Kframes4me
Member
Almost all my firearms are taken to the range and shot for pleasure. I do have a few un-fired new in box 19's and 27's. Is it worth to have them authenticated? Thanks in advance for views and opinions.
When is it worth having a pistol lettered ?
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gkitch
Member
When a gun is so collectible that it may have been faked or modified at some point, a 5" pre-model 29 comes to mind as an example, a factory letter is a must to support originality and authenticity.
For older guns, a factory letter is nice to have to better capture the bygone era...interesting that it was shipped in "1933 to Bill's Hardware in Chicago" or something like that.
Lastly, there is always a possibility that the letter reveals something that significantly increases the value...shipped to the OSS or Clark Gable or somebody famous.
I have also owned a couple of mystery guns in which a letter provided major clues of why a gun is oddly marked or configured.
For older guns, a factory letter is nice to have to better capture the bygone era...interesting that it was shipped in "1933 to Bill's Hardware in Chicago" or something like that.
Lastly, there is always a possibility that the letter reveals something that significantly increases the value...shipped to the OSS or Clark Gable or somebody famous.
I have also owned a couple of mystery guns in which a letter provided major clues of why a gun is oddly marked or configured.
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Other reasons may be a family connection, to confirm a law enforcement or military ship destination, or just plain curiosity 
.
You will get answers about this all over the spectrum; there are some collectors here who letter every one of their guns and others who do so very rarely or not at all.
.You will get answers about this all over the spectrum; there are some collectors here who letter every one of their guns and others who do so very rarely or not at all.
DWalt
Member
Authenticated is not a good term, even though it is used. It is obvious that a S&W is authentic and came from the S&W factory. The "authentication" letter does not provide any information beyond date of shipment, to where first shipped (normally some S&W distributor), and certain details specific to the gun such as barrel length, finish, and stocks. Generally, it's not worthwhile to get a letter unless there is something unusual about your gun (e.g., a non-standard barrel length) that requires substantiation that it left the factory that way, or if it has some historical significance. If your guns are NIB, and are typical of factory production with no unusual features, there's not much point in getting a letter. But if it makes you feel good, and you can afford the cost, do it.
DWalt gave good advice - if your gun is new and you are satisfied you know what it is - then putting another $50 into your cost factor just to find out what you already know and maybe which distributor or hardware store received it from the factory seems pointless.
OP
Kframes4me
Member
I appreciate everyone's input, all very valid points.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
^^^ This. "Worth it" entirely depends on your definition of that term. This discussion pops up here and on other forums such as the Colt forum at pretty regular intervals. I see the guns in my collection as historical artifacts, so I letter every one that's letterable (S&W, Colt, Savage) out of curiosity; I have no expectations of adding monetary value to the gun or discovering that the gun was owned by Al Capone. But my collection is mostly pre-1920. I've accumulated a collection of catalogs, advertisements, pictures, etc. from various pre-WW 1 sporting goods and hardware stores that my guns lettered to. It wouldn't occur to me to letter a used 1970s or 1980s gun I buy as a shooter.
So basically, you're paying $50 for some info. What matters is what it's worth to you, not us or anyone else.
gkitch
Member
Absolon clarifies a good point: the older the gun, the more interesting a letter becomes.
I disagree with the last sentence. Roy Jinks is only one man and is already backlogged months. Lettering something that is not out of the ordinary is a waste of his valuable time and should be discouraged.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I must respectfully disagree. Please do not take this personally since you've expressed your opinion in a perfectly civil manner, but I've had others be much more hostile in expressing the same position, namely that we amateurs with our "ordinary" guns should get the heck out of the way and not clog up the letter process for the "real" collectors with their super special registered watchamajiggers which are much more worthy of a letter and shouldn't have to wait in line for four months behind a bunch of regular guns.
I have nothing but the highest respect for Mr. Jinks and the works he does, but he is not involved in charity, but is employed by Smith & Wesson to provide a service for which the company gets paid, and hopefully pays him accordingly, and I find any suggestion to discourage using the service at best inappropriate.
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
One way to look at it is like a "bean counter" -- dispassionately. Many details can be found for free here on this forum, or from a book like the SCSW. Does spending $50 increase the value by $50? Is there a return on the investment, will it break even, or turn a profit. It's even possible a factory letter could LOWER a gun's value if it's found the gun had been altered in some way.
Of all the S&W's I have or have had, I have only lettered 3. A Pre27 to verify the exact configuration it was shipped in. A 29-3 with 4 position sight and other special features to confirm the configuration and verify it was 1 of a 5000 order. A 2" .32 Safety hammerless from 1907 to confirm the 2" barrel was original. Unless there is a reason (to me) I do not order letters as I am unconcerned which distributor it may have been shipped to.
Bajadoc
US Veteran
I suspect Mr. Jinks and associates welcome every opportunity to collect $50.00 for a few key strokes and a piece of letterhead.
If by WORTH IT, you are asking when it is a good investment or sound financial decision to letter a Smith & Wesson, I have to mostly agree with the Kernel.
On that note, I look at it this way....would I purchase the firearm for $50 more if a letter came with it?
Many people just like to have the letter and do not worry if it will gain them $50 at time of sale
I totally understand wanting to know where the firearm was shipped on something made prior to the Gun Control Act of 1968. These days with so many big shipments going to Distributors and then off to dealers, do we really care where it was shipped from the factory?
I have only lettered two S&Ws. Both were unusual post 1968 firearms. In neither instance did I learn anything new about the firearms. Will I letter more in the future, absolutely.
However when it comes to my S&W collection....a letter is the exception and not the rule.
I disagree with lettering everything. Roy Jinks is currently 5 months backlogged,and he is 80 years old. S&W has no plan in place to replace him when he gives it up. There are many historical S&W's that may never be lettered because of a backlog of revolvers made within the last 25-50 years that were shipped by the thousands to large distributors that people send for letters on. If you have a "reason" to letter a S&W please do so, as it may enhance the value of it in future years, but if it just to satisfy your curiosity and to collect paper, please think twice about it.
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