Spencer Gun Co. SxS 12 ga.

[C.R.Sam]

I think it is an old "trade" gun but lookin for input from scattergun gurus.

Box lock, SxS double, 12ga, 3"shell chambers so good for at least 2 3/4", 30" appearantly damascus bbls. Full and Full.

Internal hammers.

Pistol grip stock, splinter forend. No comb. Black plastic checkered buttplate with squirrel. Pistol grip cap black plastic with rectangular scroll.

Strange (to me) take down. After forend is off, must depress square button in lower receiver to remove bbls.

Forend latch ....push rod at muzzle end of forend to unlock it.

Both sides of receiver marked Spencer Gun. Co.
Breech table marked with Ser # 45XX, pat nov 25 90, March 12 95. Same ser # on bbls and forend iron.

No other markings. No proof or house marks. Not anywhere on or in it.

Double triggers. For n aft sliding tang safety. Top latch lever on tang.

Extractor only, no ejectors.

Gold bead front sight.....no sign of any other bead anywhere on rib.

Fit and finish pretty good externally. Did not get a chance to look at the lockwork.

Realize it is a wallhanger only, but hope to find a little about where it might have come from and when. Tis delicately lined and very fast pointer. Has an old English delicacy to it in the lines and ballance.

Any input appreciated.
Thanx, Sam

 

[Steven Mace]

Another Crescent Company

Sam, hate to break your heart but the Spencer Gun Co. was a trade name used by Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company on shotguns made by Crescent Fire Arms Company. Harley knows the 'rest of the story'.

Steve Mace

 

[C.R.Sam]

Steve.....not breakin my heart at all. Was sure it was a cheapo....just lookin for a little lineage for it. Guy has it thinks it worth couple hundred plus cause it looks nice for a wallhanger, I was thinkin more like a hundred more or less. Not about to think about shootin it. Sho do point nice tho.

Anyhoo, thankee for that tidbit on the lineage.

Sam

PS....Steve, thanks to you found Crescent...pp 471, Fjestad 22

 

[Harley Nolden]

C.R. Sam:
From what you describe, the gun is worth what he is askin, but your are probaly like me, "don't pay the askin price" LOL
Here's the rest of the Story:

CRESCENT ARMS

This Company mfg’d good quality, inexpensive side by side and single Bbl shotguns and was founded in 1883. They were bought by the H&D Folsom Arms Company of New York, importers and distributors of firearms and sporting goods.

After the purchase of Crescent, the Folsom Company was able to offer a complete range of shotguns, imported English French, Belgium and American made Crescents. By the turn of the century Crescent Arms produced huge quantities of “Hardware Guns” it produced guns under direct contract to distributors, mail order housed and hardware distributors with any brand name the customer requested. Crescent also produced guns for its parent company, as Folsom house brands that were sold to customers that did not want their own brand name.

By the lat 1890's Crescent was producing basically five grade of dbl bbl shotguns offering a model for most tastes. The Crescent /Folsom Arms Company continued this type of business until 1930 when it merged with Davis Warner Arms Corp and became the Crescent-Davis Arms Corp. In 1932 it assets and machinery were bought by Stevens Arms Company, a victim of changing tastes and the depression.

HJN

 

[C.R.Sam]

Thanks Harley. Tween the two of you looks like we have the name tied to Crescent and a great run down on the lot of em.

I will pass the works to the owner.

Again, Thanks Steve and Harley............Sam