Well I'm convinced. I'm going to letter my M629-3 Mountain Gun that I bought brand new from a gun shop in August of 1993. Maybe it will letter to having gone to someone famous!
....Heyyy, wait a minute....
....Heyyy, wait a minute....
Roy Jinks Letter ????
- Thread starter RoyB
- Start date
My letter for my USN Victory Model was mailed on January 5, and they cashed my check on January 14. I imagine I've got a couple months to go . . .
Faulkner
Member
If allowed a full day to focus on the task of research and reply I wonder how many letters Mr. Jinks efforts will allow him to generate in a given day? Four per day (two before lunch and two after lunch)? Six? Eight?
If he only turns out four per day that's $200.00 of revenue for S&W without a lot of profit margin after they pay Mr. Jinks. I'm thinking that if S&W, being a for-profit enterprise, thought this letter thing had the volume to generate decent return on labor investment it wouldn't be that hard for them to have Mr. Jinks mentor an administrative assistant or even an interested intern from the local college history department to do a big part of the research leg work. If the demand for these letters is high enough that the daily volume could be increased (without sacrifice to quality) with only a slight increase in overhead costs this could be a win opportunity for S&W customers with positive P.R. to S&W that actually makes a little profit.
I suspect a bean counter at S&W has already given this due consideration and the reason it's being done the current method is because there's not enough volume to really invest in the process, so it's just as easy and cost effective to let Mr. Jinks turn a few letters out in his spare time.
If he only turns out four per day that's $200.00 of revenue for S&W without a lot of profit margin after they pay Mr. Jinks. I'm thinking that if S&W, being a for-profit enterprise, thought this letter thing had the volume to generate decent return on labor investment it wouldn't be that hard for them to have Mr. Jinks mentor an administrative assistant or even an interested intern from the local college history department to do a big part of the research leg work. If the demand for these letters is high enough that the daily volume could be increased (without sacrifice to quality) with only a slight increase in overhead costs this could be a win opportunity for S&W customers with positive P.R. to S&W that actually makes a little profit.
I suspect a bean counter at S&W has already given this due consideration and the reason it's being done the current method is because there's not enough volume to really invest in the process, so it's just as easy and cost effective to let Mr. Jinks turn a few letters out in his spare time.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
These discussions always contain a lot of conjecture about Roy Jinks' work situation.
Does anyone actually KNOW how Mr. Jinks operates? The letters consistently use "we", as in "We have researched your gun..." and "We hope...". I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jinks, but from all I hear and read, he seems to be a rather humble individual and unlikely to use the "majestic plural" to refer to himself, so unless someone has first-hand information to the contrary, I would assume some of that legwork help might already be available to him.
ol777gunnerz
Member
Did you read the commentary by Roy Jinks himself in post #26, in which he describes his take on the letters, he has zero help, etc. If you did you would not keep wondering about his work situation, etc. he made the commentary in Jan. 2013.
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At first, I couldn't tell if you were serious or not. Or I wondered if maybe I was confused. After some (very brief) research, I came to the conclusion you were pulling my leg.
You and I both know I'm referring to Harold Devine, the boxer who won the Olympic Bronze Medal as a featherweight in the 1928 Olympics.
I've been off line for a couple of days. My computer blew up, probably due to all the snow. Harold Devine was Captain of the guard at Smith & Wesson. He is the office in the white shirt on the Helpful Hints brochure. I have two of his guns, his Captains hat with badge and a large group of his trophys and shooting medals.
I do. Having been in Roy's office on a number of occassions. He has a lot of the information on computers, but, an equal amount in bound books. The modern guns are all on computers at the Springfield History Museum. I know he gets phone calls from people and takes time to answer their questions. He never says to the caller "I'm busy" He takes the time to help them,. but, usually tells them to send for a letter.
Then there is the occasional "we cannot supply any information concerning your Model XX-X, the firearm is open on Smith & Wesson records". You must wonder how much time Roy puts into one of these letters where he finds nothing no matter how hard he looks. "We have exhausted all areas to determine how this mistake occurred".
Mystery guns get really interesting and all we can do is thank him for the attempt.
Mystery guns get really interesting and all we can do is thank him for the attempt.
WOW, for a bunch of gun folks I find many of the comments really strange. It's a free country and as far as I can recall, it's my money and I can spend it any way I choose.
As far as lettering your 629-3 that you bought new, of course a gun like that would not need a letter, that's just silly.
But a gun from 1950 that has had several owners, who knows. Maybe it shipped to my home state, or my home town or to a former S&W employee. Whatever the reason, if I choose to spend $50 of my money to find out, then so be it. Many times to collectors, it is the chase or the search that gets us going.
Someone said that they don't buy lottery tickets, well good for you, I do. Do I really think that I will win, probably not, but someone will....who knows..
I do not letter all of my guns, but if I choose to, then as a red blooded, voting American, that is my right.
I too have been in Roys office and it is actually panneled with the thick wood panneling from D.B. Wesson's old office before the old plant was torn down. Roy sits at D.B. Wessons former desk. To a S&W collector, it feels like hallowed ground.
Roy Jinks is one of the foremost authorities on S&W products and history. Is having a letter about S&W's on S&W letterhead, signed by Roy Jinks worth $50, damn straight, regardless of the results.
As far as lettering your 629-3 that you bought new, of course a gun like that would not need a letter, that's just silly.
But a gun from 1950 that has had several owners, who knows. Maybe it shipped to my home state, or my home town or to a former S&W employee. Whatever the reason, if I choose to spend $50 of my money to find out, then so be it. Many times to collectors, it is the chase or the search that gets us going.
Someone said that they don't buy lottery tickets, well good for you, I do. Do I really think that I will win, probably not, but someone will....who knows..
I do not letter all of my guns, but if I choose to, then as a red blooded, voting American, that is my right.
I too have been in Roys office and it is actually panneled with the thick wood panneling from D.B. Wesson's old office before the old plant was torn down. Roy sits at D.B. Wessons former desk. To a S&W collector, it feels like hallowed ground.
Roy Jinks is one of the foremost authorities on S&W products and history. Is having a letter about S&W's on S&W letterhead, signed by Roy Jinks worth $50, damn straight, regardless of the results.
As far as lettering a new handgun is concerned, I lettered a new Model 411, a CS40 and a 500 Magnum. I bought all three new. Guess what, all three lettered as being in the first shipments. Was it worth the $150.00. To me it was.
Watchdog
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