Models 1 1/2, either rimfire or centerfire, will only letter to one of S&W distributors, in 99% of the cases. It was the factory's practice to ship guns only to their distributors, except for a very few VIP guns that were usually presentation pieces. Therefore, the only thing you will learn from most factory letters for those models is the distributors name, the configuration of the gun and the date the gun was shipped. It's well known that many famous western characters, Hickok, Cody, James brothers, the Earps & Doc Holiday, etc. owned S&Ws, however none of those revolvers lettered to any of them, only to a distributor. Ed.