Spencer Shotgun
I recently acquired a Spencer Gun Co. 12ga Single shot shotgun. I have searched everywhere and can't seem to find any information. It has no markings on the gun other than the company name and it says full choke on top of the barrel. It has a steel barrel and it is 30 inches. I would also like to know about how much it is worth. If someone could help I would greatly appreciate it.
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Hello,
Can anyone tell me anything about a Spencer Shotgun with a 1896 Date on it? It is a single shot 12 gauge, not the repeater that you normally see for sale.
I haven't been able to find out anything about it or it's value. Any help would be much appreciated.0 -
Spencer Gun Co. was one of over 150 trade brands used on guns produced by Crescent. Most were S x S, but single shots were also produced. They were utilitarian shotguns for putting food on the table, and did so for decades. They were procuced in large numbers and sold in hardware stores, dry goods stores and sporting goods stores all over the country. Most today are religated to working as wall hangings, and that market has actually kept the price up a bit as there is scant collector intrest. Average condition doubles bring $50-$200, single shots generally below the top of that range. 0 -
Thanks for the info. I found the date on it as Aug. 11, 1896.
I guess I will just use it for a wall hanging as you suggest, ha ha. I thought it might be worth more. Is there a way to auction something like that off here or how do you ship it? Do you have to have a license or anything to ship a gun that old?0 -
1896 is likely a patent date, not the date your shotgun was made. Yes, this is a firearms auction site, people DO sell guns here. Go back to the Ask The Experts page, and look for a sticky "Shipping Firearms and Ammunition". If your gun is not a muzzleloader, or you know positively that it was made before 1-1-1899, it must be shipped TO a Dealer or Collector FFL if crossing a state line. Does not have to come FROM a dealer. It is legal send send an UNLOADED shotgun by US Mail, by UPS or FedEx. 0 -
Yes, the gun is what I call a"Trade Brand Name" shotgun. A "Trade Brand Name" shotgun is one that was made by a major gun maker (and before 1940) for and was sold by a wholesaler or retailer who chose the name to go on the gun. Guns with the name SPENCER GUN CO OR SPENCER & CO were made by the Crescent Fire Arms Company of Norwich,CT (1892 to 1931) for and were sold by the Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Company of Chicago,Il a large wholesale sporting goods dealer, There is no connection with the Spencer pump action shotgun made by the Francis Bannerman & Co of New York City, or Spencer rifles. A word of caution on these old single barrel shotguns. They were made using the technology and metallurgy of the times when they were made and for the ammunition in use back them which was either black powder or maybe, just maybe very early low pressure smokeless powder shells loaded with lead shot. The barrels may be damascus and will have 2 1/2 or 2 9/16 inch chambers. They were not designed for more modern high pressure smokeless powder, 3 inch or magnum shells or steel shot. Without being able to see the gun, I have to recommend that it not be fired but if you insist and have your life insurance paid up, please have the gun checked out by a good competent gunsmith first. Value? Everyone wants to know. The value of these old shotguns depends on its condition, the amount of original finish remaining on the metal and wood as well as the mechanical condition. A prime condition example might bring as much as $150 while a rusty rotten incomplete piece of jun fit only for parts salvage or a fire place poker might bring as little as $10. Most I have seen sold on the various gun auction sites sell for between $50 and $75. There should be a serial number stamped on the bottom tang jus behind the trigger guard. Give me that number and I can tell you when the gun was made. 0
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