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Spencer Model 1882 Exhibition A-Grade Slide-Action Shotgun Guns International #: 103522380 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Spencer Rifles - Shotguns - American Pump Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: parkerposy Member Since: 12/26/14 First Name: Casey State: California Zip: 95006 Country: United States Phone: (831) 331-7553 Number of Active Listings: 8 Total Number of Listings: 44 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Buyer pays the actual shipping costs. Payment Types Accepted: Personal Check or Money Order Description: Serial No. 584 — Documented 1885 New Orleans World’s Fair Exhibit Gun This exceptional Spencer Arms Company Model 1882 slide-action shotgun, serial number 584, represents one of the earliest and finest surviving examples of America’s first successful pump-action shotgun. Archival factory records confirm that this firearm was one of four A-grade Spencer shotguns shipped by the Spencer Arms Company to a New Orleans exhibition on January 21, 1885, during the period of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. (The World's Fair) The exposition—held in New Orleans from December 1884 through June 1885—was one of the most important international exhibitions of the 19th century and served as a major promotional platform for new American technologies and industrial products. Contemporary coverage in the Times-Picayune documents the presence of the Spencer Arms Company exhibit and notes that the firm donated A-grade Model 1882 shotguns as prizes for shooting competitions conducted during the fair, including the International City Pigeon Tournament. Factory records confirm that four A-grade Spencer shotguns were shipped to the New Orleans exhibit, and serial number 584 is documented as one of these firearms. These guns were used to represent the highest grade of Spencer manufacture and were likely displayed at the company’s exhibit and/or awarded as competition prizes during the exposition. The Spencer Model 1882 Introduced in 1882, the Spencer repeating shotgun was among the earliest commercially successful pump-action shotguns and represented a significant innovation in sporting arms. Produced in relatively small numbers, the Model 1882 featured a tubular magazine beneath the barrel and a sliding fore-end that cycled the action, allowing rapid repeat fire. High-grade examples such as the present shotgun were built to showcase the company’s capabilities and were often used for exhibitions, demonstrations, and promotional competitions. A-Grade Features The present example displays the characteristics associated with Spencer’s highest catalog grade: Factory A-grade engraving covering the receiver Fine Damascus-pattern barrel High-quality walnut stock with checkering Early production configuration consistent with mid-1880s manufacture Correct Spencer Arms Company markings and mechanical layout The engraving style matches known factory-engraved Spencer examples and reflects the refined scrollwork typical of high-grade American sporting arms of the period. Historical Context The gun’s documented presence at the New Orleans exposition places it directly within one of the most significant public showcases of American industrial innovation. The fair attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and served as a major venue for manufacturers to demonstrate new technologies, including repeating firearms. During the exposition, the Spencer Arms Company actively promoted its Model 1882 shotgun through exhibitions, shooting competitions, and public demonstrations. Newspaper accounts also describe shooting challenges involving noted exhibition shooter William F. Carver, further illustrating the company’s efforts to publicize the capabilities of its repeating shotgun. Significance This shotgun represents: A documented Spencer Arms Company exhibit firearm from the 1885 New Orleans World’s Fair One of four A-grade examples shipped by the factory for the exhibition A rare early production example of the Model 1882 Spencer repeating shotgun A historically important artifact from the formative years of American repeating sporting arms Surviving Spencer shotguns are scarce, and documented high-grade examples associated with a major 19th-century international exposition are exceedingly rare. Conclusion Serial number 584 stands as an outstanding example of Spencer’s pioneering pump-action shotgun and carries exceptional historical context linking it directly to the company’s exhibit at the 1885 New Orleans World’s Fair. With its high-grade factory finish, early production status, and documented exhibition history, it represents an important and highly desirable piece of American firearms history. Ships in hard case, insured $150 2 day air.   SOLD Antique: Yes Shotgun Gauge: 12 Gauge Manufacturer: Spencer Model: 1882 Serial Number: 584 Condition: Fine Metal Condition: Fine Wood Condition: Good Barrels: Fine Damascus Barrel Type: Fine Damascus Action: Pump Fore End: Walnut Butt Pad: Factory Butt plate LOP: 13 3/4 Manufacture Date: 1882 Chokes: Full Engraving: Factory