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Old 02-12-2017, 01:23 PM
chadk7 chadk7 is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Default Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?

I purchased a model 1076 a few years ago and was wondering if it is worth getting a letter for it? Will it add value to the gun? I called Smith and Wesson after I purchased it and they said that it was shipped to the FBI in 1991 if I remember correctly. The gun has a pretty low TEU serial number. I am just trying to figure out if it is worth spending $75 on the letter. Thanks in advance.
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Old 02-12-2017, 01:38 PM
chadk7 chadk7 is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Old 02-12-2017, 01:48 PM
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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I'm no expert at all on S&W semiautos. The letter might not tell you anything more than your conversation with the factory, but you would have the facts in writing. I don't know if the letter would add $75 to the value of the pistol. I'm a 10mm fan and would like to have a S&W in that caliber, but I wouldn't pay $75 more for documentation that it's an FBI gun.
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Old 02-12-2017, 01:57 PM
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murphydog murphydog is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Welcome! I can think of two good reasons for a letter of authenticity; for confirmation it was shipped to the FBI (which does add value to it should you ever need to sell it) and curiosity. Those are the two standard reasons for just about everyone, along with confirming a rare barrel length, finish or other configuration. Enjoy that 1076!
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Old 02-12-2017, 02:13 PM
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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I'm with Murphydog on this one. Typically I don't care that much if I have a letter or not. They are really nice to have, especially if the gun has high desirability (like your 1076). So yes, go ahead and get it lettered. The three letters I have are for one of the very first Pre Md 39s and for two 3.5 inch Pre Md 27s. The rest of my collection is just going to have to be deprived and not have letters. Now that I'm thinking about it, there is one other gun I might spend the $75 for a letter. It is an un-ired 5 inch, nickel Md 10 marked Detroit Police.
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Old 02-12-2017, 05:21 PM
TTSH TTSH is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Let's face it: Letters are starting to get kind of expensive... and do you really need one when you already know everything that's likely to be said in the letter? There are at least a dozen 1076 letters posted on the Interwebs (many from this forum, of course) that I could find without even trying hard and I believe you already know 100% of the information contained in them

So if you plan to keep the gun, I'd say "no"... not worth it.

But if you plan to sell it on that large firearms auction site or similar, I'd have to say "yes" because a quick review of the completed auctions, there and elsewhere, shows that a letter *does", in fact, add value and very likely a lot more than $75.00.
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Old 02-12-2017, 05:31 PM
AlHunt AlHunt is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Letters aren't going to get any cheaper. I would probably letter it while the original S&W Historian, Roy Jinks, is still signing them.
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Old 02-12-2017, 06:12 PM
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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If the gun was indeed shipped to the FBI, it will bring more than $75 in premium when sold. For any good reason? Probably not, but that's the way the collector market is.
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Old 02-12-2017, 07:10 PM
chadk7 chadk7 is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like it would be worth the money to get lettered. I don't know if I will sell it but if I do it would be a nice to have the letter to go with it.

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Old 02-12-2017, 07:22 PM
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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I have read here many times.. "buy the gun..not the story"..which I subscribe too. With that said though I'm not a collector but understand why that would matter to someone that is
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Old 02-12-2017, 08:06 PM
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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I'd get a letter. This one will letter as one of the original batch that went to Quantico for testing of the 1076 with the FBI. I don't think it will tell you anything different than that, but you never know. This is a low TEU number which is kind of cool to see. If you have some time check out the FBI 1076 thread in the "notable thread sticky" on the top of the semi-auto section.
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Old 02-13-2017, 02:03 AM
HOUSTON RICK HOUSTON RICK is offline
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Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun? Should I get a letter of authenticity for this gun?  
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It will not hurt to get the letter.
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