I didn't see the gun, so I'm not going to say it was or it wasn't. What I will say is that if someone happened to have a picture of the watch, they would then be able to recreate the engravings on another surface. Right?
Here is a link to the story on the Wells Fargo website, with the picture of the watch that would be available for anyone to use if they wanted to engrave something else the same way.
http://blogs.wellsfargo.com/guidedby...hes-for-brave/
I would also think that any gun being transported on a regular basis on a stagecoach or a train would get bounced around a lot. I mean a LOT. The gun was just a tool of the trade. Back in 1883, a Parker Bros shotgun would not have carried the same esteem as today, so the thought of Wells Fargo also throwing in their used shotgun as a reward doesn't seem appropriate.
Wouldn't the gift of the gun also be in the real records of the Wells Fargo Co? Maybe some liberal gun grabber intentionally left that out of the story on the Wells Fargo site. Who knows? Be sure to scroll down to the comments section of the above story. Several people claim to be related to Mr. Ross, including one who even says he OWNS the watch and Mr. Aaron's Colt 45. I guess one of his cousins got the shotgun.