Actual bat weight versus the shipping records
 

I've been able to learn quite a bit so far by browsing the past forum archives along with having read Vince Malta's book and using it as the invaluable resources it's proving to be.

I have come across game used bats that might come close to the weights listed in the official Louisville Slugger shipping records found in the book, but don't match up exactly. For example, an auction lists a bat as weighing 31.7 oz and the shipping records for the particular label style, model and length state the bats that were ordered weighed 31 oz.

Now I dabble a little in wood working as a hobby, and I know that depending on how you store wood it can gain or lose moisture content and over time this, along with other storage factors can affect the density and weight of the wood.

So my question is, with older bats, is there an acceptable +/- range for weights when comparing them to the original factory order records? I think it could be possible for a bat to gain or lose almost an oz of weight over the course of 30 to 70+ years. Or is my assumption wrong and it becomes more of a cut and dry issue that if the weights don't match up then I can probably assume it was not ordered by the player?

As always, I appreciate all your thoughts!

The authenticators say bats can lose up to 3 ounces. I think that's reasonable- I've seen some bats where I believe they lost much more than that. As far as gaining weight- I don't know what authenticators consider reasonable, but if a bat is .7 ounces more then what was ordered, I wouldn't worry about it.
Matt

Agree regarding up to about 3 ounces of weight loss due to water loss.

Weight loss also may result from a break that is repaired and that shortens the bat.

Weight loss will also occur from missing wood - chips, a lot of scoring, carvings, etc.

I am unaware of any evidence that bats may gain weight over time. other than perhaps from a good number of batboy nails or a good amount of tape. I think that is it regarding gaining weight.

But bats recorded as a certain weight, and even bats stamped a certain weight, were sometimes off by a little, from the start. This may be why a bat recorded and/or marked as a certain weight, may actually weigh more. Not due to any weight gain over time, but because the bat began life heavier.