Should I letter my m57

[saviourenslaved]

I'm wondering if it would be worth it to letter my early Model 57? It's serial # is S248433

If you've lettered your pistol, was it worth it?

 

[redbos]

I like letters. I guess the question to ask is, does the gun warrant a letter? Is she pristine, going to be a long term thing for you? I would get a letter, no dash 57's are nice......

 

[Mack]

i wouldn't. What do you expect a letter to say? Chances are it will be "shipped on xxxxxxxx date to xxxxxxxx distributor or sporting goods store". I have two letters that state that very thing and while mildly interesting were not really worth the $70 ($35 each) they cost. I feel that letters are worth it on guns that might have a police or agency connection or from a time when the factory was shipping directly to people.

 

[redbos]

Letters

You know, some of what Mack says makes me think too. To letter or not to letter, that is the question.....

 

[mkk41]

Unless it was some rare variation , I wouldn't spend the money to letter a post war gun.

 

[Art Doc]

When it cost $20 I lettered many of my guns. When it went to $30 I lettered some of the ones that were really old or potentially interesting. At $50 I have not lettered any more of my guns. I read that the higher price was meant to reduce the number of requests And it worked in my case. In 95% of instances it was not even worth the $20.

Your call. What does $50 mean to you?

 

[Joe in SC]

Not worth it to me. I have a 4 inch 57 with S serial number and diamond targets.It's in the high 90's condition wise, I shoot it from time to time and I would be more interested in spending the money on some primers or powder or saving for another gun.

 

[rburg]

I've come to some conclusions. Lettering a gun with a feature or option that is valuable is probably a good idea. Lettering one with a very low serial may also be worth it. I lettered my 1980 M57, but only to confirm its factory engraving. And I did it back when it was $30. A standard or normal configuration gun probably isn't worth it.

If you had a K22 with a serial number like K101, sure! Or even an early 44 Magnum.

 

[mkk41]

Correct me if I'm wrong , but I thought that pre-war , and maybe into the 50s , darn near any gun dealer or hardware store could order direct from the factory. After that , they used regional distributors. Large police orders were probably factory direct or regional factory sales rep. When I was a dealer in the 80s-90s , I ordered thru any number of factory distributors.

I still want to letter my pre-war K-22/40 , my 5-screw HP , and a 1960 4-screw K-38 that looks factory engraved , presented to a retiring sherriff.

 

[29-1]

I letter every S&W that I acquire and that's been a few. I automatically add $50.00 to the selling price when I let a gun go and it actually helps sell the gun more times than not. The older letters I used to get for free in the 70s are now collectors items in their own right and worth the same $50.00 as the modern day letters though they don't have nearly the same degree of detail. JM2C
Chuck

 

[GM4spd]

A Model 57--why bother? It's your money,however. Pete

 

[LOBO]

I letter the majority of the guns I obtain. Two that come to mind that most people probably wouldn't have lettered are a 36 2" (no dash), and a 28-2 6". The 36 ended up being shipped to Nikko Sterling in Tokyo, Japan. The 28 was sent to Wischo KG in Erlangen, West Germany. I never would have known any of this information without a letter from Mr. Jinks.

Now if I only knew how they ended up in south Mississippi

 

[dnonac]

To me, the letters are a big part of the fun of collecting these old guns and the letters themselves become part of the collection.

I agree that most of the time, the letters simply give basic info and shipping dates but I'm always curious about the basics anyway. I like knowing exactly when the gun was shipped and doing research on the place or person that received it. And sometimes, you get surprised with interesting or historical info.

I've seen it happen that a letter can increase the value of the gun far beyond the $50 spent to letter it. I guess I'd have to admit that sometimes the letter does nothing for the value as well. I feel certain that 50 years from now, a letter signed by Roy Jinks will have increasing collector value all by itself. But hey, I guess I'm a gambler or I wouldn't be spending money on old S&W's in the first place.
Craig...

 

[Sportsterguy]

Waste of money for me but its your revolver and cash.