Important...Moratorium on Requests for Factory Letters

[Doc44]

As many of you know, the waiting time for a letter of authenticity is sixteen or more weeks. Roy Jinks and I have discussed the backlog and have agreed the best way to reduce it is to initiate a moratorium on letter requests. Beginning on Monday, September 27, any request for a letter of authenticity postmarked on or after this date will be returned for resubmission at a later date. Requests for a letter of authenticity will be accepted again on Monday, January 24, 2022. Also, beginning on January 24, only one request per week will be accepted.

In the next few days, access to the request form for a letter of authenticity will be removed from the S&W Forum, and the S&WCA and S&WHF websites.

I realize this action is an inconvenience for collectors, but it is necessary to allow the Historical Foundation to eliminate the backlog and better serve everyone in the long run.

Bill Cross
Chairman, S&WHF

 

[RKmesa]

Makes sense to me. Thanks Bill.

 

[cmansguns]

Long overdue

I love the Factory Letters..and I have always been amazed that I could order 3 at a time, and all responses were decent info and timely generated by Roy.

I believe a "breather" for Roy and associates who assist is long, long overdue and salute the Board for setting this moratorium.

A special thank you shout out to Roy, Don, Bill and you folks that research and do the documentation backup that locks the guns requested into their proper place in history, even if it went to a hardware store....like Paul Harvey said " Now we know the rest of the story"...and because of you folks.."so will future caretakers of these factory lettered guns".

Thanks for all you do, and enjoy the "catchup time out".

 

[Targets Guy]

Makes sense to me.

 

[houdy]

Bummer

I have hem hawd for years on filing a letter. Have had this 38 for 62 years . Trigger is better than my model 41 , has a wide trigger and wide hammer also a stamped star at end of serial number. Bought at a pawn shop Tampa Fla . 1958. Hopefully I will still be kicking and stop procrastinating. This is first time I have put any thing on this site.

 

[Jim Kuykendall]

Would it be unreasonable for someone in the Historical Society to assume the task? Or, quite possibly for the Society to hire an outside firm to deal with this responsibility?

 

[Doc44]

The Historian and Assistant Historian of the Foundation are responsible for researching S&W firearms and issuing letters. During the moratorium we will be evaluating actions to be take to minimize the backlog in the future.

Bill Cross

 

[slight_turn_line_69]

A really big thanks for posting this!!! I submitted my letter request last February and my check cleared the bank on February 25th. I sent a follow up letter on August 23rd and hadn't heard a thing. I was unaware of a big backlog. Still, I'd like to hear something. "Working on it". "Sent it and it's lost in the mail". "It got dropped next to the secretary's desk and we just found it". "Jocko dropped his meatball sandwich on it and we have to re do it". "Big backlog and we're working as fast as we can". Something. Is there any email or other point of contact that folks waiting for letters can check progress? If not, maybe there should be. Of course, I could be wrong. Hell, I'm wrong all the time.

 

[Sandman4delta]

Shout out to all of you who work to provide those letters.
Roy, Doc and everyone else...
A big THANK YOU !!

 

[Club Gun Fan]

A really big thanks for posting this!!! I submitted my letter request last February and my check cleared the bank on February 25th. I sent a follow up letter on August 23rd and hadn't heard a thing. I was unaware of a big backlog. Still, I'd like to hear something. "Working on it". "Sent it and it's lost in the mail". "It got dropped next to the secretary's desk and we just found it". "Jocko dropped his meatball sandwich on it and we have to re do it". "Big backlog and we're working as fast as we can". Something. Is there any email or other point of contact that folks waiting for letters can check progress? If not, maybe there should be. Of course, I could be wrong. Hell, I'm wrong all the time.

Send me a pm. Without your proper name I have no idea who you are. By the way, I don't eat at my work station.
Don

 

[slight_turn_line_69]

Letter follow up

All I can say is thanks for your help. The letter arrived today.

 

[handejector]

A really big thanks for posting this!!! I submitted my letter request last February and my check cleared the bank on February 25th. I sent a follow up letter on August 23rd and hadn't heard a thing. I was unaware of a big backlog. Still, I'd like to hear something. "Working on it". "Sent it and it's lost in the mail". "It got dropped next to the secretary's desk and we just found it". "Jocko dropped his meatball sandwich on it and we have to re do it". "Big backlog and we're working as fast as we can". Something. Is there any email or other point of contact that folks waiting for letters can check progress? If not, maybe there should be. Of course, I could be wrong. Hell, I'm wrong all the time.

Send me a pm. Without your proper name I have no idea who you are. By the way, I don't eat at my work station.
Don

He was talkin about Jocko, not you, Don, but you oughta try the meatball sammich. It's great!

 

[STORM2]

Postmarked and documented an envelope/request today. I hope the plan allows folks to catch up. Since my requests (2) appear to be about the last allowed in, I figure I'll get letters back January 2022. That's not too bad since I've been gonna send my request for a year!

 

[BillyMagg]

Postmarked and documented an envelope/request today. I hope the plan allows folks to catch up. Since my requests (2) appear to be about the last allowed in, I figure I'll get letters back January 2022. That's not too bad since I've been gonna send my request for a year!

Eh! don't hold your breath,, its says post marked on or after 9/27/21?? so keep your hopes up, but not to high???

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Postmarked and documented an envelope/request today. I hope the plan allows folks to catch up. Since my requests (2) appear to be about the last allowed in, I figure I'll get letters back January 2022. That's not too bad since I've been gonna send my request for a year!

Storm2
Your go to go! Go NAVY!!!

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Postmarked and documented an envelope/request today. I hope the plan allows folks to catch up. Since my requests (2) appear to be about the last allowed in, I figure I'll get letters back January 2022. That's not too bad since I've been gonna send my request for a year!

I have nothing to add. I've been postponing getting a factory letter for pre-war 38-44 so I guess I will wait awhile more.

I just wanted to say howdy to the Senior Chief.

 

[STORM2]

Hello to the Senior IS.

I am in no hurry for the letter. The LOAs will just trigger the Historical Letter requests. I'm figuring a long wait. I once had 3 guns at Colt for a collective 5 years for minor work. I also figure the entire two letter process will change during this holding pattern period. Perhaps there will be an additional price for the second letter added to the process. It is to our advantage that the second letter not be free. Think about it.

 

[csurp34]

Perhaps there will be an additional price for the second letter added to the process. It is to our advantage that the second letter not be free. Think about it.

Not sure what you mean by the second letter being free?


The letter request form has space for up to three letter requests.


You pay for each letter requested on the form not just once for the form.


Is that what you are asking?

 

[STORM2]

The Historical Letter. You must request/receive/include the Letter of Authenticity (LOA) (first letter) to request the Historical Letter, "The Second Letter". I read the Historical Letter instructions to read no fee for it. There are two forms, two sets of instructions.

To follow up on my original post, my check did clear so I know I'm in the door….somewhere.

 

[Doc44]

STORM2...There is no fee for a Foundation Letter if we research your S&W firearm and do not find additional information or documents. If additional information and documents are found, you will be notified. The cost of a Foundation letter for a S&WHF member is $45 plus $5 per copy of each document provided. You would be advised of the cost and agree to it before the letter is written.

Bill Cross
S&WHF