Include letter with gun sale?

[jeffrefrig]

I have two revolvers I got lettered. They have no big secrets/stories behind the guns, but they are pretty interesting as far as some options that may have come with the guns.
Anyways, when you guys sell a lettered revolver, or whatever, do you add a couple bucks to your asking price or anything like that?Keeping the letter would be a little useless without the gun unless you just like to collect that sort of stuff. I'd just like an idea of what I should do, or what would the masses suggest, since I have a couple that I may pass along in the near future.
Thanks for any help, as most of you know I need all the help I can get more often than not!
Jeff T.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'd include the letter..... "pretty interesting...options". ...... seems to make the letters/guns unique.

I've only lettered my RM and Dad's Model 10 [1946]

 

[Bald1]

Include the letter but I think it only adds value if there's something unique about the gun that the letter verifies ….. but I could be wrong

 

[cmansguns]

Give the Buyer the Letter

I've sold most of my guns on this Forum and in the case of Letters I always include the Letter with the gun at shipment. Why not?
The Buyer already knows your name and address when they sent you payment.

I price my guns for sale on current market conditions without anything more for the Letter. The Letter just validates the gun at time of original shipment.

Just my opinion and way I handle it.

 

[The Gila Bender]

For collectors and S&WCA members I include letters and other documentation and accessories (box, tools, etc.) acquired for a particular firearm. It's all in the initial asking price. I have received a few letters with the addressee info redacted or cut out, and that's OK.

 

[gwpercle]

Not much sense selling the gun and keeping the letter .

What would you do with the letter ?

Gary

 

[jeffrefrig]

Not much sense selling the gun and keeping the letter .

What would you do with the letter ?

Gary

Exactly what I was thinking. I'd be selling on here; at least give our members 1st shot. I'm not really worried about my ID on the letters, as one week in my shoes and one would beg me to take my life back!
Now, it would be cool to be the 1st kid on the block, at least here, to own a couple $100 paper airplanes.
Thanks all, once again, for generously donating/lending me some of the collective experience in the room.
Peace! Jeff T.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Jeff
I'd give the letters with the gun.

 

[Grayfox]

The letter goes with the gun. No extra charge.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I agree, letter follows the gun. If you want, copy the letter as a memento or for your information files, along with who it went to.

Whether the gun has a storied history or not, the new owner has information he'd have to pay $100 for otherwise.

And it keeps him from having to post on the forum "got a date for this gun"?

5 of my 10 S&W's are lettered now, and I'd like to do the rest at some point, just to have the info for my heirs and whomever they pass things along to years from now.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

It should definitely be included in the sale. These factory letters are not cheap, and for many it can take months of waiting for them to be completed and mailed back. I believe every gun has a story to tell. And unless it was purchased by or tied to a historical figure, it's not any more special than the majority of letters out there, but it still places the firearm in a timeline of history. For most serious collectors that's worth paying a little extra.

 

[Rpg]

Include the letter with no additional charge.

It's likely not an accessory that adds significant value, but it is likely to sell more quickly than an identical revolver at the same price without a letter.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The letter goes with the gun. No extra charge.

How could you not do that? 100 years from now, MAYBE, S&W letters from the 20th or early 21st century might have standalone value but it is only a possibility, and then just for historical letter collectors (they must exist). But the gun's value is either neutral or better when accompanied by a letter. Provenance like that will matter 100 years from now.

 

[Doc44]

A letter and other documentation such as a copy of the invoice should stay with the gun.

Bill

 

[serger]

jeffrefrig said,"I'd just like an idea of what I should do, or what
would the masses suggest, since I have a couple that I may pass
along in the near future."

You do the right thing. The letter goes with the gun. To honor the
gun for being what it is and to honor you for being an upright person.

 

[rct269]

My stock standard reply, when asked why I lettered every single gun in my collections, was "They're like the frosting on the cake.".

Now I've seen folks remove the frosting from the cake, and eat it first; but they were little kids; and we almost always cut some slack for the little ones.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Rammer Jammer]

I'm hard pressed to figure out why someone would sell the gun and keep a letter. If they want to keep the letter just make a copy. Without the gun it's useless.

 

[Highmaster]

Reciently purchased a old (OLD) model 41 and it would have been nice if it had one, o well guess I will order one .
# 3065

 

[pasound]

I have lettered a few. Most important to me is the one that dated my Pre-10 M&P .38 to 30 days before I was born. If I ever have to sell it, the paper stays with me. New owner gets the copy. Others, the new owners get the originals.

 

[Chuck24]

Curious if anyone has a reason why you would not?