For those members of this Forum who do not belong to the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association, I suggest you consider joining. Information as to how to join can be found by clicking here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/swca-pu...info-swca.html

Not only are there other collectors there that you can share your interests with, you will get good direct access to Roy Jinks, the S&W Factory Historian.

He truly has our interests at heart, and for the time I’ve belonged to the Association, and seen his e-mail replies to the members, in nearly every case he closes his replies by saying "I Hope This Helps" and I think he’s sincere when he says that. I think I could even say he coined that phrase at the S&WCA. Thanks Roy!

Other benefits of being a member of the Association are receiving the S&WCA Journal published quarterly, and an opportunity to attend annual meetings as well.

It also gives us access to the new section on thie Forum called "SWCA – Private Members Area" and Roy posts replies there as well.

I will second this motion a million times. I quarantee everyone here has spent a lot more than the cost of the membership and gotten way less.

I will also add that now is the time to join the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. It costs a little more, but still a bargain compared to some we have made. An added side note on the impotance of the SWHF is, Roy aint gonna live forever and he WILL retire someday. If so the SWHF will be our ONLY link to the history of our hobby.

Joining the SWHF is a way to invest in the future, no better time than to do that now.

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Barry, youngest son of Claud

I think the sponsorship requirement is probably keeping quite a few on the sidelines. I would be interested but don't yet have a personal relationship with any of the members.

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"Give me Liberty..."

I have tried several times to join the SWCA,but for some strange reason my computer will not download the application.It keeps telling me the "file" is damaged and I need to download some other "reader" to see it.No matter what I try I cant seem to get past this.Can someone please help me with this problem? I want to be a member very badly and I think that my weak computer skills are keeping me from getting through.I type with one finger,it took me a year to figure out how to post a pic even with having the directions in front of me,well you get the picture..Thanks,Jeff

The application form is available via the SWCA website and you can access it by clicking here.

Smith & Wesson Collectors Association

If you have difficulty getting the form, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll send it to you.

What I have to do in many cases is to "save" the document on the computer, usually in "My Documents", then when I open it I have use something like Adobe Reader, by right clicking on the file.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

617fan (and others), you might be surprised to learn that the SWCA is not all that much of a closed, or secret, society. I believe the sponsorship requirement is just the association's way of keeping bad apples out, rather than an intentional effort at limiting membership. Most established members would probably feel comfortable sponsoring you after asking a few simple questions and talking with you a bit about membership and the association. You might contact a member who resides in your state and ask for his assistance.

I knew almost no one when I joined SWCA but have always been treated more than cordially.

M29since14, I too was thwarted by the "sponsership" requirement. I began filling out the form and stopped when I got to that point.

I am a member of the NRA, CRPA, and NACPA. However, I don't even know where to start on identifying a potential sponser to join SWCA. Do you have any specific advise?

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Roger

"I think the sponsorship requirement is probably keeping quite a few on the sidelines. I would be interested but don't yet have a personal relationship with any of the members."
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Exactly right! I would have joined long ago, but just didn't feel like begging somebody I don't know to sponsor me. I really do not understand the reason for needing a sponsor, but it I am sure the members have a good reason for the requirement.

I too am interested, but have not been able to get to know anyone on the board or locally who I feel comfortable asking to sponsor me.

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Kevin Cowherd
SWCA #2271

I would also join if I can get sponsorship.

Please count me among the orphaned & sponsorless SWCA Wannabes.
It does look like an association that I would enjoy & benefit from, and could contribute to.

Any SWCA Montanans out there that want to take a chance on me?

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Mitch
SWCA 2438

I tell you what. I am a probie member of the SWCA until Feb. as such I cannot sponsor anyone although there are several I would love to.

For those of you who are regular contributors whether by question or answer (I will keep track) if you havent found a sponsor by Feb. I will be happy to sign your paper.

I will say, it isnt that hard to find a sponsor. We dont expect anyone to beg, but we do expect to sponsor members we feel will contribute to the association. Unlike other groups, we dont ask for money with every mailing (or any mailing I have got for that matter), we just expect you to correspond in a matter such as you already do here.

You dont have to have an extensive collection, and you dont have to have the degree of knowledge that Doc44 or 29-1 has, you just have to have an interest in promoting and passing on the thrill of the hobby.

The whole premise of this forum and one of the main reasons the private SWCA forum was brought over is the desimination of information. Without that we will go the way of the Buffalo and will barely be remembered 2 or 3 generations from now.

I ride a Harley and collect S&W's, but I dont care if you ride a Vespa and collect H&R's, it is all about keeping the sport alive for those who follow.

God forbid it happening soon, but the Roy Jink's, the Chuck Odom's, Bill Cross' aint gonna live forever and we CANNOT let what they know go with them...THAT'S what the association is about and ultimately is what Lee was looking for when he took on the huge responsibilities of running this thing on his own dime.

So again...put out the call in your favorite board that you would like a sponsor (it aint begging)...you may be suprised at the responses you get of the people who will sign your letter...I was. It will be the best money you have spent in the gun world yet.

You know that when Mr. Jinks says it, he means it...

I would be pleased to assist any Maine or New Hampshire Forum Member who is willing to meet me for coffee and a chat. If we hit it off I'll submit my name as a sponsor.

"Hope This Helps...."

Drew

Can't a gun dealer you've known for a while vouch for you?
I think I saw that on the site.

.but what if I'm just not your type...?

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S&WHF 483 , S&WCA 1699

Posters above: ACP230 is correct. An FFL holder can make the recommendation for you, if need be. I would bet SWCA would consider a good-character recommendation from your local chief law enforcement officer too, though I have not seen this mentioned officially.

SWCA also publishes (in its journal) a few suggestions for interviewing potential new members. The questions are not rigorous. About any person with a serious interest in S&Ws will pass muster. I believe any member in good standing can do the interview and make the recommendation.

Finally, if all else fails, don't hesitate to submit an application lacking a sponsor. The association has a procedure for reviewing applications without sponsorship. It may take a while longer but it will be processed accordingly - not just set aside.

Yep, same boat for me. Retired LEO, I have lived within 2 inches of a S&W for 30 years, but need a sponsor to join????

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I must be "Your Type".... afterall Many, if you recall, YOU sponsored me....

Drew,

I want in bad and would love to meet you and buy you a coffee and have a chat. I live right near the south end of Sebago myself, so it should be easy to arrange. Please PM me when you can and let's get the ball rollin!

Thanks,

Terry

Over the years, I have received messages from Roy Jinks, asking me to contact a certain person in my area of the country, to examine their interest in joining the S&WCA. These are collectors who did not know a member or a gun dealer personally, who could sponser them, and had sent in their application to Roy with the note that they needed a sponser. Our membership rules have always allowed method of vetting prospective applicants. Ed.

If any SWCA members do not have access to the SWCA area of the board, drop me a PM.

I need-
REAL name
SWCA number.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

If you don't know a SWCA member personally, I would suggest that you scan these forum rooms for a poster in your area who has the SWCA badge in his ID line. I'd bet that a private message and phone number to that person will, in most cases, get you a courteous response.

I'll be happy to discuss the SWCA with anyone in the North Texas area who is interested in learning more. If you send me a PM with your phone number, I'll call you. One other option might work better for you; the next Dallas Market Hall Show is September 26-27 and I'll have a table there. If you stop by we can visit in person.

Bob

As a follow up to my earlier comment, I went to the member search and searched on my state (TN). I then looked through the members whose profile identified them as SWCA members. From that list (only two in my state), I looked at their profile and spent about 45 minutes reading through their posts to find out a little bit about them. I then contacted one of the members about sponsorship. He graciously agreed to talk to me tomorrow so we can get to know each other. So, like all of my experiences on this forum, members are eager to help other members. Hopefully I will find a sponsor and make a friend with mutual interests at the same time.

Just wanted to post my approach for others who would like to join SWCA with sponsorship. I know I could have my FFL vouch for me, but appreciate the personal connection of member sponsorship.

Thanks.

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Kevin Cowherd
SWCA #2271

Just a suggestion: There is a public area in the SWCA section. Go there and start a thread "Need a Sponsor" and everybody that does need a sponser make an entry, say what your interests are and where you live and such and I bet all sorts of people will want to sponsor you. There certainly no effort whatsoever to keep people out. You are wanted.

I was sponsored by a person on this board who had never met me in person, although we have since.

yet another huge +1

i too was sponsered by a member that did not know me...mike a.k.a.ladder13...a simple call...i mailed him my application,he signed...thats it!

This is for those of you who truly want to be a member of our wonderful organization please message me "DBWesson" or any of the members and lets get you started on the road to becoming a member of the S&WCA.
Title your E-mail "Membership".
Our S&WCA 2010 convention is in Tucson AZ this spring. It is closed to members only but if you sign up as a member you can get into S&W paradise. Just imagine a very large room full of Smith & Wessons for show,trade,and sale.
I don't understand why there are so many people that want to be members that are not members. I think this organization needs to grow and what better way to grow than to start with Smith & Wesson people on the Smith & Wesson Forum.
Larry

God forbid it happening soon, but the Roy Jink's, the Chuck Odom's, Bill Cross' aint gonna live forever and we CANNOT let what they know go with them...THAT'S what the association is about and ultimately is what Lee was looking for when he took on the huge responsibilities of running this thing on his own dime.

Curtis, thanks for the reminder...

PS, if anyone needs/wants sponsored into the SWCA, send me a note, letter, email, telephone call, telepathic communication, etc.. and I'll get you headed in the right direction.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!