A few years back I came across an issue of a Smith & Wesson publication named S&W Sportsman, dated Spring 1985.
One of the topics was the announcement of S&W's Historic Research Service, conducted by Roy Jinks, the company's Historian.
For a research fee of $10.00, the history of a gun is researched, and an individual and personalized report is prepared for the owner. The report is presented on an authentic, S&W watermarked reproduction of the stationary used at the turn of the century and embossed with a replica of an historic S&W seal.
This was the beginning of the Factory Letter that we have today.
I met Roy Jinks for the first time at the S&WCA Symposium in Glendale, Arizona a couple of years ago.
I asked Roy if this was the start of the Factory Letter. He said, "no, that is when S&W began charging for them, I have been doing letters since the 1960's."
Now that Roy has retired from writing letters, I am really happy that I have one with his signature.
The current letter format began with the announcement of this service in 1985. I have included a letter that Roy wrote to my father in 1978.
One of the topics was the announcement of S&W's Historic Research Service, conducted by Roy Jinks, the company's Historian.
For a research fee of $10.00, the history of a gun is researched, and an individual and personalized report is prepared for the owner. The report is presented on an authentic, S&W watermarked reproduction of the stationary used at the turn of the century and embossed with a replica of an historic S&W seal.
This was the beginning of the Factory Letter that we have today.
I met Roy Jinks for the first time at the S&WCA Symposium in Glendale, Arizona a couple of years ago.
I asked Roy if this was the start of the Factory Letter. He said, "no, that is when S&W began charging for them, I have been doing letters since the 1960's."
Now that Roy has retired from writing letters, I am really happy that I have one with his signature.
The current letter format began with the announcement of this service in 1985. I have included a letter that Roy wrote to my father in 1978.
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