My maternal grandfather immigrated to America from Sicily at age 17 - around 1912. Likely in the late '30's or '40's he acquired this .32 Hand Ejector, but no one knows how or when he actually got it or why. He is not W.S. Brown identified in the S&W letter - he had many more vowels in his name! When he passed away at age 83 around 1977 my grandmother gave the revolver to me, probably because I was going into law enforcement and none of my other relatives had an interest in guns.
I sent for the historical letter soon after I received the gun - they were free back then. Shipped on St. Patrick's day, 1928.