Progress on Digitizing

[Vettepartz]

In the past few years, I have seen progress on digitizing the S&W records up to certain years. I believe this info was used a lot in the making of Historical Foundation letters, or maybe what is now seen as a 'deep dive' into the past of certain guns. I wonder how far they are along now, as I maybe looking for more info on a handgun that was shipped in 1976.

 

[Doc44]

The records from mid-1967-1976 are in the files of Smith & Wesson. One of these days I would like to digitize and index them so we could more readily access them for letters. Currently, we access them by sending a request to S&W, the company looks up the information and gets back to us. The system works but takes a little longer. Records post 1976 are in S&W's computer files, and we can access those.

The only records that exist for post-WW II era firearms are invoices as all correspondence and other files were discarded. We certainly can locate the invoice for your 1976 S&W, but that is all.

Bill

 

[Truckman]

Currently, we access them by sending a request to S&W, the company looks up the information and gets back to us. The system works but takes a little longer. Records post 1976 are in S&W's computer files, and we can access those.

That brings up another question, Bill...I know from personal experience that the letters do not always stay with the respective guns as they change ownership, leading to multiple requests for the same gun over the following years...So when the information comes in from S&W HQ, is it then added to the S&WHF digitized files for future use by historians, or does the laborious process of going back to S&W HQ repeat itself on future requests...I sometimes imagine ways of cutting down on the time required between writing the request and receiving the letter......Ben

 

[Doc44]

Ben...Mike Helms or Don Mundell can correct me, but I believe the process starts over each time a request is made.

Bill

 

[Truckman]

Ben...Mike Helms or Don Mundell can correct me, but I believe the process starts over each time a request is made.

Bill

Thanks, Bill...That's probably the best method until full digitalization takes place after thinking about it...I'm just trying to come up with a faster way to get letters in the hands of recipients without jeopardizing accuracy...It gets a little frustrating being able to only send three requests at a time, and having a backlog of 70 or so more guns that I want to letter...The latest three have been in process for 41 days since Paypal sent me the receipt for the transaction, and 16 days since Don received the request package...I should live so long for the 70 in waiting......Ben

 

[Doc44]

Ben...the backlog was over six months a few years ago.

Bill

 

[Truckman]

Ben...the backlog was over six months a few years ago.

Bill

I erred in not mentioning that fact...The improvement has been remarkable...I'll try to make similar improvements in my patience......Ben

 

[Vettepartz]

The records from mid-1967-1976 are in the files of Smith & Wesson. One of these days I would like to digitize and index them so we could more readily access them for letters. Currently, we access them by sending a request to S&W, the company looks up the information and gets back to us. The system works but takes a little longer. Records post 1976 are in S&W's computer files, and we can access those.

The only records that exist for post-WW II era firearms are invoices as all correspondence and other files were discarded. We certainly can locate the invoice for your 1976 S&W, but that is all.

Bill

Thank you, Bill, for that information on my 1976 M25-2. I wonder if the invoice would show if the handgun was shipped with a wooden presentation case.

 

[Doc44]

John...Per the "History of Smith & Wesson", by Roy Jinks a presentation case was added to the Model 25 in 1974. Since the case was a standard accessory long before your revolver was shipped it would not be listed on the invoice. I have never seen an invoice for the Model 29 or 57 that listed a presentation case either.

Bill

 

[Vettepartz]

Thank you for that information, Bill. Good to know.