Update:Worth a letter?

[Masterpiece]

Thanks, when you were collecting how hard were boxes to find?

shown50,

Don't even ask...Especially if you were looking for a 5" Box...Much harder to find than those for the Std. Barrel Length Safety's...That's why I was always on the lookout for Boxed Examples!!

Don't get me wrong...Not saying they're impossible to find...Only that I doubt you'll find near as many as the Std. Length Boxes...Good Luck with your search!!

 

[glowe]

I have been able to view a few pages of the S&W shipping records over the years that Roy and Don use to determine ship date and destination. There are 100 guns on a page and on average 2 or 3 ship to an individual = 2% chance. I asked Roy, years ago, how likely was it that top-break revolvers shipped to individuals and he said maybe a 5% chance but likely less.

There were over 261,500 38 Safeties made. Taking information from the old SWCA database, the there is no barrel length that is either scarce or rare within the four standard lengths. The lowest production was for the 6" revolver, with 14% of the total production or 36,600 made. The 5" is next, with 15% or 39,200 made. 4" was 23% of production or 60,100, and the highest percentage by far goes to the 3.25" with 49% production or 128,000 made.

The 38 Safety revolver is one of the lowest valued models of S&W made?? Certainly not worth too much, often selling for $300 to $400 in nice condition. I sold a rather nice 5" this spring and got $312 for it. Adding another $100 cost to get the letter just does not make sense for me.

 

[mmaher94087]

Shown50, thanks for the added photos. In the first photos, the nickel looks "pebble finished". The metal did not appear smooth and flat and that prompted my question. As everyone has said, much better pictures.

For the box question, out of 14 boxed .38 New Departures I have owned, only one was a five inch. Five-inch barrels are difficult to find and the 5" box is close to impossible especially because there are different operating instructions on the inside of the top lid.

 

[BMur]

Condition

It's honestly amazing how some photos can really distort actual condition of an antique/ curio.
With the new photos I'm seeing a high grade original nickel finish curio with factory pearls. The logo on the frame is also visibly sharp and unmolested.
On this side of the country guns are more expensive and those factory Pearl grips alone are worth OVER $200.
Please post the results from the letter when you get it.

Murph

 

[shown50]

Thanks for all the replies and sorry for the delay, I burned a plug wire up on my Chevelle last Sunday and spent last night tracking it down and replacing it. I sent off for a letter this morning(8/3).

@glowe I would agree with you that they're the lowest value S&W revolvers. There's one on gunbroker right now with factory nickel/gold plated, pearl stocks, and a factory letter for less than $800. That's a steal for any custom ordered S&W in my opinion but it doesn't have any bids. Honestly if I hadn't just bought an engagement ring for my gf I would be buying it haha.

@mmaher94087 Ah okay I gotcha I was thinking you were talking about the stocks having a rough finish. I'm definitely not the best photographer, I can make the new iPhone camera look worse than a potato. 14 boxed new departures is amazing, I've been collecting S&W for 12 years and never seen one in person.

@BMur the guns in really nice shape compared to my other new departure. It needs a good cleaning and polish, the last owner bought it shot 4 rounds through it and listed it for $1000 calling it a pre 1899 6" barrel lemon squeezer "that gunshow vendors and experts said should be in a museum" I only messaged him to get a picture with a tape measure because it looked shorter than 6" and he turned out to be a really nice guy who didn't know much about this model and after we talked for a couple days he offered it to me at $500 and I passed, a couple hours later the price was dropped $200 bucks and came with a 46 round box of Fiocci ammo so I agreed because I figured the grips were worth $300. I think he scared people off with the price, since I was his only message about it. Most of the time I see blued maybe 50% condition 32 or 38 new departures going for 300-500 if it's nicer but every area is different.

 

[H Richard]

Just another prompt to be a member of the S&WCA. I had one time asked Roy for a ship date for a Mod 39. Roy responded with the date, and a comment,"You should letter this one, it's unusual". I did and found it was a One of that was shipped to the Swedish Air force as a test gun. The S/N was close to the Steel Frame #'s (but it was alloy).



I eventually sold it to a 39 collector for a fair amount more than I paid. Did I mention it was unfired.

 

[shown50]

Just another prompt to be a member of the S&WCA. I had one time asked Roy for a ship date for a Mod 39. Roy responded with the date, and a comment,"You should letter this one, it's unusual". I did and found it was a One of that was shipped to the Swedish Air force as a test gun. The S/N was close to the Steel Frame #'s (but it was alloy).



I eventually sold it to a 39 collector for a fair amount more than I paid. Did I mention it was unfired.

Agreed, I need to join, the discount on letters alone pays for itself.

 

[shown50]

Update

Update, it was definitely worth the letter. It was a single order gun to a W.O. Lipscomb 12/6/05. No shipping information so finding anything on him might be tough.

Letter info
"We have researched your 38 Safety Hammerless Fourth Model, caliber 38 Smith & Wesson, in company records. They indicate that your handgun with serial number 189048, was shipped from our Stockbridge Street factory on December 6, 1905. It was delivered to W. O. Lipscomb, no address listed. The records indicate that this revolver was shipped with a nickel finish with a 5-inch barrel and a pinned round blade front sight with fixed rear sights, and Mother of pearl round butt stocks with gold Smith & Wesson medallions stocks. It was a single gun order. With no address it may have been picked up at the factory.
We trust that the information provided will be helpful and of interest to you."

 

[JSR III]

I'm a little late to this party but I will second Richards comment about joining the S&WCA. As stated, as a member you get to request shipping dates and many times either Roy or Don have made the "you should probably letter that one" comment.

Joining the S&WCA will cost you $60 the first year however you get the $25 discount on letters so actually you are joining for only $35.

Considering all of the benefits including being able to attend the greatest symposium about S&W's on the planet, it is really a no brainer......

 

[rct269]

A minor point perhaps, but lest anybody get their knickers in a knot about it, and think ill of James; the $25 discount for letters is applicable for those who are members of both SWCA AND SWHF--------the Historical Foundation. SWHF membership is a one time $100 last time I knew. SWHF is where the letters come from.

There's a lesser discount for SWCA membership only---whatever it is---don't recall.

As an aside, the Historical Foundation is worth their weight in gold----diamonds even! They have information that'll knock your socks off!! Now they don't have it for everything for every year, and I don't remember the years they do have, but they've had stuff for me that made my day(!!), and I'm talking about stuff WAY beyond what you get in a letter!

And getting your grubby little paws on it is dirt cheap---less than that for a search, which was free---last time I knew. If/when you score, the copies cost next to nothing!

Ralph Tremaine