Roy G. Jinks in his home office, which mirrors the office of Smith & Wesson co-founder D. B. Wesson, holding the company's first ledger. (Globe Photo / Nancy Palmieri) Posted on 01/13/2005 11:04:27 AM PST by freepatriot32
There is an entire bookshelf (10 feet, 6 inches long) in Roy G. Jinks's home office that contains every firearms patent issued in the United States from June 29, 1832, to May 17, 1921. They were compiled and bound first by Daniel Baird Wesson, who died in 1906, and then his sons. D. B. Wesson, as he was known, together with his business partner Horace Smith founded Smith & Wesson, a company that holds a special place in American industrial history.
Roy G. Jinks in his home office, which mirrors the office of Smith & Wesson co-founder D. B. Wesson, holding the company's first ledger. (Globe Photo / Nancy Palmieri)
Wesson, who was responsible for innovations that led to the first handguns that could shoot multiple rounds without reloading, held more than idle interest in the set. "The company has always concentrated on coming up with new designs and new innovations that would give them an edge in the market," said Jinks, who has been company historian since joining the Springfield-based firearms manufacturer in 1962. (He has also held several other posts.)
Jinks's fascination with Wesson and his legacy goes back to when Jinks was a boy shooting at tin cans in Rochester, N.Y. "It was the guns that brought me to the history," said Jinks, who not only has an extensive firearms collection but has accumulated hundreds of thousands of Smith & Wesson documents -- mainly catalogues, advertising fliers, invoices, and original patents as well as business and personal correspondences.
When the City of Springfield razed the old Smith & Wesson factory in 1971, they first sold it to Jinks for $1 and gave him a week to rummage around and take anything he thought valuable. The prizes he landed included the original chestnut paneling in D. B. Wesson's office, which Jinks installed in the 18th-century red brick Colonial house in the Berkshires that he shares with his wife, Jean, a retired advertising executive.
Now on a winter's morning, you are likely to find Jinks, an endowed member of the National Rifle Association, sitting in Wesson's re-created office, doing the things the company historian might do. Last year that included responding to 20,978 e-mails, 6,007 phone inquiries 3,169 letters, and performing 378 serial number traces for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
I had the pleasure of attending prep school in the early 1980's with Judy and Dan Wesson, of THE Wesson Arms family.
FYI
Roy Jinks is an absolute treasure. Unfortunately, S&W will probably not have a historian once he retires (not that anyone could replace him). A "Jinks Letter" about a specific S&W firearm is a prized item among collectors.
ping
See, I just knew you would know who he was.
Sounds like an interesting and irreplaceable figure, but a company with a history like S&W really should have someone.
To my eye, the lines of the Smith and Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum with the 4 inch barrel just cannot be beat. It is one elegant design.
Semper Fi,
Truly a gorgeous firearm, the ultimate K frame Smith IMO. You should also look at the Model 27 in a 3.5" barrel and the 4 inch Model 29, both classics.
Thanks for the ping!
And I like it, too.
L
The M19 is a real beauty. I picked up a 4" one this summer at the gun show for $210! And they say they're no deals at gun shows!
My latest addition is a short and brutish N-Frame, a 3" Model 24 .44 S&W Special. It's beautiful in it's own way.
I think I saw the same article over at the S&W forum.
Tried out my new to me 29-1 8 3/8th today, very nice!
I want a Model 24 in the worst way, I have guys at several shops around town bribed with promises of beer to call me first if one comes in.
Remind me not to mess with your Missus! :)
Wow..........1$ and take what ya want !!!
Last time I saw a deal like that was in a titty bar !
Awesome history. Old Jinks is an icon himself IMHO.
Stay safe Ya'll !
Got that load a little hot did we?
Dang! And I thought I had it bad.
I'm sure there's a fascinating story to go with that lovely piece of sculpture...
Yes...but the stuff Jinks bought was REAL !
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