Wells Fargo Marked S&W DA (Pics) Need advise from experts

[dinguss]

Ok this one is for the real experts on here that know abit about Well Fargo marked guns.
I bought this gun its a Antique S&W DA in 44 S&W CTG and marked on the barrels side 44 S&W CTG

See the attached picture of the WF marking its aged the same as the barrel top address theres pitting in the C.
The letters are worn just like the barrel address.
Does this marking look correct?
Its such a unusal gun to have this marking i cant see why someone would fake it on this gun.
gun has real pearl grips.
Im gona request a Jinks letter on it from Roy but figger it will say purchased by Robinson of New york like every other one i got letters on.
Any advise would be great Ser # is in the 52000s
Its the long cylinder 1 and 9/16th cylinder. in 44 S&W

[mmaher94087]

I admit I'm no expert. My understanding of Wells Fargo markings is extremely limited. The (original?) markings that I have seen on S&Ws were all on the frame or the ejector housing and ended with a four digit number that mirrored the last four digits of the serial number. All had 5" barrels and the majority were Schofields. I have never observed a marked .44 DA. I have seen various other WF marked non-S&Ws but the originality of the markings was always in question. One never knows, maybe it was shipped to old man Wells himself? Mike #283

[TLflag]

Been involved in several Wells Fargo guns, mostly shotguns. They "never" stamped their name on the wood, only on the receiver of shotguns. "Never" means mostly as nothing is locked in. Did alot of research on this. I found several references to the fact that Western Union, the successor to Wells Fargo, has a list by serial number, of all guns Wells Fargo had. I don't know who you can ask about this list, but do know there are endless fakes on there. It's all about MONEY!

[opoefc]

The stamping is 100% fake. Ed.

[Kavinsky]

Even if its fake its a nice gun nonetheless.

[Dragon88]

Yup, nice old gun. It looks huge sitting in your hand like that.

Oh, and remember what Patton said about pearl grips...

[dinguss]

Originally Posted by opoefc

The stamping is 100% fake. Ed.

Well if its Fake im gona remove it and restore the gun get rid of the Pitting or most of it so i hope your 100% Correct LOL

I will wait till i get a few more opions on this tho i think.
The gun was bought as a shooter not a collectors Piece so no big loss if it is fake marking.
I have seen schofields with WF markings on there barrels that looked just like this exactly the same.
Also if it was Faked it was done along time ago because that pitting goes right into the WF markings.

[opoefc]

There are two types of genuine WF & Co. markings seen on Schofields. neither of which are similar to the stamping on this .44DA. Little John Gangle's auction last May had two WF & Co. marked Schofields, one of each type. Look up his catalog pictures if you want to see the marks. The gun in this thread is a great old S&W with lots of character, including the fake marks put on years ago by a prior owner. Personally, I would leave it as is. it's a part of gun history with fake WF stamps intact. it's not going to fool anybody that knows WF & Co. guns. Ed.

[dinguss]

Originally Posted by opoefc

There are two types of genuine WF & Co. markings seen on Schofields. neither of which are similar to the stamping on this .44DA. Little John Gangle's auction last may had two WF & Co. marked Schofields, one of each type. Look up his catalog pictures if you want to see the marks. The gun in this thread is a great old S&W with lots of character, including the fake marks put on years ago by a prior owner. Personally, I would leave it as is. it's a part of gun history with fake WF stamps intact. it's not going to fool anybody that knows WF & Co. guns. Ed.

Ok i will just leave it thanks for the tips Ed.
I most likely will keep it anyway as the long cylinder models are harder to find in 44 Russian /S&W CTG

[opoefc]

dinguss, I have dug further in my WF & Co. notes and for what it's worth, found an old picture of a 2nd Model American, with a fake "US" stamp on the butt, and a WF & Co. stamp in the left barrel flat that is pretty close to your gun's stamp on the barrel rib, and another gun, also an American model, with the same style stampings. The first gun was inspected by a well known WF & Co. expert, some 20+ years ago, who opined that small WF & Co. stations in isolated western areas sometimes marked their guns with their own stamps and marks, which often differed from the standard markings applied by the WF & Co. home offices. Authenticated guns with such marks are known. My earlier posting that your markings are fake, was based on the standard WF&Co. markings. I can't say, for sure, therfore that your gun's stampings might not have been applied by one of the isolated stations. The gun is what it is. Good Luck, Ed.

[moosedog]

Nice catch. Looks to be in very nice shape for it's age too. You just never know with these old ones until you get a letter and even then.

"Im gona request a Jinks letter on it from Roy but figger it will say purchased by Robinson of New york like every other one i got letters on."

Ever consider starting a "Robinson gun collection?"

[deadin]

but figger it will say purchased by Robinson of New york like every other one i got letters on."

Possibly not.... your gun is a real late one with that serial and the caliber marking on the side of the barrel. I think Robinson may have been out of business by then......

[MyJuliet]

Not a gun collector is to buy pieces as a shooter, so no big loss if it is false mark. I have seen schofields WF barrels, watching as this is the same mark.
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