The Old Fuff will have a lot more to say later...
But for the moment he will point out that 50% of the money Roy got for this service was (and is) being contributed to the U.S. International Shooting Team, which among other things represents this country at such events as the Olympic Games.
The records for the most part are in hand-written ledgers, not a computerized database, that go back to the Civil War, and the guns listed therein are not in any particular order – especially numerical order. So each request is a fishing expedition that can be quick, or take hours. Then after the research is completed a letter needs to be written and posted.
Would anyone here do all of that for $15.00 a pop, or perhaps $25.00 now?
I would think that Roy’s knowledge and insights would also be worth something. No one else even comes close. If he were an attorney you’d be looking at something like $300 to $500 per hour. Historians of his caliber are way underpaid.
Obviously he cannot offer a guarantee that each recipient will find out that they’re gun is extraordinarily valuable, and that was never his intent – although lightning does strike sometimes. But if you don’t want to take the risk, don’t play the game.
Generally speaking, anyone that has a lettered gun and decides to sell it – especially on the collectors’ market – can add the cost of the letter to that of the gun, and get their money back. Sometimes they can even make an extra profit, which is something Roy doesn’t.
A similar service at Colt will set you back on average about $100 for each request. Some folks don't know how well off they have been, but when Roy is no longer able to do what he has been doing they may find out.