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1878 colt shotguns

skicat
Just a general question to see if anyone has any tips on verifying authenticity of a wells fargo stamped colt 10 gauge. I am aware that many were "created" in later years but I will be looking at one soon and would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Thanks
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Unless you can trace it's provenance,=(history of ownership), back to at least the early 20th Century, buy it only based on it's value as a Colt double barreled shotgun. I learned a long time ago to buy firearms based on what they were, not on some BS story about previous ownership or history.
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  • hrf
    See item 10, Wells Fargo's website:

    https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/history/faqs#Q10
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  • skicat
    Thanks gentlemen kind of what I expected. I guess it will depend as it always does on how rough a life it has had.
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  • skicat
    Just a note on the gun I was researching. It went at auction today for $4000.00. They had a letter from Colt and record of charging for engraving of a dollar and change so it appears it was genuine. A winchester 1873 in 44-40 also went for 4 grand as well as a nice collection of Winchester .22s.
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    Just a note on the gun I was researching. It went at auction today for $4000.00. They had a letter from Colt and record of charging for engraving of a dollar and change so it appears it was genuine. A winchester 1873 in 44-40 also went for 4 grand as well as a nice collection of Winchester .22s.



    Nowadays I personally wouldn't accept any type of "Factory Letter" as genuine, unless I could verify it with the folks who supposedly originally sent it. Their are way too many computer whizzes out there who can cook up almost anything you want using scanners, printers and authentic appearing paper. My 2?.
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  • skicat
    Rufe.........I think in general you are right on. This one did have the ring of truth to it as it was an old timers estate auction and he had good taste in firearms. A genuine Colt fit right in with all his other firearms. I wish I had more money to spend today[:D]
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  • rufe-snow
    quote:Originally posted by skicat
    Rufe.........I think in general you are right on. This one did have the ring of truth to it as it was an old timers estate auction and he had good taste in firearms. A genuine Colt fit right in with all his other firearms. I wish I had more money to spend today[:D]


    You got to watch out for auctions. My understanding is that some unscrupulous auctioneers are known to "salt" auctions of high class authentic items, with their own questionable stuff to make it look like all the pieces on auction came from one estate. To give their phony crap the appearance of authenticity.
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  • skicat
    Yes that's another way to cheat. It takes some of the fun out of going to auctions...always having to be vigilant.
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