I get emails all the time from folks who have Wells Fargo stuff. There's a lot of Wells Fargo stuff in circulation out there — souvenir stuff, that is. Trouble is, most of it is, um, inauthentic.
We get asked about guns and belt buckles most often. But the items folks ask about are dramatically varied: binoculars, lanterns, brass plaques, scales, Bowie knives, axes, handcuffs, mirrors and desks. And that's the short list.
Because the Old West resonates so much with people, things that seem authentic can be "made" authentic by applying another Western personality on them: Tombstone 
, Dodge City , Deadwood, Kit Carson — and Wells Fargo. Over the years, people have applied our name to guns, tea kettles, badges and trunk. My personal favorite fake is the Wells Fargo spittoon. What company in its right mind would have something custom-made for that?!
The goal was to make an ordinary object more desirable and get a better price. If you have an old-looking object, its age can be"proved" with a fake Wells Fargo mark emblazoned on it. Suddenly, junk becomes artifact. Over time, these objects may become believable due to their age. Some"fakes" are 100 years old. They have value to some collectors in and of themselves!
As to guns, Wells Fargo never had guns made. Armed personnel supplied their own equipment. Of course, one never knows what might turn up out there, but it's pretty safe to say that your firearm with the Wells Fargo markings is not authentic. Most belt buckles people ask about are not nineteenth-century artifacts, but quality fantasy items created in the 1960s. They are solidly made of brass, using authentic nineteenth century art work. But they are not 100 years old.
And why would Wells Fargo make a bunch of belt buckles, anyway? Of all the things they would have brainstormed about in 1896:"You know, men, our Agents in the field are having their pants fall off at an alarming rate! We have to issue Company belt buckles as soon as possible!"
Nope. Didn't happen, friends.
Wells Fargo Bank produced two belt buckles as commemorative pieces. In 1973, noted graphic artist Mike Dolas designed a rectangular brass or silver buckle with a stagecoach on it. Another buckle was oval in shape and sported an Agent's star. Both have Wells Fargo Bank markings on the reverse. These were intended for sale as gifts and are modern.
Well, I guess 1973 ain't so contemporary. It's pretty close to "antique-hood"!
Greetings Charles, I am in the process of moving into, and restoring a circa 1920's Blacksmith Shop in Chico, Ca. The Andersen's Blacksmith and Welding Shop has been boarded up for many years, and because the door was open while cleaning one day, a man peered in to say hello, and went on to tell of a summer he worked there back in 1969. While employed for the summer, he tells me he documented the replacement of iron wheels on one or more of the Wells Stage Coaches. I am restoring the original shop to be a working Blacksmith Shop/Museum. In doing so, I am searching out people and articles that would be of interest to visitor. Can you tell me if there might be any documentation or photo's avaialable to display? Do you know of this Blacksmith shop, or have any knowedge of the job performed by Nels Andersen? I would be greatful of any information.
My father-in-law recently showed me his check book cover made in the 1970's that was made to look like it came from the 1870's that he got when he opened his Wells checking account in 1973. Real leather and still in pretty good shape.
Boo - nothing for Earth Day???
Hi Dave --
Your idea is a real winner! Please send me an email at "Feedback" below and we can kick this around.
Hey Matt --
Thanks for the reminiscence.
Wells Fargo did that sort of thing from time to time. Our Archives has a nice collection of coin banks that were given away over the years to kids. Some are near 100 years old.
These promotions are actual Wells Fargo artifacts, with the sort of genuine value that fakes try to capture.
Hi Anonymous:
I prefer submissions in advance over criticisms after the fact.