then I can, in a letter that I received from the SWHF upon researching a gun of mine;

"For, since becoming a convert myself, it is only natural that I preach the gospel of Smith & Wesson (Historical Foundation) to all handgun fans I meet."



Additionally. I have a gun that had some service work done in 1943 and I would very much like to know who sent it in for the re-finish. Years ago I was told that the records should be in a museum in Springfield.

If that is correct, does that mean that the records may be available through the SWHF?

The records may be available, but there are not many, I would have to research the serial number to find out.

Bill

What years are covered now by the S&WHF?

1920 to mid-1966 at present. We are just about to complete the records up through December 1967.

Bill

Bill,
I emailed some info a few weeks ago on my Registered Magnum and have yet to hear back. I am not pushing on it, but I just want to make sure that I did my request correctly.

Thanks,
Bruce

Bruce...I sent you a private message about your request.

Bill

Thanks Bill.

Bill: I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up better but is there any hope of getting records through the Triple Lock years? Mine most recent on was a late bloomer leaving the nest in 1917. Thanks
Randy

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Randy...The records at the Museum of Springfield History only go back to 1920 and I don't know if the records prior to that time can be digitized and indexed or not. The S&WHF is finishing up the invoices for the period, mid-1966 to the end of 1967, and will investigate what records (if any) can be digitized and indexed after that.

Bill