The S&WHF provides two services in support of the collecting of S&W firearms, namely, letters of authenticity authored by Roy Jinks or Don Mundell and documents that add to the provenance of a S&W firearm(see examples below). The search for documents can only be done after a firearm has been lettered as information supplied in the letter is essential to searching the records of S&W for documents. Firearms dating from 1920-1967 can be researched for documents, whereas, all S&W firearms can be lettered. The limitation of 1920-1967 results from the fact the paper records of S&W from only this timeframe were digitized and indexed by the Foundation. No other records were available. Records prior to World War II consist of orders, correspondence, invoices, and miscellaneous documents, but post WW II records only consist of invoices and in some cases, serial number lists. All correspondence was destroyed.

The cost of a letter of authenticity is $100 with discounts allowed for members of the S&W Collectors Association and S&W Historical Foundation. The wait time for a letter depends on the type of firearm being lettered, but can be as short as a few weeks to as long as six months or more.

The cost of a search for documents is $25 and $10 per page for the documents supplied. If a Foundation Letter (see generic example below) accompanies the documents (as is the case for many Registered Magnums), the cost of the letter is $60, but $45 for a member of the Foundation.

There is no charge if no documents are found.

Documents concerning repair and refinish of S&W firearms do exist, but only for a very few firearms. I have found some records for collectors, but most of time I do not find anything.

I hope this answers most of your questions about the services provided by the S&WHF. If not, please post your questions below and I will answer them.

Bill Cross
Chairman, Board of Trustees, S&WHF

We that request letters and such sincerely appreciate what you are doing.

I learned an important issue from one I got. You guys are doing the best that you can possibly do considering.

I questioned several blatantly inaccurate issues in that particular letter but Roy explained it perfectly. He explained what you were working with record wise. I’m very happy with the letter because it did prove it was a very limited factory offering.

I think more people should see the last email reply I got so I’ll attach it. (Sorry for the terrible redaction attempt.) I really appreciated all the personal timely responses and explanations. Kinda like when you used to just call Roy and actually talk to him but not being so nervous. At least for me.

Thanks again.

Jim

Attached Images

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Jim, it's usually a spin of the roulette wheel what we'll turn up. And as Roy aptly mentioned, the records were kept for their day-to-day business operations, and nobody gave a wit about what collectors would want 50 or 100 (or 150) years down the road.

That's not a criticism of Smith & Wesson; just an acknowledgement of reality for this, and many other large companies.

That said, we do turn up some gems sometimes.

Mike

So no records after 1967? Have a gun that I know went back to the factory in 1974.
Thanks for any help.

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David Reynolds

ATF required that all records post 1967 be retained at factory.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135