Pre 27

[cruzans]

Trying to figure out if it's worth getting a letter on my Pre 27 that I bought several years ago. No box, just gun. Came with some ugly grips on it so I recently put these Altamont's on her. Serial number S 102xxx. Not sure if there's anything special enough about it? Also possibly refinished? Doesn't look refinished to me but roll mark looks light like it has been buffed out? Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[6string]

Hi!
Very desirable pre-27 configuration, with the barrel length and cool pinned front sight.
But, it's definitely a refinished piece. The sideplate seam with buffed over edges is a dead giveaway.

 

[cruzans]

Thanks. Friend sold to me many years ago and said he believed it was refinished and it made sense. Why I got it so cheap I guess - lol.

 

[22hipower]

You never know what might turn up if you letter it. I bought one, also refinished but by the factory, and we had a little "discussion" here as to whether or not the barrel had been cut. Finally lettered it to put that question to rest and it turned out not only to be the original barrel but to have shipped to the Kansas City PD; probably one of the last 357 Mags they purchased.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[The Gila Bender]

Getting a letter on a 1950's era S&W is a lottery. Every one I lettered shipped to a distributor, hardware or public safety supplier:

-Amarillo Hardware Co., Amarillo TX.
-H. H. Harris Co., Chicago, IL
-Shapleigh Hardware, St. Louis , MO
-Union Hardware, Co., Los Angeles, CA
-W.S. Darley Co., Chippewa Falls, WI
-Western Hoegee Co., Los Angeles, CA.
-Williams Gun Sight Co., Davison, MI.

I had hoped that my honest wear (a nice way to say "well-used") July 1956 .44 Magnum would letter to a famous sports writer but, no, it was one of five shipped to Amarillo Hardware. So unless it's something especially desireable, rare, or unique I no longer letter any of my modern, 1950 and later, S&W's.

But I will show and tell slightly embellished stories!

 

[larryofcc]

Getting a letter on a 1950's era S&W is a lottery. Most of mine shipped to a distributor, hardware or public safety supplier:

-Amarillo Hardware Co., Amarillo TX.
-H. H. Harris Co., Chicago, IL
-Shapleigh Hardware, St. Louis , MO
-Union Hardware, Co., Los Angeles, CA
-W.S. Darley Co., Chippewa Falls, WI
-Western Hoegee Co., Los Angeles, CA.
-Williams Gun Sight Co., Davisdon, MI.

I had hoped that my well used July 1956 .44 Magnum would letter to a famous sports writer but, no, it was one of five shipped to Amarillo Hardware. So unless it's something especially desireable, rare, or unique I no longer letter any of my modern, 1950 and later, S&W's. But I will show and tell!

View attachment 575800

I pretty much have lettered guns shipped to the same places. One of note is 50 Combat Magnums shipped to Shapleigh Hardware in 1956. Also, a M19-0 shipped to Williams Gun Sight Co. in 1960, a single shipment. I didn't know they were a distributor. I have a few others shipped to PD's. Big Larry

 

[RKmesa]

I generally only letter guns that have unique features (sights, hammer, barrel length, grips, finish, engraving, etc.) that I want to confirm as factory. All of my pre-war Magnums have been lettered, because each Magnum was customizable by the person/distributer ordering the gun. Run of the mill post war guns typically do not get lettered by me.

 

[larryofcc]

Lettered a Plain Jane 6" Pre War 1940 M&P and it came back as ordered for the Sacramento PD. One gun shipment, it remains in near unused condition.
A letter on a 38-44 Outdoorsman with HB hammer and Magna Stocks, showed delivery to an individual.
You never know what info a letter may uncover. It's a **** shoot at best. Big Larry