New Parker Coach

[Mark Inman]

I have sent in for a letter, Wells Fargo says that they don't have any records because the guns were usually purchased by individual agent and not issued by the company. Seems kind of hokey to me that there are no records as big as Wells Fargo was back then and is today. I'll get some muzzle shots.

[MarketHunter]

Wells Fargo "coach guns" are available at any gun show. How you get one is you find any hammer shotgun that's had the barrels sawed off, you buy a set of cheap die stamps and add the wording, they you price it like it's some great collectible rarity.

I went to a gun show a couple weeks ago and there were three in the room, all claimed to be original, none had any ounce of provenance. If you wanted a sawed off Parker to shoot for cowboy action then you've got a good one, if you wanted an authentic piece of history you got taken more than likely.

In all the running around I've done messing with guns since I was a kid I've seen exactly one Wells Fargo gun that had provenance. It included the invoice where the company had sold it off at an excess property auction. The gun was a cheap belgian made hammer gun with standard length barrels. I've always thought the whole sawed off coach gun thing was something created by Hollywood and there was the proof.


Destry

[Jim Akins]

Book shows it originally with 30' barrels ???

[winplumber]

It looks as you can still see the pencil arch on the butt stock to guide the letters. I dont think that would still be there. I could be wrong.

[George Lander]

Mark: The PGCA Research letter should tell you who the gun was originally shipped to along with it's specifications. I have an early Colt revolver with the "WF&Co." markings on the butt strap along with a letter from the Colt Historian showing that it was one of a lot of five that was shipped to Wells Fargo in 1899. Yours could have been sent to them as well and later had the barrels cutt off either by them or by a later owner. The letter should tell. In any event, ENJOY YOUR PARKER!

Best Regards, George

[Mark Inman]

Thanks for the positive remarks and the bit of hope! MarketHunter had me beat into submission.

[George Lander]

Mark: I prefer to think "what it might be" rather that "why it can't be"

Best Regards, George

[John Liles]

Would the unstruck barrel weight on the barrel flats (4,8) be a rough indication of a 30" tube set? Still thinking that good pic's of the muzzle ends might shed some light. Hopefully the letter will show where she was sent back by WF&Co for modifications, even if it wasn't originally purchased by them.
John

[Ed Blake]

Destry was being realistic. These so-marked Wells Fargo guns have been discussed here before.

[Dutch Dalton]

Mark,
I'm still trying to train myself, assume nothing (tis a long lesson). So, that being stated, if you find that it is not historic, has been altered:
1. dare I write this to be seen by purists, put choke tubes it it (if the muzzle walls are thick enough) so it can reach out for bird shooting (live or clay)
2. leave it a scatter gun and come join us at any local club, see SASSnet.com.
Be glad to have a fellow firearms enthusiast join us.
Best,
DD