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Quote:
"Again, imho, the real rip-off in "letters" is Colt. $100 for a letter on my 1883 and it says the stock is "wood" and the finish is "blue". The only thing blue on the gun is the trigger guard, top lever and butt plate screws. Their form letter is obviously oriented to their hand guns."

Not to change the subject; But I recently came into possession of a Colt Model 1860 revolver of Civil War vintage. The is a plain jane example with little remaining finish but matching numbers similiar to the thousands of examples around that actually saw use during the War. I was shocked to learn that the "factory letter" which accompanied this pistol had cost $300. Additionally I was told that if a pistol has any special features such as engraving the cost would even be higher.
This is pure and simple price gouging to me.
Up until a few years ago a letter from Smith & Wesson cost $30. My understanding is they have now raised their fees to $50.
While we're on the subject the interesting records IMO to peruse would be those of the main distributors such as Sears or the major hardware stores such as Simmons which were the principal retail firearms outlets. These records would probably show who the end purchaser really was.
For shotguns we may have become lucky as my understanding is that the A&F and the VL&D/VL&A records are in fact available.
Jim

Any research vehicle can provide interesting information or not so interesting information. You pay your money and you take your chances. Be thankful that "NO INFORMATION" usually results in a refund. As for the expensive Colt letter, a friend ordered a letter on a Colt shotgun, #39 as I recall. The reply indicated the purchaser's name, gun specs, no more. Several months later, another letter arrived indicating that the purchaser had been identified as the General Counsel for Colt at the time the shotgun was introduced. Probably worth the price of the letter.