To the OB. I get calls all the time in reference to obtaining historical factory documents on firearms. We have lots of threads on the OB of request of info on various firearms and there are a lot of folks that do not know that these services exist for some of the more popular collectible firearm brands. I thought I would list how to get various "factory letters" for some popular collectible firearms below:

1.) Smith and Wesson - Contact: Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation. SWHF is really cool. They can provide not only a "Letter of Authenticity" but they have another level called "Historical Deep Dive Letter". You can request the "deep dive letter" IF they can do a "Letter of Authenticity" on your gun.

2.) Colts - Contact: Colt Archive Services. CAS can supply you with a factory letter on many Colts firearms. Direct URL is www.coltarchives.com.

3.) Ruger - Contact: Ruger Records Department - 1 Lacey Place/Southport, Connecticut 06890. You can get info by going to the Ruger website at Ruger.com. Then click on and go to customer service, click on "serial number look up" and click on "Request for Letter of Authenticity". They will have a form for you to fill out.

4.) Winchester, Marlin, Savage, L.C. Smith and Ithaca - Contact: Cody Firearms Center. Cody Firearms Records Office at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West. Cody Firearms Center has had the records of these brands transferred to them and are the caretakers of that historical data.
Not all models and serial numbers will be covered. As an example: Marlin records are only available on Marlins built BEFORE 1907. Marlin did a poor job of documenting manufacturing records after that date.

For collectors or just for personal satisfaction/research the letters are well worth the money imho. Pretty cool to have if you have a special firearm from a family member etc.

Hope you guys can use the above info and enjoy searching info on your favorite gun

If you join the S&W Collectors Association, they send about 4 very slick journals per year. The S&W Historical Foundation has a one time joining fee. The letter cost for a non-member is $100. If you are a member of either of the above, it is $90. If you belong to both, a letter is $75.
Most are going to show the gun went to a department or hardware store. But it is kind of like fishing in the river, you never know what you are going to snag. While setting up at a show years ago an acquaintance found a gun he wanted from a fellow exhibitor and needed to raise some quick cash. He offered me a prewar K22 that he said he had intended to letter but never got around to doing it.
Turns out it was snagged off of the production line, modified and picked up by Victor Wesson who was the production floor manager at the time.
If available, shipping manifests and other info on a chosen gun will be included if they have been digitalized.

Cool story. I take it you still have that K22?

Most likely.

I would reckon so!