This Remington Model 1889 was manufactured between 1889 and 1909. It features shortened Damascus barrels with a textured solid rib marked "-REMINGTON ARMS CO.-/-ILION N.Y. U.S.A." right side up when viewed from the left and "Wells Fargo & Co. [??]" right side up when viewed from the right. The sides of the action have "REMINGTON ARMS CO." The water table, bottom of the barrel group, forearm, and forearm hardware are marked with the matching serial number. The underside of the barrel has a number of other small numeric markings including "+/2" on the bottom of both barrels, a small cross, and an anchor. There is a single brass post front sight near the muzzle. It has 3 inch chambers with an extractor and open bores. The forearm is checkered while the pistol grip buttstock is smooth and fitted with a plain steel buttplate. The length of pull is 13 5/8 inches. It was common practice for local Wells Fargo & Co. agents to issue a double barrel shotgun and revolver to the company's stagecoach messengers and express agents. In some instances lever action rifles or carbines were also issued. There was no standard for the particular model of shotgun issued nor the markings since the agents purchased them from local shops were they were also regularly modified by shortening the barrels to facilitate easier use from the confines of a stagecoach or rail car. The use of shotguns, especially 10 gauges, by Wells Fargo messengers was so common and well known that the men were dubbed "shotgun messengers" in contemporary accounts of their feats, and these short barreled shotguns became known as coach guns.

Good as modified (property number removed from barrel rib). The barrel has a mixture of faded brown finish and brown patina and displays attractive Damascus patterns along with scattered marks and scratches. The latter portion of Wells Fargo marking appears to have been filed away and may have been an inventory number. The remaining components have a gray-brown patina with some traces of the original case colors and light scratches. The wood is fair with sections of the forearm absent and numerous pressure marks and scratches. The action is fine, but the extractor needs work. The primary markings with noted exception are clear. This is a real, historic Wells Fargo shotgun!