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I have seen this posted a couple of times. I assumed it is contacting S&W for info. How is this done and is it worth it. I have an old prewar WW1 revolver that was my grandfather's.
What does lettering a gun mean?
- Thread starter BPHoo
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It means contacting a source (In this case the S&W Historical Association) and spending some money (around $90 I think) to get a letter. This will tell you when the gun was shipped, where it was shipped to, and what features it had when it was shipped, i.e. finish, barrel length, type of grips, etc. This can just satisfy a curiosity but sometimes it can be quite valuable if the gun has some unusual features or went to a notable location or person. I think you can contact the Historical Association thru one of the tabs on this web site. Depending on how it's going there it can take from a few weeks to six months to get the letter back. I have in fact lettered three or four of mine, mostly out of curiosity sake.
FYI, the turn around time for my last letter from the SWHF was 5 weeks. The rate is $100/letter. There is a $10 discount for members of the SWCA OR SWHF. Members of BOTH the SWCA AND SWHF pay $75 per letter. I just lettered a gun with FBI connections but the gamble is the agent may have purchased the gun privately from S&W's normal civilian sources. You never know what you will discover.
DWalt
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As said, the typical historic letter will provide only basic information about your revolver. That will be the date of its shipment from the factory, and to where it was first shipped. That will nearly always be to some distributor, wholesaler, retailer, or possibly some law enforcement agency. Very rarely to a specific individual. It will also provide information about how it was shipped such as the type of grips, barrel length, whether it was blued or plated, etc. It will tell you nothing about the gun’s history after it left the factory. There might also be some information available about if there were any special order features. There will also be a paragraph or two of very general boilerplate information about that particular model.
If you can post information about your gun here - including several good clear pictures, serial number, all markings, caliber, etc., you will usually be answered quickly with detailed information about exactly what you have and approximately when it was shipped. At no cost to you. Remember, S&W made millions upon millions of guns, and only a very tiny percentage of them will have any special historic significance or rarity.
If you can post information about your gun here - including several good clear pictures, serial number, all markings, caliber, etc., you will usually be answered quickly with detailed information about exactly what you have and approximately when it was shipped. At no cost to you. Remember, S&W made millions upon millions of guns, and only a very tiny percentage of them will have any special historic significance or rarity.
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It's also something you'll never know without the historical letter...After your receipt of the letter, you can request a Deep Dive into company records (at a nominal but variable cost) for any additional invoices, shipping records, correspondence, etc...To my way of thinking, each gun has its own history which becomes part of the nation's ongoing history...Here is the link to get a letter for your gun...
...Ben
"Lettering" a gun means you have gotten a "Letter of Authenticity" from the Historian at the S&W Historical Foundation. As others have stated, it documents some historical background on the model and to whom, on what date and how the gun was configured when shipped from the factory. Because this used to be done by a Historian employed by S&W, it is also called a "factory letter" since for many years it was issued by S&W. You can request a letter from the Foundation's website.
As most letters are generic in that it's Shipped to xxx distributor on xx/xx/xxxx and teh configuration as shipped; if you only want to know when it was shipped join the S&WCA. One of it's benefits is that you can request a ship date and they'll tell you month and year shipped. It won't give you more detailed info BUT they will give hints if there is something special so you can then get a letter. Saves you some money.
Here is my generic New Model #3 in .32/44. It shipped to Walter Wesson Springfield, Mass.
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Thank you, Ben, for the response and the link.It's also something you'll never know without the historical letter...After your receipt of the letter, you can request a Deep Dive into company records (at a nominal but variable cost) for any additional invoices, shipping records, correspondence, etc...To my way of thinking, each gun has its own history which becomes part of the nation's ongoing history...Here is the link to get a letter for your gun...
Barry
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Thanks Guy.
Barry
Significantly historic, generic revolver. Too bad it didn't go to someone famous that we might all recognize
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Thanks for the info.
Barry
I have to add that there are apparently many who do not get letters for their guns. What I do like is buying a gun with a letter confirming that the gun I am buying left the factory in that same configuration. Provenance is important to some, answer mysteries to others and when lucky, end up like the previously unknown gun that I had lettered, below, that shipped to Ed McGivern!
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One beautiful gun
I hope that was a tongue in cheek response, since Walter Wesson was Daniel B Wesson's son.
Yea, the tongue in cheek started with Gun Club Fan's GENERIC New Model #3. That thing is beautiful.
