Factory letter question

[Mediumbore]

So I have a revolver whose barrel length does not match my factory letter. It’s a nickeled 19 and when I tell you there are no marks suggesting a, I mean not ONE. The color and sheen match, the matted finish on either side of the barrel rib is consistent from the barrel to the frame. The grooves in the topstrap mate up with the ones on the barrel. If it was sent back to the factory after its 1971 ship date, would those records be included in the factory letter or would that require an additional inquiry? If so, to whom. This gun is a real puzzle…..

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I have two "first" thoughts.

Your .357 went back to the factory. Look under the left stock and see if there is a three or four digit stamp near the butt (i.e., 376 or 1178, which would mean factory work in March 1976 or November 1978, for example).

The record used to create your letter was in error (not likely).

I doubt there are factory records available for 1971.

 

[Model19man]

I have two "first" thoughts.

I doubt there are factory records available for 1971.

There are plenty of factory records for S&W revolvers in the 1970's. Roy Jinks still signs the letters too when Don doesn't.

 

[22hipower]

What barrel length is it now and what length does the letter say? As suggested above, check for a service date. No, service work done after the initial shipment would not usually be noted in a letter.

The letter could be in error. If there is no service date or other indication of rework I think I'd ask the letter information to be checked. One of the benefits of being a SWCA member is that you can ask Dr. Jinks questions and he does reply. If you're a S&W fan you probably should be a SWCA member anyway.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Doc44]

Factory invoices (including those from the 1970s) are used to verify the configuration of a S&W firearm (barrel length, finish, special features, etc.) that is included in the letter of authenticity. Factory service records are very rare and do not exist for the vast majority of S&W firearms. Even if a record exists, without knowing the exact date of the work and who it was done for, the likelihood of finding it is extremely small.

I sent several S&W firearms back to the factory in the 1970s for a change of finish and installation of a different length of barrel, and none of them had any markings to indicate the work had been done.

Bill Cross
Chairman, Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

 

[Mediumbore]

The barrel is 3” instead of the listed 2.5” in the letter. The box agrees with the letter. I have showed the gun to several persons who have some experience with older Smiths (not experts) who say the work is some of the best they’ve seen, very true to the original factory. The gun was originally factory nickle but there are none of the signs of a refinish and the barrel blends so well with the rest of the gun.

 

[schutz5]

Ask Roy or Don!

 

[toddimusnimski]

The barrel is 3” instead of the listed 2.5” in the letter. The box agrees with the letter. I have showed the gun to several persons who have some experience with older Smiths (not experts) who say the work is some of the best they’ve seen, very true to the original factory. The gun was originally factory nickle but there are none of the signs of a refinish and the barrel blends so well with the rest of the gun.

That sounds like a great setup. Can you post a few pics?

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

The barrel is 3” instead of the listed 2.5” in the letter. The box agrees with the letter.
.

I’m thinking your ruler is wrong.

Pictures are helpful.

 

[22hipower]

If the box agrees with the letter then the invoice/shipping docs are almost certainly going to match what it says on the box. And I think that's all Don or Roy are going to have to check anyway. If it were mine, and the barrel is truly 3 inches, I'd have to conclude someone added it after it left the factory. As others said, we'd love to see pictures.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[AC Man]

I don't mean to insult you, but I assume you are measuring from the forcing cone to the end of the barrel?

 

[glenwolde]

I don't mean to insult you, but I assume you are measuring from the forcing cone to the end of the barrel?

I think a measuring error would cause one to come up with a shorter length, not a longer one.

 

[Mediumbore]

Didn’t mean to leave y’all in the lurch. I’m gonna send a few additional pics off to Don who has graciously agreed to dig a bit. Work has me a bit swamped but I’ll try and get a few pics up today or tomorrow.