Firearms Records

The Cody Firearms Museum Records Office has rare access to the select serial number records from Winchester, Marlin, and L.C. Smith.

The Records Office provides individuals with information from the original factory records based on the make and serial number of the firearm in the form of factory letters or serial number searches.

Take a quick video glance at what we do:

The details:

View and print:

• Cody Firearms Museum Records Office "Winchester Available Serial Number Ranges" (PDF)
• Cody Firearms Museum Records Office "Marlin and L.C. Smith Available Serial Number Ranges" (PDF)

A factory letter is an official report on the information contained in the orignal company records which the museum holds and are available to firearms museum members and non-members for a fee. Factory letters are on Winchester or Marlin letterhead and bear the seal of the Cody Firearms Museum.

A serial number search is a members-only benefit which provides the data on a firearm by phone, fax, or e-mail. Serial number searches contain the same information as factory letters.

Factory letters and serial number searches may contain the following information on your Winchester, Marlin, or L.C. Smith:

• Warehouse date
• Type of firearm
• Caliber
• Barrel length and shape
• Trigger
• Stock and butt
• Sights
• Magazine
• Shipping date
• Other features

The Records Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to the high demand for this service, we limit the number of member serial number searches to four (4) per day.

Contact the Records Specialist for more information:

307.578.4031 (ph)
307.578.4079 (fax)
cfmrecords@bbhc.org

CFM Records Office
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414

According to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center's Code of Ethics, under no circumstance may staff members appraise objects either as part of their normal daily duty or as an independent service.

Records Office Fee Schedule

Letter / Service	Member Price	Non-member Price	Notes
Winchester letter	$40	$70	Includes Serial Number Application date when available
Winchester, Serial Number Application (SNA) date only	$25	$40
Winchester, Model 21 letter	$55	$85
Winchester, Model 21 order sheet	$30	$30
Marlin letter	$40	$70
L.C. Smith letter	$40	$70
5 pack of letters	$175
10 pack of letters	$300
20 pack of letters	$550
Extended research	$50 per hour		Call Records Office to schedule
Factory letter re-issue/ reprint service	$35	$35	Mail in old letter, payment, and explanation/ request

Extended Weekend Office Hours: 2012

The CFM Records Office is open on the following Saturdays during these shows (times listed are Mountain Time):

• May 18 – 20, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Colorado Gun Collectors Association Annual Gun Show, Denver, Colorado*
• June 9, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Great Eastern Show, Louisville, Kentucky; and Dallas Arms Collectors Show, Dallas, Texas
• July 6 – 8, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Winchester Arms Collectors Association Show, Cody, Wyoming*
• July 28, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Association Annual Show, Kansas City, Missouri
• August 18, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Big Reno Show, Reno, Nevada
• September 22, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Great Eastern Show, Louisville, Kentucky; and Northeast Gun Shows Marlborough, Massachusetts, show
• October 27, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.: West Springfield/Winchester Arms Collectors Association Show, West Springfield, Massachusetts
• November 10, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Wanenmacher's Tulsa Arms Show, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• November 17, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Big Reno/Winchester Arms Collectors Association Annual West Coast Show, Reno, Nevada; and Ohio Gun Collectors Association Show, Wilmington, Ohio

Hours listed in mountain time. Show dates and our hours may change; call to confirm.

*CFM will have a table at these shows.

CALL FROM THE SHOW YOU ARE ATTENDING TO LEARN ABOUT OUR SHOW SPECIALS!!

Firearms Membership Benefits

Members of the firearms museum are part of a special group, and receive free or discounted factory letters and serial number searches.

The firearms member benefit of serial number searches applies for one year from the date of membership payment, and is based on the CFM membership commitment level.

These are special benefits that are not included in other Buffalo Bill Historical Center membership categories.

Find out more!

Serial Number Application (SNA) Dates

Have you heard about the "Polishing Room Books"?

Well, here's the scoop... we refer to the information in these ledgers as the Serial Number Application dates (SNAs). They record the dates on which serial numbers were applied to receivers. No configuration information is recorded in these ledgers.

The ledgers have been digitized and indexed and are available through the Records Office as an added service.

The SNA date, when available, will be included with all member serial number searches and factory letters starting March 18, 2011. Non-members will pay $15 to add the SNA date to a regular letter.

Here's the exciting part ...

For some models the SNA ledgers continue beyond the serial number ranges of the warehouse ledgers we currently use, in some cases into the 1950s. The 1866, early 1873, 1876 and Hotchkiss serial number application dates are currently not available. There are even SNA ledgers for models which have no other records. Check out the SNA ranges on the back of this page.

Factory letters for these firearms (serial number application date only) will be charged at $25 for members and $40 for non-members.

Update your "old" letters:

Add the SNA date to your old letters for $15 ea. Return original letter(s) in your name dated after January 1, 2007 with payment and receive an "updated" letter.

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