Cody Firearms Museum Records Service

Search and View the Cody Firearms Museum Digital Collection

The Cody Firearm Museum Records Service has rare access to the select serial number records of these companies: Winchester, Marlin and L.C. Smith.

View and print the Cody Firearms Museums Records Service "Available Serial Number Ranges" (PDF)

Cody Firearms Museum Records Service provides Cody Firearms Museum members with information from original factory records based on the make and serial number of the firearm.

What is a Factory Letter?
What is a Serial Number Search?

Factory letters may contain the following information on your Winchester, Marlin or L.C. Smith firearm:

Warehouse Date	Type of Firearm	Caliber
Barrel Length & Type	Trigger	Stock
Sights	Magazine	Butt
Shipped Date	Additional Remarks	Checkering

It takes approximately four (4) weeks to process a factory letter request.

The Cody Firearms Museum
Factory Letter Pricelist

Winchester Lever Action and Marlin Letters - $60 (Firearms Members $35)

Model 21 and L.C. Smith Letters - $75 (Firearms Members $50)

Model 21 Letter with Build Sheet Information - $100 (Firearms Members $75)

Firearms Member 5-Letter Package - $150

Firearms Member 10-Letter Package - $250

Additional Research - Members Only benefit - $50 per hour (one hour minimum)

Members of the Cody Firearms Museum are part of a special group, and receive free or discounted factory letters and serial numbers searches. These are special benefits that are not included in other Buffalo Bill Historical Center membership categories.

2009 SPECIAL EXTENDED HOURS
The Cody Firearms Museum Records Office is open on the following Saturdays during these 2009 shows:

Times listed below are Mountain Time

May 16-17 – Colorado Gun Collectors Assoc. Annual Gun Show, Denver, Colo.* - Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m. – noon
June 13-14 – Winchester Club of America Show, Cody, Wyo.* - Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
June 19-21 – Winchester Arms Collectors Assoc. Show, Cody, Wyo.* - Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
July 25 – Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Assoc. Annual Show, Kansas City, Mo. - Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aug. 15 – Big Reno Show, Reno Nev. - Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sept. 26 – Dallas Arms Collectors Show, Dallas, Tex. - Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
October – WACA Annual Eastern Show, Springfield, Mass. - Sat. 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Nov. 14-15 – Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show, Tulsa, Okla. - Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Nov. 14-15 – WACA Annual West Coast Show/Big Reno Show, Reno, Nev. - Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sun. 9 a.m. – noon
Dec. 12 – National Gun Day Gun Show, Louisville, Ky. - Sat. 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

*Look for the Cody Firearms Museum table at these shows

Anyone calling from these shows receives free serial number searches and $25 discounts on memberships (new or renewal).

BECOME A CODY FIREARMS MUSEUM MEMBER TODAY!

The Cody Firearms Museum member benefit of serial number searches applies for one year from the date of membership payment, and is based on the Cody Firearms Museum membership commitment level. Sorry - serial number searches are not available to non-CFM members.

Members of the Cody Firearms Museum are able to request serial number searches by phone; please contact the Records Specialist at 307.578.4031. This members-only service is available weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MST. Due to the high demand for this service, we limit the number of searches available to four (4) per call.

For more information regarding the Cody Firearms Records Service, please contact the Records Specialist, or by phone at 307.578.4031, or send your request by regular mail to:

CFM Records Service
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
720 Sheridan Ave.
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.