CFA Serial Number Research & Dating 2

Question 1

What is a 'factory letter' in the context of firearm appraisal, and which manufacturer is most famously associated with them?

Accepted Answer

An official archive document certifying a firearm's original configuration and shipping date, most associated with Colt

Answer

A Colt factory letter is an authenticated document from the Colt Archive confirming the original configuration, caliber, barrel length, finish, and shipping information of a specific revolver or pistol, and is highly valued for authentication.

Question 2

Winchester factory authentication letters for pre-64 lever-action rifles can be obtained from which institution?

Accepted Answer

Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Answer

The Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming holds the original Winchester factory records and offers letter services authenticating original configurations and shipping dates for Winchester firearms.

Question 3

Smith & Wesson revolvers manufactured before approximately 1958 used what type of serial number system that differs from post-1958 practice?

Accepted Answer

Model-specific serial number series that restarted at 1 for each model

Answer

Pre-1958 S&W revolvers used separate serial number series for each model line (e.g., Hand Ejector series), whereas post-1958 production adopted a unified alphanumeric prefix system across all models.

Question 4

When researching a Browning firearm's date of manufacture, an appraiser would primarily consult:

Accepted Answer

Browning's own date-of-manufacture lookup service and reference guides such as the Standard Catalog of Browning Firearms

Answer

Browning publishes a date-of-manufacture lookup by serial number on its official website, and reference guides like the Standard Catalog of Browning Firearms provide complementary production tables for appraisers.

Question 5

A Luger pistol described as having 'all matching numbers' but a 'non-matching magazine' should be appraised how compared to a fully matching example?

Accepted Answer

At a discount, since the magazine is a serialized component and its mismatch reduces originality

Answer

On collectible military Lugers, magazines are serialized and considered part of the matched set; a mismatched magazine reduces the 'all matching' premium, though the penalty is smaller than a mismatched frame or barrel.

CFA Practice Test

CFA Practice Test

CFA Serial Number Research & Dating 2