The first pump shotgun….

[ccc]

The Spencer Pump: America’s First Pump-Action Shotgun

Many presume John Browning invented the first pump-action shotgun, but it was actually a little known engineer, Christopher Spencer.

www.outdoorlife.com

 

[J pace]

Thanks for posting that was interesting

 

[ccc]

Sorry he wasn’t part of the confederacy but an interesting read none the less

 

[Boardfeet]

Very interesting. Never heard of Spencer or this gun.
Ithaca Model 37. Best pump ever made. IMHO.
870 is a close second.

 

[Mullet Hunter]

Very interesting. Never heard of Spencer or this gun.
Ithaca Model 37. Best pump ever made. IMHO.
870 is a close second.

I do like a model 12 Frank…

 

[indy1919a4]

The Spencer Pump: America’s First Pump-Action Shotgun

Many presume John Browning invented the first pump-action shotgun, but it was actually a little known engineer, Christopher Spencer.

www.outdoorlife.com

Great read, Moocho Thanks, when you work one, the pieces look like they are flying apart because parts are moving top & bottom.

 

[Boardfeet]

I do like a model 12 Frank…

Model 12 was a revolutionary gun in it’s day. The action is nowhere near as smooth as a model 37.
I can shake mine when empty and it cycles, slick as glass. We had both growing up and I prefer the 37. The model 37 design was patented by John Browning in 1915. Remington owned the patent and produced it as a model 17. The patent ran out in 1936 and Ithaca designer Harry Howland improved the ejector and firing pin. Likely the most successful gun Ithaca ever produced. There is even a military version. It was used in Vietnam. This Spencer Pump certainly is cool. Never knew it was the first.


Here is a link to the thread about my fathers 37.
I believe the Browning BPS is based on the 37 design.
I love a pump shotgun, I guess because we always had them when I was growing up. Gonna do some more research on this Spencer, it’s very unique.

This Old Shotgun

My father purchased this gun when he got home from the Pacific in 1946. He was in the 78th Fighter Squadron. This was his pride and joy for many years. In the early 1950’s he loaned it to a relative that subsequently lost it in the duck woods on the St. Francis river. They miraculously recovered...

www.gulfcoastgunforum.com

 

[J pace]

If the Winchester Model 12 was not the best pump shotgun ever made why does everybody always compare their shotgun to the Model 12

 

[indy1919a4]

Was looking for a page in one of the Bannerman catalogs on Bannerman buying Spencer shotgun that I disremembered.

Came across a wonderful 3 piece story on the Spencer shotgun, It is downright hair raising.

The History of C.M. Spencer, Syl H. Roper, and Their Pump Shotgun Designs: Part 1 of 3 (1833-1889) – Surplused

surplused.com

Looks like even Annie Oakley owned a Spencer shotgun.