I'm just saying. If you have a S&W variation that's hard to find (S.W. K32 Masterpiece ;kind of a scarce variation) and in really good condition, Is it worth going through the expense of sending for a letter. I'm not even sure what's in the letter. When you start sheading your collection, do people really care if it has a letter?
Any information is appreciated,
Joe

If you have a rare/scarce variation in very high condition I definitely like to have a letter with the purchase of a gun. It can add to the value and puts a buyers concerns to rest.

The top of the letter is just a synopsis of the model's history.

This letter is not for a rare gun. I just wanted o confirm the factory butt swivel.

Attached Images

10 letter 001.jpg (102.5 KB, 53 views)

It may or it may not. The letter will contain a history of the particular firearm type, the configuration it was shipped in (finish, stocks, barrel length, sights, etc), and to where the gun was shipped and when it was shipped. Since most guns are shipped to a distributor, that information may not be pertinent. Not many actually will reveal an individual to whom it was shipped. If the gun is a "scarce" model, usually a letter to show it is still in the original configuration will increase the value enough to cover the expense of the letter.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

It's a matter of preference. If it has some special feature (such as an unusual barrel length), the letter will establish whether or not it left the factory that way if there is any concern in that regard. What kind of scarce variation are you referring to?

Here is a helpful hint, English, when applying for a factory letter. If YOU have questions about the gun be sure to ask Roy Jinks. He will include that information if he has access to it. Don't hesitate to ask in the remarks section.

Your comments are appreciated. From what I gather, It's really not necessary to have a letter (Just another added expense on information that most people already know)
Joe

If you have a $3,000 Gun what is $50? If you ever decide to sell the Gun you WILL get your money back and probably more.

english, You're missing the boat, big time. Look at the reason for a factory letter, whether it's from S&W, Colt, Winchester, Sharps, etc. The letter establish authenticity, or lack of it., which easily translates to value added for the gun. It's a birth certificate for the gun. Yes, there are a few models of S&W that a letter will not add significant info. that isn't known to an advanced collector, such as small frame top breaks that were shipped by the millions to a distributor. Even then, if that gun has an unusual feature, only the letter can verify it. Look at the sales inventory of any dealer in rare S&Ws - there will be a factory letter with almost every gun to authenticate the gun. Plus, thank your lucky stars that $50 factory letters are still available from S&W. Most other gun makers ( Colt, Marlin, Winchester, etc.) will cost several hundred dollars . Ed.

The use of the term "Authenticity" in regard to factory letters has always puzzled me. Virtually every handgun marked as being made by S&W will be authentic, insofar as it was shipped from the S&W factory, and is an authentic S&W product. It seems that the term authenticity actually means official verification that the gun you have in hand originally left the factory in its current form (barrel length, finish, sights, etc.) according to information in factory records - or that it didn't.

Here is the defination of authenticity:

Authenticity concerns the truthfulness of origins, attributes, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions.

Notice that is says attributes meaning that the features on the Gun now(sights,stocks,barrel length) are as it shipped from the Factory making the Gun authentic.

I recently acquired an early 4 screw 38 HE, target 5". from what I am told a rare bird. I posted here to identify the gun before I bought it. The debate and conversation that the post generated was very interesting.
This will be the first Smith I letter. I want to know ship date, where it was shipped to, etc. I want to know this gun.
The current trend of using Smiths as an investment has its merits, but I think too many people get caught up with costs, return on investment etc. I love a good deal as much as anybody. But, for some of us the value is the gun, not the profit or cost.

Most guns do not make good investments for a number of reasons. About the best you can hope for is that in the long run, value will increase proportionately with inflation. But that's also true for many other collectibles, and maybe to a greater extent. Obviously there are exceptions. And you'd better hope that you don't wake up some morning to find that all your guns are now considered contraband and must be turned in for destruction.

After seeing several pictures of a rare gun, would the letter be the clincher?I collect German military pistols and capture papers add around 20% to the value,and some people only add those types of pistols to their collection. If you're part of an auction, would you expect to pay more for a letter and do high end collectors "expect" letters? Do high end guns and letters go along with the territory. If that's the case, then I guess I should have one!
Joe

Yes,High end Guns and letters go hand in hand.When you have a nice Gun with high quality pictures and a letter that proves the Gun is 100% as it shipped you will get top dollar.When I am looking for a Gun and it has a Letter I automatically add $50 to the value I place on it.There are certain Guns that I will not buy without a letter,Like a Two Tone Pinto,Rare Barrel length,etc.I want to buy right the first time as I don't have Thousand's of dollars to roll the dice.As You have read some Members do.....

Hmmmmm......it already occurred to me that to get a letter on all of my S&W handguns I could buy one or two new ones, definitely more than one if I don't go to the top dollar guns. I guess I'll select just a few unusual ones to get letters for - even then, it's going to cost me a few hundred dollars. Ain't no rush, I guess......

***GRJ***

PS:

I won't get political or I'll get dinged, or worse, but lettering our guns is the last thing we'll be concerned about if anyone even thinks about making the foregoing happen. I'll leave it at that.

IMHO a Factory letter only makes sense for a VERY RARE gun, a one of a kind, or historically important one or a gun belonging to a historical figure. For the run of the mill revolvers most of us collect it is pretty much just window dressing to a potential buyer. If you own a $50,000 gun that is to be auctioned off at Sotheby's or Christies then yes a factory letter is the way to go.

chief38, Shouldn't that say …if you own a $5,000 gun…then, yes, a factory letter is the way to go. ? If you're looking at, and considering the purchase, or bidding on, an engraved Chiefs Special , wouldn't you feel more comfortable that a factory letter says it left the factory engraved than no factory letter. leaving you to wonder whether you might become the owner of a gun that might not be a factory product? Ed.

I just heard a worthy reply to this very topic the other day.

"If they plan on coming to take away my guns, tell them to pack a lunch"

I think that this sums up most of our collective thoughts on that subject....

__________________
James Redfield
LM #497

The importance of a letter cuts both ways. You might learn something about a gun that turns out to be bad news. At least you would know the truth.

If a factory letter is not present with the gun at the time it is put up for sale the long wait for the letter puts the buyer in a position of taking a chance on the originality. The more expensive the gun, the bigger the gamble. That's why my first comment spoke to "rare/scarce variation in very high condition".