Smith and Wesson Letter

[Wingmaster]

What makes you get a factory letter for a gun? I can see getting a letter for a gun marked for a police department to get the history of a gun, but what about an unmarked gun?

I have a pre model 15 that I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to get a factory letter on it. It doesn't look like anything special, but it is in pretty good condition and I think it was shipped in 1956.
Thanks
Randy

 

[DCWilson]

I tend to think letters are good ideas for prewar guns and early postwar guns. There is always the chance you will find that the firearm was purchased on the basis of a personal order and was shipped to a specific individual. There is also the chance to verify that a special feature of a gun (such as a grip adapter or humpback hammer) was original equipment on the gun. Those kinds of things are important to collectors.

As we get into the later postwar years -- '60s, '70s, etc. -- the chances are that you will just get a date and a distributor destination, or a single hardware store someplace. I have never lettered a model-marked gun (post 1957) and can't imagine that I would feel the need to. Your pre-15 is a wobbler in my judgment -- maybe letter it, maybe not.

 

[murphydog]

I agree with David, but would add that there are a fair number of postwar guns with rare or unusual features (that some have already counterfeited) that it would be prudent to have lettered. Just being curious about your gun's ship date and destination is also a good reason.

 

[long colt frazier]

I agree with David, but would add that there are a fair number of postwar guns with rare or unusual features (that some have already counterfeited) that it would be prudent to have lettered. Just being curious about your gun's ship date and destination is also a good reason.

And that is the reason I have sent for a letter on my M49 3inch. I have my fingers crossed waiting

 

[kpm]

I have a otherwise unremarkable, 90% Pre 15. It's just a nice shooter that I happend on by accident several years ago. Letters on others in the serial number range indicate it probably was one of the last non model marked CMs and that it very likely shipped within days of my birthdate (Jan 58).... I think that one deserves a letter. We'll see.

 

[Art Doc]

I have lettered about 25 guns. Only 1 or 2 revealed anything particularly interesting. But this was back when it was $20. At $30 I lettered a couple and when the price to $50 I was out. Makes sense for a very valuable, rare collector grade pistol. Otherwise, no. Simply too pricey for the likes of me.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I letter every one I own. They are only $50.00. If you letter a C--T I costs way more.

I have several new Smiths that turned out to be a first shipment guns.
Don Mundell LM614

 

[Art Doc]

I don't put the word "only" in front of $50. To me $50 is too much to waste on a letter of minimal value.

You decide if it's worthwhile to you. I don't play in the same league as many members here. To them $50 really is nothing. Not to me.

 

[JSR III]

Don letters every gun because some folks are "rich instead of good looking" as the saying goes. I have a few that I would like to letter but every time I think about it and have the extra cash, Roy is behind and there is a 3 month wait, so I hold off. Usually by the time that the backlog clears, the slush fund is gone. Now that summer is here, the boat is eating all extra cash.

Getting back to the OP's original question, you never know when any revolver might turn up as being shipped to one of the Wesson's or some other prominent person. That is when a letter is well worth the $50 spent. Unfortunately, it is always a gamble and 9 out of 10 times it will only show shipment to some gun shop or hardware store.

 

[Jack Flash]

BOAT ... Break Out Another Thousand

I only lettered one, a 1946-shipped M1917. I was disappointed with the letter mostly because it only contained commonly available knowledge.

The kicker was that the letter said my revolver, (which had smooth stocks serial numbered to it when I bought it), shipped from the factory with checkered stocks. But then folks on this Forum claimed the smooth stocks were almost certainly original.

So what did the letter tell me?

 

[DCWilson]

On the price question: there are plenty of individuals for whom a letter represents value added to a prospective purchase. If I am considering a $500 purchase that has the potential to be interesting, I might well pay $550 or even more if it already had a letter that answered my questions and assure me of its interesting qualities. And the more expensive a collectible revolver gets, the smaller a percentage of the total investment the cost of a letter becomes.

At $50 a pop I certainly prioritize. But I suspect that with time I will letter most of my collectible pieces. Shooter grade guns? Probably not.

 

[Hunt200]

BOAT ... Break Out Another Thousand

I only lettered one, a 1946-shipped M1917. I was disappointed with the letter mostly because it only contained commonly available knowledge.

The kicker was that the letter said my revolver, (which had smooth stocks serial numbered to it when I bought it), shipped from the factory with checkered stocks. But then folks on this Forum claimed the smooth stocks were almost certainly original.

So what did the letter tell me?

Someone put the serial number on the smooth stocks? I am sure it wouldn't be the first or last time it was done.

 

[Jack Flash]

Someone put the serial number on the smooth stocks? ...

That's what I thought!

But then Mr. HandEjector made this statement in regard to my smooth stocks:

... they are probably ORIGINAL to the gun, and the letter has a typo. I believe the 1946 guns were all WW I configuration, with round top frames, and smooth grips. ...

 

[Wingmaster]

Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will hold off for now on lettering my pre 15. That way I can still think it was shipped to president Eisenhower for a little longer.
Thats alot more fun than finding out it was shipped to Coast to Coast hardware in some small town in Wyoming.
Thanks again guys.

Randy

 

[JSR III]

Jack, as the Gorilla Guy has all ready stated, it may very well be a typo. I believe that Roy uses a letter template for the history letters and merely changes the significant details. I would contact him and double check the "checked stocks" comment. If an error was made in the letter, I am fairly sure that he will send you a corrected copy free of charge. Should a typo be the case, your gun will be worth more in the long run with the numbered smooth stocks as verified in the revised letter.

And I agree with you about the boat. Someone told me the other day that the two best days in a boat owners life are the day that you buy your boat and the day that you sell it!!! I just changed my winch cable the other day from a SS version to a less expensive galvanized as the SS had jammed and kinked. Took the boat out yesterday and noticed that the brand new unused galv cable was also kinked and bound up on the winch drum. Now its either a new winch or I will switch to a flat nylon strap that can not bind up. $$$$$$$$$$

 

[Jack Flash]

... I believe that Roy uses a letter template for the history letters and merely changes the significant details. I would contact him and double check the "checked stocks" comment. If an error was made in the letter, I am fairly sure that he will send you a corrected copy free of charge. Should a typo be the case, your gun will be worth more in the long run with the numbered smooth stocks as verified in the revised letter.

That was my thought too, especially after I compared two M1917 letters that are almost word for word the same. It only makes sense that you wouldn't type each one individually from scratch.

I worried that if I went to sell it, I would have to do a lot of hand waving to explain the possible descrepency w/the stocks. I never thought I could contact Roy and ask for a re-evaluation. I may well do that.

The thing is, then what would I have to complain about?

 

[Marshal Tom]

Letters also tell you if someone has altered the gun in some way such as changing the barrel length or the grips out. I once purchased a second generation Colt single action that I was lead to believe was an original .45 with a 4 3/4" barrel. nobody letters 2nd generation guns but I decided to do so. When the letter came back, I found that the gun was originally a 5 1/2" .357 that had been made into a .45 by changing the barrel and boring out the cylinder. All the numbers matched that way. It was a fairly common practice since the 4 3/4" .45 was worth a lot more than the .357 magnums.

 

[zywina]

S&W letters are a very good bargain , you can always recoup your letter cost when you go to sell it! Obviosly you never bought a Colt letter, now there double and triple the price of what good old S&W charges!! Thanks probably to Roy, he has kept the cost down for all us gun collectors, Dale the Canuck

 

[pace40]

To Letter or not to Letter

http://smith-wessonforum.com/blogs/pace40/26-letter-not-letter.html

 

[MP1983]

I have lettered about 25 guns. Only 1 or 2 revealed anything particularly interesting. But this was back when it was $20. At $30 I lettered a couple and when the price to $50 I was out. Makes sense for a very valuable, rare collector grade pistol. Otherwise, no. Simply too pricey for the likes of me.

I have to agree w/ SaxonPig (although I've only gotten about a half dozen or so). At $30 I didn't feel foolish at all when it came back to a hardware store here, or a gunshop there, & for the most part it always increased the value of the gun enough to justify the cost.

Yes, Colt charges a bunch more, and yes, $50 is still a fair price if you REALLY want one. But I can't justify it in my mind unless, like others have already said, it's to verify something you really wish to know because you know it can prove the gun is factory original (like department guns & ones w/ unique variations).

Other than that, I'd recommend you spend the same money & just get a new or used copy of Roy Jinks' book if you don't already have one. The info in the letters pretty much comes strait out of his book (w/ the exception of the one paragraph that tells you were it was sent and in what configuration - barrel length, etc.).

As a student of history though, I may suggest that if you do want a letter you go ahead and pony up the money NOW and just get the thing. The price of the letter is certain to never go down, and I don't believe I want a letter from one of Mr. Jinks' understudies if God forbid anything every happens to that fine old gentleman. My point being, none of us are getting any younger (myself inclded).

These are my 2 cents on Smith letters.

 

[dkees]

I have also lettered unremarkable guns. I will probably not letter any more, unless I find one in an old barn wrapped in oil cloth with "J. James" on the underside of the stocks.

 

[mikepriwer]

I find one in an old barn wrapped in oil cloth with "J. James" on the underside of the stocks.

Even then, it will probably letter as being shipped to Clydes Hardware
in St Joe, Mo !

Mike Priwer

 

[Jack Flash]

I have also lettered unremarkable guns. I will probably not letter any more, unless I find one in an old barn wrapped in oil cloth with "J. James" on the underside of the stocks.

With my luck, the factory letter would say:
"Delivered to Jerimiah James, ne'r do well shipping clerk and town drunk who was kicked to death by his own horse when he tried to ... , well, we won't go into the details."

 

[DBWesson]

I have lettered just about every Smith I have ever owned.
Once and a while I hit a home run.
You never know what may come back.
Since I only collect five screw guns, to me it is justifiable. I would really think twice about lettering anything later than five screws.
DBWesson

 

[Jack Flash]

I have lettered just about every Smith I have ever owned.
...
Since I only collect five screw guns, to me it is justifiable. I would really think twice about lettering anything later than five screws.
DBWesson

I believe our esteemed Mr. Burg has made similar comments, except IIRC, he said pre-war is worth a letter, post-war not so much.

Of course, if you are trying to verify that some rare or unusual feature was installed by S&W, a letter may help...

 

[hsguy]

I tend to think letters are good ideas for prewar guns and early postwar guns. There is always the chance you will find that the firearm was purchased on the basis of a personal order and was shipped to a specific individual. There is also the chance to verify that a special feature of a gun (such as a grip adapter or humpback hammer) was original equipment on the gun. Those kinds of things are important to collectors.

As we get into the later postwar years -- '60s, '70s, etc. -- the chances are that you will just get a date and a distributor destination, or a single hardware store someplace. I have never lettered a model-marked gun (post 1957) and can't imagine that I would feel the need to. Your pre-15 is a wobbler in my judgment -- maybe letter it, maybe not.

David, I agree with you that most model marked guns are probably not worth a letter as they normally just show shipment to a dealer or distributor. I have lettered a few model marked guns to confirm unusual markings or features a factory nickel Model 48 for example. I also have a 15-2 that is U.S.A.F. marked and confirmed by Roy as being a government contract gun so I will send for a letter on that one.

 

[monsai52]

I've currently got a letter request out for a Model 57 (still waiting for a response after more than 2 months). I only sent the request because it's a very early production gun. I'm hoping that it will letter as the first month or two of production.

Best regards,