SOLD - US Schofield Revolver Issued to Wells Fargo

Description

3/27/2023 - This is a very rare and very desirable early Smith and Wesson - Schofield Model Revolver. These were made for the US Army - mostly for cavalry soldiers in the Western Frontier and California. During the 1880s, the US military began divesting themselves of both 1st & 2nd Model Schofield revolvers. The guns were primarily sold to retailers in N.Y. Many of these guns were subsequently altered by having their 7” barrels cut down to 5”, and often the guns were nickel-plated. The single largest customer for these altered Schofield revolvers was the Wells Fargo Express Company, who marked the guns W.F. & CO. EX. when they purchased them. This gun is one of those reworked and nickeled guns. It is US marked on the bottom of the frame, and you can see a little bit of the military cartouche on the left grip. The grips are original to the gun as the right panel is numbered to the gun. There is an L/P inspector proof under the barrel and on the cylinder. It is also then marked W.F. & Co. Ex. on the right side of the frame. It comes in 45 caliber and is considered an antique so no FFL is required. The action and timing seem to work well. The nickel finish is mostly intact, but you will see a few areas where the nickel has worn or flaked away. Many of the screws still have the fire blue finish. For an antique gun, this one has a remarkable bore; still shiny with just a hint of corrosion. Overall, it would be hard to find a better example.