We can see from a FAQ on the actual Wells Fargo website, that the company (at a corporate level) did not purchase firearms enmass and distribute them. Rather, it was up to the local management to purchase any needed equipment locally and dispense as required.
Thus, we might see almost any model, any length shotgun actually being used, and very very few have actual verifiable provenance.
Two notable exceptions are this one
https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac-blog/wells-fargos-shotgun-messenger-hold-the-fort-aaron-rossUsed by and finally owned by Hold The Fort Aaron Ross.
And these at the Cody museum
Most, if not all of the so called “wells Fargo” shotguns offered on the “usual” auctions and at gunshows are
Fakes manufactured by hopeful charletons. If is has a “Wells Fargo” badge nailed onto the stock, it is absolutely a fake.
Wells Fargo has a bit on their coaches
https://www.wellsfargohistory.com/follow-the-history-of-stagecoach-no-186/And
https://www.wellsfargohistory.com/hold-the-fort-ross-stops-a-train-robbery/But they took down the FAQ pages
But thanks to the perspicacity of the interwebs we have FAQ#10 saved for posterity:
Snip—————-
This is from Wells Fargo's website (
https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/history/faqs).
10. How do I know if the Wells Fargo markings on an antique shotgun are real?
"Wells Fargo" marked shotguns have become a problem among collectors of antique firearms. In general, each town's Well Fargo Agent bought weapons from local stores carrying whatever was available — it was not a central headquarters function. Just as with companies today, Wells Fargo's offices did not keep outdated records. Therefore, there are no comprehensive lists of Wells Fargo firearms.
Additionally, in recent years, many people have added "Wells Fargo" to actual antique weapons. All of this makes it very difficult to know whether any shotgun currently for sale was or was not used by Wells Fargo, regardless of the markings. For further information, you may check the book by James Bartz, Company Property, (the Westbound Stage, 1993), for sale at
http://www.westboundstage.com.
Endsnip————-
And our prior discussion here
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=20434.0And here is a REAL wells fargo strongbox
https://www.wellsfargohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/027-wells-fargo-treasure-box.jpg