I have just finished reading about the Wells Fargo Schofield in the SCSW and see there are many fakes. What are the best way to determine if one is a fake? I saw one last night in a local shop but I did not pay much attention due to the $3400 price tag on it and the fact that I know nothing about older Smiths. The SN is in the 4200 range and it was stamped with the Wells Fargo lettering. It is also a nickel gun. I think it was one that was cut to a 5 inch barrel length. Are the book prices valid on these? Are they going up in value as quiclky as other Smiths? I am going to take another look at it and pay more attention to the details. Thanks for any info you can give me.

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Jim
SWCA #2246

I have just finished reading about the Wells Fargo Schofield in the SCSW and see there are many fakes. What are the best way to determine if one is a fake? I saw one last night in a local shop but I did not pay much attention due to the $3400 price tag on it and the fact that I know nothing about older Smiths. The SN is in the 4200 range and it was stamped with the Wells Fargo lettering. It is also a nickel gun. I think it was one that was cut to a 5 inch barrel length. Are the book prices valid on these? Are they going up in value as quiclky as other Smiths? I am going to take another look at it and pay more attention to the details. Thanks for any info you can give me.

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Jim
SWCA #2246

I just found out this gun has the large US marking on the grip. Would any real Wells Fargo guns have had this marking or is this possible evidence of this being a FAKE Wells Fargo gun. I understand the US marking was only on military guns.

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Jim
SWCA #2246

bravastar1,

I am not a collector of such things and thankfully therefore not an expert.

I suspect the latest edition of the Smith and Wesson Collector's book by Supica and Nahas might be of help here. If you do not have a copy, get one, or ask for info here as you are doing.

I do believe the following is correct though. ALMOST ALL of the Schofields were issued to the U.S. Army and stamped as you described with a "US" on the butt? Some were made and sent out the door directly as civilian models. Those probably were not stamped.

After the Army was done with the Schofields they were bought by an eastern gun firm and the barrels were cut to 5 inches and resold on the the civilian market. This is when WF Express and Company bought theirs.

It is probably highly likely that a lot of the original Wells Fargo Schofields were stamped "US".

BUT, there are many fakes out there of all Wells Fargo guns, including the Schofields.

Please do competent research before you buy. Maybe the gunshop will allow you to put it on hold while you research it?

Regards.

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Have guns...will shoot'em.

I was once told that more Wells Fargo Schofields were made in the twentieth century than were made in the nineteenth century. It may be genuine but be sure first.

Good luck.

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OFT/NRA LIFE MEMBER

Bravastar1, If you can post good photos here of the gun and all markings, especially the WF&Co stamp, I will tell you if it is a fake, or real. What proof is the shop offering that it is real? Will they give you a lifetime guarantee, if you buy it? You will need it if you ever want to sell it later.

Opoefc, I will try and get some pics of it on Saturday. Thats the first time I will be off when they are open. Thanks!

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Jim
SWCA #2246

Before I would even entertain the purchase of any big-bore 3rd model, particularly a Schofield, I would buy Dave Chicoine's book,
'Smith & Wesson Sixguns of the Old West'.
It is THE 'go to' book, and you'll learn there is a great deal of research you must do prior to buying.
Some better libraries even have the book.
Don

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OGCA Life
NRA Life

A friend got a deal on a Wells Fargo shotgun. The price so low that it was not a bad buy on a Remington double itself. So he scheduled his next vacation to pass through the home town of a leading light on Wells Fargo collectables. The expert patiently pointed out all the flaws in the markings that identified it as a fake.

Anything like this would have to be vetted and documented to be worth paying for.

Wells Fargeo fakes are all over the gun shows & internet auctions. One quick way to identify them is most fakes say " Wells Fargo & Co" or W.F.& Co." as they forget the real stampings for a Well Fargo gun is "Wells Fargo & Co. EX" -- They leave off the "EX" -- Early in the 1900s. Wells Fargo's New York HQ sold off their supply of firearms. A WG&Co gun accompabied by a copy of the sale inventory and Bill of sale, by serial number, is the best way to document a genuine article, however I have seen fake copies of that sale's paperwork, so bottomline, be sure who you are dealing with and whether they will stand behind the sale, if you are paying extra for the gun as a W.E.&Co. item. A funny twist on this is that 1st Model Schofields are thought to be all military shipped, no collector has identified a genuine 1st model civilian, as yet. Years ago Roy Jinks found one, but a faker had applied fake US stamps to it!

I went back yesterday to take another look at the Schofield and it was sold. They got $2900 for it. I guess I will never know the whole story. Thanks for all the information.

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Jim
SWCA #2246

This is only half worthy of this thread, but thought I would show my old bobbed 1st year american relic. Found in a old barn being tore down in montanna at a stagecoach stop.

Merril - I love that old gun. Is it still functional? Have you ever lettered it?

A gun like that with a history subject to such great speculation is far more interesting to me than a pristine example.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

It is fully functional. I need to letter it. It is serial #4730. A fiend and co-worker was given it from some old people he went to church with. I understand they were from montanna and supposedly they tore down a barn and found it. It was supposedly at a old stage stop, or poney express station, could be wrong on the town he told me but either bozeman or billings.
I traded him a nice marlin mountie for it about 20 years ago.