The value of a letter...

Truckman said:

Lastly, and the biggest surprise of the three, I also bought in Tulsa another K-22 Outdoorsman...But when I saw it on the vendor's table I assumed that a previous owner had replaced the service stocks at some point with later Magnas...When I got them off I found they were of what I believe is the original Magna configuration, with machined steel washers sans the patent date...Also the back of the right panel is relieved for both the rearmost domed screwhead and one of the domed pins...The relief was done not with a drill bit as I've seen on some non-factory work, but with what I thing was a domed burr, and the reliefs are also dead center spaced...That was a good clue that it was factory work...The letter from Don confirms that the work was not only factory done but as originally ordered...

My guess is that the order for the guns with Magnas came at a time when the only guns ready to ship had service stocks, and were sent to the service department to be fitted with Magnas...That could also explain why the stocks were not numbered after fitting as the gun was to be shipped immediately...Whatever the situation, I am enormously pleased with the work of everyone at the S&WHF, and the valuable service they all perform...Below are pics of the gun, the stocks and the provenance received from Don today......Ben

Click to expand...

Truckman said:

I've seen much posted lately about whether or not a particular S&W should be lettered...Some see no value unless it's known whether a gun has some historical value...I am an advocate of lettering all guns, because they all have historical value in my view...A case in point arrived today...

I own an otherwise mundane 6" Model 28-2...It's all original including the numbered stocks...I'm in the process of lettering all my guns as funds become available, so today I received my letter on this one...To my surprise it letters as being ordered by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and likely to have found its way to the Rod & Gun Club at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska, where some USAF member was lucky enough to buy it and bring it home...From the date of shipment, it found its way into USAF hands just 5 months before I did myself!...

The letter was accompanied by copies of the original factory invoice, shipping record and shipping ledger entry...This formerly ordinary S&W today became a closer companion to me than before...Yes, SWHF letters all have value because history itself has value......Ben

Click to expand...

Truckman said:

After noting several posts lately inquiring whether a S&WHF Letter of Authenticity is "worth it", I received three more confirmations in today's mail from Don that the answer is a resounding "YES"!......The first is for a Combat Masterpiece which has been diligently awaiting its turn to rise to the top of the stack of requests on Don's desk...

I bought this one simply because I like .38 caliber K-frames...Although the PC Magnas it came to me wearing are not only not original, but not even the right era, the gun appealed to me and I kept it...Now I can see I'll have to dig into my wood pile and find something more appropriate, since unknown to me before today it served its purpose well for at least one Chicago Police officer...Below are the letter and invoice and shipping records before I move on to the next two...

Next is a gun I bought recently in Tulsa, a Model 27 no dash...Rather mundane with black sights and none of the other target features, but the 6" barrel length filled a hole in my accumulation...The letter below surprised me by noting the gun was ordered with several others by the US Air Force Exchange Service for further shipment to Clark Air Base in the Philippine Islands...This is the second gun I own ordered by the Air Force (from which I was honorably separated in 1969), the first being a common Highway Patrolman that shipped to Elmendorf AFB in Alaska...

Lastly, and the biggest surprise of the three, I also bought in Tulsa another K-22 Outdoorsman...But when I saw it on the vendor's table I assumed that a previous owner had replaced the service stocks at some point with later Magnas...When I got them off I found they were of what I believe is the original Magna configuration, with machined steel washers sans the patent date...Also the back of the right panel is relieved for both the rearmost domed screwhead and one of the domed pins...The relief was done not with a drill bit as I've seen on some non-factory work, but with what I thing was a domed burr, and the reliefs are also dead center spaced...That was a good clue that it was factory work...The letter from Don confirms that the work was not only factory done but as originally ordered...

My guess is that the order for the guns with Magnas came at a time when the only guns ready to ship had service stocks, and were sent to the service department to be fitted with Magnas...That could also explain why the stocks were not numbered after fitting as the gun was to be shipped immediately...Whatever the situation, I am enormously pleased with the work of everyone at the S&WHF, and the valuable service they all perform...Below are pics of the gun, the stocks and the provenance received from Don today......Ben

Click to expand...

Topduarte said:

What is the cost and time frame on letters?

Click to expand...

Retired W4 said:

I just mailed a letter request for a 28-2, SN: N 49768 that is marked G.S.P. on the left side above the trigger. I happen to know it went to the Georgia State Patrol but it needs the letter to go with it.

Click to expand...