Getting a letter…on a gun that’s already been lettered.

[Sgt 127]

I bought a gun, probably 15 years ago. The owner told me it had been lettered. But, I didn't get the letter from him and, I have lost contact.

Do I recall there was a way to get a letter on a gun that had previously been lettered? If copies are kept, it would be easier than starting from scratch.

I wouldn't even mind paying for it, just seriously cut down on time and energy.

Many thanks.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

It seems to me that the effort to find a copy is no more difficult than paying whatever fee is involved and getting a new letter. YMMV

 

[Doc44]

You should request a letter as if the gun had not been lettered previously. Copies of letters and not kept and the process of lettering it is the same as for an unlettered S&W.

Bill Cross

 

[jeffrefrig]

Not a bad question, and the answers make a lot of sense. Good info I (and possibly others) can use sometime!

 

[Sgt 127]

Thanks all.

 

[Truckman]

Another benefit of a new letter could be that additional information has come to light in the records that might not have been available in previous letters......Ben

 

[rct269]

Another benefit of a new letter could be that additional information has come to light in the records that might not have been available in previous letters......Ben

I'm inclined to doubt that (as respects letters per se)---BUT information heretofore inaccessible might very well now be available through an SWHF search. I haven't been all that successful with SWHF searches----in terms of sheer numbers of guns, but those that were successful turned up veritable gold mines--------almost without exception.

One of the very best such gold mines pre-dates SWHF, but makes for a good story: A gentleman received what I'll call a plain vanilla letter on a Registered Magnum in the mid 1980's. He responded by fussing about it, and sent along a check for $15 to cover additional research. He got the additional research (comparable to what you'd get today on an RM from an SWHF search)----and Roy returned the check---and I got it with the gun---and the revised letter---and all that good stuff. Of course I couldn't cash the check---Bummer!!

Squeaky wheels get the grease!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Doc44]

Records from 1946 and later only consist of invoices as all correspondence was destroyed. Since the invoice is checked when lettering a firearm, it is unlikely new information will surface on a post-war S&W.

Bill

 

[mrcvs]

I bought a gun, probably 15 years ago. The owner told me it had been lettered. But, I didn't get the letter from him and, I have lost contact.

Do I recall there was a way to get a letter on a gun that had previously been lettered? If copies are kept, it would be easier than starting from scratch.

I wouldn't even mind paying for it, just seriously cut down on time and energy.

Many thanks.

A new letter would be necessary as I believe letters are only kept by The Historian approximately one year after issuance.

 

[JSR III]

I disagree with the fact that no new information would be contained in a newer letter.

For my area of interest, the .22/32 HFT's, the original count that went to Bekeart that was used in books and letters was 292. As a result of a more recent tally that number was changed to 294. It has also been reported that 5,000 had an assembly order imprint number stamped into the left stock bottom. That number has since been corrected to about 3,000 and according to my database, no number higher than 2,582 has yet to be observed so the lower figure seems more accurate.

So information does change and since you are paying the same price, I would rather have current information and the letter made out to me and not someone from 15 years ago, assuming that you only get a copy and not a revised 15 year old letter.

 

[kwill1911]

Another example: the starting serial number of Model 41 pistols has moved around with some sources saying 1401, others say 3001. I have seen guns below 3000 so I'm not sure where the actual start point is.