What do you think, real or fake?

[Buckaroo Lou]

Certainly a one of a kind S&W 44 if real.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/997684583

[Dave T]

They say they have provenance. For $30,000 they better have enough provenance to fill a book shelf...a long book shelf.  (smile)

Dave

[Niederlander]

For that kind of money I want more than a note from a guy who SAID he did something way back when.

[Professor Marvel]

Firstly, one cannot call that scrapbook  "provenance" . It is only a bit of public record, and a lot of reminiscening ....reminiscence ....  faulty memories and family "stories".

The name stamped on the barrel can only be described as "pathetic" and cannot be dated at all.
In fact, this piece reminds me of the many short shotguns supposedly "documented" as a wells fargo
Stagecoach gun... heavens, they even have stampings and fake wells fargo badges nailed on them!

Prf grumpy

[Major 2]

Scams are common on Gun Broker, and GB does nothing to police its own site,
they embrace "Caveat emptor."

Jesse's mother Zeralda was not above purchasing pistols, authenticating them as Jesse's personal pistol and selling them. She even sold some that were made after Jesse's death. How many of Zeralda Samuels fake firearms are in the hands of collectors today?  -
Marshall Trimble | Mar 31, 2021 | True West Blog

[matt45]

My daughter related to me a poster they have posted down at her S-3 shop-
     "'Remember, 90% of what you see on the internet is fake,' Abraham Lincoln, 1863."

[Trailrider]

I believe Bat Masterson, after he had retired to write sports in N.Y.C, used to buy Colt's SAA's and give them to friends and tell them this was the gun he used in such-and-such a gunfight! 

[Tascosa Joe]

This one has been re-nickeled at some point, i.e. trigger guard and hammer on this pistol are nickel not blue.  My vote is fake.

[Professor Marvel]

Oooooh he has more

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/996846135

An M1 carbine "signed" by "carbine williams".
Only provenance is a letter from a museum saying the signature appears consitant and authentic.

Oh my....

And Buffalo Bills Pony Express Gun! My stars!

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/993035344

[Tascosa Joe]

Why would someone put a real documented pistol on an on line auction instead of sending it to one of the big auction houses where it had a chance of making 6 or 7 figures?

[RoyceP]

The auction houses won't touch something so obviously fake. They want plausible deniability for their fakes.