Does anyone have access to the records of Harley & Graham, active as a S&W distributor in New York City ca. 1891? A recent letter from Mr. Jinks's office advises my New Model No. 3 Frontier was shipped to H&G in March of that year, and I would be happy to pay for any available info. regarding its subsequent consignee. Thanks for any help on this.

I will give this one a try. It is my understanding that there are no records available from any of the major S&W distributors, including Hartley & Graham. I see posts from quite a few SWCA members who have questioned the value of factory letters, since many end with a shipment that the gun was shipped to a distributor. Most are a dead end for research in most cases.

There was an article in THE GUN REPORT magazine a few years ago about some of the SH&G records. I don't remember much about the article, except that there was no earth shattering information. (Don't ask me which issue, and to make it worse it may have been MAN AT ARMS magazine)

Speaking of MAN AT ARMS, they did publish a book titled "Arming the West", which contains "Schuyler, Hartley & Graham's Arms Shipments to the American Frontier." Unfortunately for you it only covers the yeas 1868-1886. It's also a very poorly organized book, and although SOME serial numbers are listed, they are far and few between.

So, in answer to your question, "Yes", some SH&G records do exist. But the chances of being able to find your specific gun is slim to none, with slim having one foot on the train that's leaving town.

John Gross

found info on Graham and Hartley records. I see that there records are in the Harold McCracken Research Library. It says they can only be viewed by appointment.I believe they are in Chicago. Have you found out any more info on your research into Graham & Hartley ? I Have a .44 DA Frontier that left the Smith & Wesson Factory on July 1 , 1892 sent to Graham & Hartley.

Problem is that even if you found H&G shipping records, it's extremely unlikely they would show who the ultimate first purchaser was, as large distributors such as H&G would usually ship to other distributors, sporting goods stores, general stores, etc., all over the country. And back in those days, retail gun purchase was a cash and carry business with few, if any, records kept of retail customer names.