When a fellow is purchasing an old Winchester, for a fee he can get the factory info by fax or phone within 24 hours. Is there anything like that for S&W's? I know about the letter method, but I'm wondering if there's any faster way.
How to get quick factory info on old S&W's
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When a fellow is purchasing an old Winchester, for a fee he can get the factory info by fax or phone within 24 hours. Is there anything like that for S&W's? I know about the letter method, but I'm wondering if there's any faster way.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
No.
Unless maybe you are friends with Roy Jinks and he feels like helping you out. But for the rest of us peons... no.
Unless maybe you are friends with Roy Jinks and he feels like helping you out. But for the rest of us peons... no.
You can get the shipping date by calling S&W at 1-800-331-0852.
Full history information on a S&W pistol can only be obtained through a History Letter.
Full history information on a S&W pistol can only be obtained through a History Letter.
Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I called that number a few weeks ago and got... let's see, what info did I get about the shipping date?
Oh yeah, that's right... they told me NOTHING!!!!
Well, that's not true. They told me to send $30 to Roy if I wanted the shipping date.
Oh yeah, that's right... they told me NOTHING!!!!
Well, that's not true. They told me to send $30 to Roy if I wanted the shipping date.
Generally, that is not correct. The service/parts department may, or may
not, have some information on recently-shipped guns, meaning within the
past year or so. I don't know that they will dispense the shippping date.
They may elaborate on the model, given the serial number.
The historian is the only one who has access to all the data, and indeed,
letters cost $30 - or maybe more. There is no telephone/credit card
facility.
If you are a member of the S&WCA, and if you post a question about shipping
date on the S&WCA forum, Roy will generally respond with the month and year
of the shipping.
Later, Mike Priwer
not, have some information on recently-shipped guns, meaning within the
past year or so. I don't know that they will dispense the shippping date.
They may elaborate on the model, given the serial number.
The historian is the only one who has access to all the data, and indeed,
letters cost $30 - or maybe more. There is no telephone/credit card
facility.
If you are a member of the S&WCA, and if you post a question about shipping
date on the S&WCA forum, Roy will generally respond with the month and year
of the shipping.
Later, Mike Priwer
G
Guest
Guest
The factory did not to computerize s/n info until around 1981/82 when they went to the new 3Alpha4Numeric serial number system. If you have a post 1982 gun (they never went back and computerized the earlier info), and if you call and get the right Customer Service person, they will generally give you the month and year it shipped. If you talk nice and engage them in conversation (how's the weather out there, what's happening in Springfield, etc.), they might tell you what distributor it shipped to. Just human nature, they are generally helpful if you work them up to the question.
The internal CS folks have engineering change charts and some have the same generalized serial number charts that have been published, so they can give you a rough estimate if they feel inclined to do so.
For earlier guns, Roy or the SWCA forum is the only other option.
The internal CS folks have engineering change charts and some have the same generalized serial number charts that have been published, so they can give you a rough estimate if they feel inclined to do so.
For earlier guns, Roy or the SWCA forum is the only other option.
Thanks for this info. I do hope that all the historical archives are being backed up electronically. One easy thing that could be done is that, every time a factory letter is typed up on the computer, the letter is electronically archived by Model, type and serial number, or some similar electronic filing system.
I've called S&W on many occasions and gotten shipping dates for post war guns from the staff, and been transferred to Mr. Jinks for earlier guns and gotten the shipping date from him over the phone.
Maybe you guys just don't give good "phone."
Maybe you guys just don't give good "phone."
S&W10mm
Member
I've called S&W 100's of times wanting shipping or production info and NEVER had a problem. They were always helpful and gave me the info i was needing. BUT! That was on guns made since the 1960's. I NEVER tried anything older.
And for $60, I'd advise you to join the SWCA! They will help with any info. The best $60 you could ever spend if your a serious S&W Collector or Shooter!
And Mr. jinks is a VERY busy man. If you need, I have called S&W and asked for him DIRECT and got straight through, if you can catch him in! He travels the world doing PR work for S&W besides doing Gun Data!
And for $60, I'd advise you to join the SWCA! They will help with any info. The best $60 you could ever spend if your a serious S&W Collector or Shooter!
And Mr. jinks is a VERY busy man. If you need, I have called S&W and asked for him DIRECT and got straight through, if you can catch him in! He travels the world doing PR work for S&W besides doing Gun Data!
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