Smith and Wesson and the Roster "A" mark

[San Jose Gun Trader]

Can someone please translate what DOJ means regarding Smith and Wesson and the "A" engraving as found on the DOJ roster?

Smith & Wesson revolvers currently on the roster with the letter 'A' after the product code, will be engraved with the letter 'A' on the underside of the top strap of the revolver.

[DEPUTYBILL]

And there are now a bunch of revolvers on the added list with an "a" after the sku #. Did not find any information on the S&W website either??

[DEPUTYBILL]

No info on DOJ or S&W websites. I sent an e-mail to S&W. We will see if they respond. May have to call DOJ on Monday.

[Condorguns]

Sounds like they are making Smith and Wesson make "special" guns for California. I will be watching this thread to see what update you get.

[San Jose Gun Trader]

I better get a fishing pole distributor on my books because that's all I'll be able to sell in a year.....

[DEPUTYBILL]

E-mail response from S&W was talk to CA> DOJ!

[DEPUTYBILL]

called DOJ, left message.

[Condorguns]

You know..... In 40 years that a stamp will be a highly sought after mark for collecting. o_O

[munkeeboi]

It means that they made a CA version and other than PPT, if you want one of these revolvers, you have to buy an 'A' model from them. You won't be able to buy any of the "old" stock since it is not on the roster anymore. way to make more money S & W

took this from the other thread in the Handgun forum

[ugimports]

Anyone know who carries the "A" serialized receivers. I haven't found any of those SKUs from Bill Hicks or Davidsons. I stopped looking after that.

[Condorguns]

I checked Ellett on Sunday and didn't find any. Didn't check Acusport.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

called DOJ, left message.

DOJ called this am. The women I talked to have not idea what was going on.
She gave me voicemail of women in roster data entry. Left message since her voicemail says she is gone until the 24th.

[ugimports]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

DOJ called this am. The women I talked to have not idea what was going on.
She gave me voicemail of women in roster data entry. Left message since her voicemail says she is gone until the 24th.

Just now I checked:
BIll Hicks
Camfour
Chattanooga Shooting Supply
Davidsons
Green Supply
RSR
Sports South
Zanders

I searched on 160221A (160221 still exists) and nobody carries...not sure when these are intended to be introduced to the market or if only a limited set of the distributors that only deail with stocking dealers carry them.

[Condorguns]

This is stupid. You would think Smith and Wesson would know who will be carrying these. Something is very strange here. Looks like DOJ may have found a new way to lock the roster.

[FresnoRob]

Originally Posted by ugimports

Just now I checked:
BIll Hicks
Camfour
Chattanooga Shooting Supply
Davidsons
Green Supply
RSR
Sports South
Zanders

I searched on 160221A (160221 still exists) and nobody carries...not sure when these are intended to be introduced to the market or if only a limited set of the distributors that only deail with stocking dealers carry them.

A true "ghost gun" wouldn't surprise me if all the guns on the roster one day are unavailable.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Maybe if some FFL 's here called S&W, and DOJ you might get more of an answer? Is there a roster/DROS problem number you can call?

[Condorguns]

Shop is closed today so i am away from my DROS computer. I doubt the report issue function would be appropriate for this. DOJ is going to say ask Smith where they are selling their guns.

[DEPUTYBILL]

So, any FFL dealer call DOJ, or S&W yet to see if they can get any information?

[ugimports]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

So, any FFL dealer call DOJ, or S&W yet to see if they can get any information?

no time...btw: you don't have to be an FFL to call either DOJ or S&W and ask questions.

I am not currently looking for any of these so not really spending much time on it.

[Elite Armory]

I received a letter written by Smith & Wesson.

Basically what it sounds like is that Smith & Wesson is updating some of their revolvers and as they are doing this, they are marking the updated revolvers with the Letter "A" (subsequent revolvers will be listed with B,C,D and so on as there are more updates). This means that when they update the revolver and mark the letter code on it, the old revolver without the letter, but is the same model will no longer be valid for sale in CA as a rostered gun. If you look at the CA roster you will notice that some of the model numbers are now followed by an "A". These are the ones that have been updated and relisted.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Thanks for the update. I guess the CS rep that answered my e-mail either did not know, or was to busy to find out. All I got from them was "Contact CA. DOJ". I am still waiting for an update from DOJ.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Just got off the phone with a rep. from CA. DOJ.
The guns currently on the roster are still good to go for California
The added S&W revolvers on the recently added list from 6-13-14 are now on the roster. This guns WILL have the "A" stamp on the revolver frame. The SKU number ending with "A" on the new guns WILL NOT be printed on the box or paperwork from Smith & Wesson!
I was told that Smith & Wesson will inform their distributors that Ca. roster guns will have to have the "A" stamp on them for California sales.
It sounds like there may be some issues getting the guns shipped since some current guns do not have the stamp but are still on the roster. The bottom line should be that all Smith revolvers can still be shipped to Ca., but the FFL dealers will have to check the new guns for the "A" stamp for a non-leo sale.
I guess that means an FFL here in CA. will have to confirm from your distributer that the gun has the stamp on it before the ship it to you!?

[Elite Armory]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

I guess that means an FFL here in CA. will have to confirm from your distributer that the gun has the stamp on it before the ship it to you!?

I highly doubt that any major distributor is going to do that. I guess we won't be stocking anymore Smith revolvers... what a shame, we usually stock a good amount of them too. Halfway thinking about dropping all Smith & Wesson products.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Just what all the anti-gunners want! Less "approved" guns, and lets make it hard for FFL's, and gun owners to buy guns so all these "gun nuts" will just give up!

[DEPUTYBILL]

I just e-mailed S&W back to see if they are in fact going to make "A" stamped revolvers for California. I would think that if it is the case, that S&W would just put an "A", or a "CA. approved" label on the box. I will update if I hear from S&W!

[nidhogg24]

Seems too me like it would be easiest to stamp an A on all new revolvers they make.

[ugimports]

Originally Posted by nidhogg24

Seems too me like it would be easiest to stamp an A on all new revolvers they make.

They might be doing that, but the issue is no way to distinguish between old/new stock at a distributor if the box isn't marked. So an FFL would be taking a gamble on what's in the box.

They might be able to go on serial number, but again most distributors don't "hand pick" like a retailer might.

[DEPUTYBILL]

Well, I guess if a California FFL orders a "ca. approved" revolver and the distributor sends a non-approved revolver, it would be on the distributor to make it right? If they send an incorrect item now isn't on them to correct it.

If the FFL orders(buys) the correct item, it should be corrected by the distributor(seller)
I am going to be interested in S&W's response to my e-mail.

[ugimports]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

Well, I guess if a California FFL orders a "ca. approved" revolver and the distributor sends a non-approved revolver, it would be on the distributor to make it right? If they send an incorrect item now isn't on them to correct it.

If the FFL orders(buys) the correct item, it should be corrected by the distributor(seller)
I am going to be interested in S&W's response to my e-mail.

Distributors only list items as "CA Approved" if the mfg labels it such.. so I would agree if the box was labeled they would do that.

Otherwise, distributors won't have any CA legal revolvers to sell because looking in the box isn't what they do.

Many of these distributors have websites we order from. We order by SKU, as we have discussed in this thread a new SKU is not being created for CA. Back to the same problem of how is the distributor supposed to know which are CA legal if we can't tell.

Take guns out of the picture...

Image this conversation:
Me: Hello Home Depot. I would like to order 3 of SKU 123456, but I need only the CA approved SKU 123456
Home Depot: Uh, we have thousands of that SKU in the warehouse, how can I tell which is CA approved?
Me: You need to open the packaging and break open the part and look for the "A" stamped on it. I don't know if you were shipped any but Company A said all the new ones will have this. It's not legal in my state without it.
Home Depot: Sorry, we're not equipped to do that.
*click*

[dachan]

Found an internal S&W memo with a more detailed explanation of "A" stamped revolvers, sounds like latest retested version will be marked A, B, C etc, and that version will be stated on the roster as well as added to the SKU. Only the latest rostered suffix will be rostered, and that suffix must match the SKU and frame stamp:
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...6&postcount=27

[Tyke8319]

I got an "A" stamp if anyone wants to borrow it...?

[DEPUTYBILL]

Well, I got an answer from S&W.
They are still selling revolvers in California, but not pistols because of the micro-stamping law.
Still did not address the "A" stamp or if they are going to be packaged in marked boxes for sale here.
I resent my message asking for answers. The saga again continues!

[ugimports]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

Well, I got an answer from S&W.
They are still selling revolvers in California, but not pistols because of the micro-stamping law.
Still did not address the "A" stamp or if they are going to be packaged in marked boxes for sale here.
I resent my message asking for answers. The saga again continues!

They did renew the M&P Shield though.

[DEPUTYBILL]

For what is worth, I got an answer from S&W(kinda).
They say that the "A" stamping of Ca. roster guns has started. They did not answer my question about marking the shipping boxes with a Ca. approved label or roster stamp. I think I am done trying to get a simple answer from S&W!

[dachan]

I was told that the SKU on the box label will have a matching suffix with the frame

[halifax]

Originally Posted by DEPUTYBILL

For what is worth, I got an answer from S&W(kinda).
They say that the "A" stamping of Ca. roster guns has started. They did not answer my question about marking the shipping boxes with a Ca. approved label or roster stamp. I think I am done trying to get a simple answer from S&W!

If they're going to take the time and manpower to stamp the revolver with an "A" why wouldn't the label the box. Just hand-write it for Pete's sake.

[tarmac36]

Has anyone seen one of the new "A" SKU's or have any further updates? I see more were added this week on the roster. 686's and 629's.

[DEPUTYBILL]

I gave up trying to get a answer from S&W. I have been looking on their website and have not seen anything mentioned about it.
Any FFL dealers out there that have asked their distributors about these "A"
marked revolvers yet??

[halifax]

Nope, nothing yet.

[KrisDSA]

Bringing this back from the dead. Just dros another S&W 442 w/o lock and doesn't have any letters. So what's the point again of having the letters ? Only one of the J frame in the FFL had a letter. Stopped at three other local FFL n half the guns didn't have a letter.