What impresses me most about the Spencer is just how efficient the design is. You've got a main spring that powers both the hammer and breech block, and the breech block itself is also the lifter, ejector, and has a natural out-of-battery safety; the core of the gun is just a handful of parts. The Spencer gets so much right on it's first go, and that's rare to see when you're practically defining a new weapon type. Shame about it's timing though, as there's no beating JMB once he gets on the scene.
The black powder tangent leading into a ballistol ad was a mental flashbang, you should go off on 39 minute tangents that end in a ballistol ad for april fools
I knew Bannerman because of his "castle", which I believe was actually a multi story warehouse for his military surplus hardware. I saw the building from the AMTRAK train going to New York City from upstate New York in the mid 1980s. I think there were fires and partial collapses of the "castle" since then.
I've been a viewer for a fairly long time but something about this time made me finally become a patron. I've learned so much about the 19th century world and business from your channel and I'm happy to help support!
According to my reprint of the 1897 Sears catalogue, the new model Spencer repeating shotgun has a Sears price of $27.65, a normal retail price of $40, can be taken apart and comes with 30 and 32 inch Damascus barrels. A variant with a 30 inch wire twist barrel and a wood slide is available for $17.85. I would post a photo of the catalogue if I could.
Interesting note on the 3 round capacity when hunting birds, I once was talking out a barricaded suspect who was holding is wife and kids hostage using a 12 gauge. He had shot up the house but nobody was wounded. When we got down to the surrender, he was worried that he had removed the plug from the shotgun and it held 5 rounds, When I told him that was only when hunting birds afield and his hunting license would not be effected by the unplugged gun, he surrendered. Of course he was convicted of a felony and prohibited from owning a firearm thereafter, and has been dead now for many years.
I get so many people telling me my unplugged shotguns are illegal. I’m not sure how people translated the hunting regulation to a general law in their minds
Been loving your videos, but also Ballistol. I'm still somewhat new to guns, so I took y'all's suggestion and bought some gun oil, a bore snake, and a few of the cleaning rags, and they've done wonders. I think I've found my new stop for cleaning supplies!
Been using Ballistol myself for 3 decades.Not a fan of the smell personally, but the stuff works great, so I tolerate the smell regardless. Ballistol is one of the few products that I would proudly endorse as I use it personally and can attest to its quality and effectiveness.
Good for you on choosing Ballistol, which will save you time and money on the newest snake oil being advertised. The oil subject debate has started thousands of useless threads all over the net.
Good work as always, thank you kindly! I'm surprised an error like the one with the target distance happened at this point in production as easily as it did, but it just shows again that you're just human like the rest of us. Keep it up!
Thanks for covering the Spencer shotgun. A few years ago, while visiting in Connecticut, I saw one in a local history museum. The only firearm they had, but proudly displayed. Any chance of an "America's first pump shotgun" tee shirt?
Imagining the use of a 30” shotgun for guard use, maybe they were used like in watch towers? The extra range and sight radius would be use for there and the longer barrel wouldn’t be nearly as much of an issue.
I feel what makes this thing's action feel "weird" isn't that it travels vertically, it's that its movement is "desynced" from the pump. That is to say, it rests at "75% down", then while pumping goes the rest of the way down and then all the way up, then "75% down" pumping forward. Imagine something with this system being full auto, and trying to watch the bolt vs the charging handle at the same time...
I just saw your two videos on the Spenser's. I looked a the most recent comments but did not read them all. In your first video you mention single loading, I assume the early guns will work single loading the same as the later Bannerman ones. I have an early one but it's packed way in the back of a safe so this description on how to single load was done with an 1896 Model. To single load you open the action and then lay a shell on the top, with the forearm pulled fully back you push down on the shell and after the breech bolt starts to swing down you release your pull a little and spring pressure will move the forearm slightly forward, the breech block will catch in loading position and then the action can be closed, this can be repeated with an empty, or a shell in the breech block, but with a shell in the block you have to keep the action pointed up a slightly to keep the shell from entering the chamber. Keep your fingers away from the bottom of the breech bolt when closing the action or it could pinch! As far as de-cocking the gun, these need a rebounding firing pin to allow the breech block to swivel, if not the pin would catch in the primer, so dropping he hammer does not push the firing pin into contact with the primer and the de-cocked gun is safe and does not need a half cock. If the retracting spring breaks the firing pin can hang up a little and cause the action to hesitate, or even lock up after firing. This problem can also cause an indentation on the top of the receiver above the chamber if the firing pin moves forward and catches as the breech block swings down. I have one with a broken retracting spring and it has the same looking dent above the chamber as your early gun. This might also be the cause of the somewhat rough cycling that was apparent in your earlier video. The Union shotguns are based heavily on the Spenser design with modifications for side eject. These all have swinging breech bolts like the Spenser with later guns having a split breech block with the swinging part only covering the lower part of the chamber with a short stub on top that is held by the lower, there are at least 3 variations of the Model 24 and at least two of the Model 24 improved, the Model 50 internally is almost identical to the second version of the Model 24 improved.
My bannermen 1890 don't have the bannermen on the spencer it also has the faint checkering on the stock and the pump slide handle is wore near amooth as well
That's so cool to see the gun in the Veracruz photo. I wonder if that sailor had been to the Philippines and seen what the Winchesters were capable of doing, and pressed his ship's fowling piece into service? Or maybe it belongs to the locals in the photo and our boy there had taken it as a trophy?
Without any proof either way I wonder if the barrels are just whatever Bannerman could buy at the time from a 3rd party supplier. Some months it would be Demascus other months it would be wire wound and the cost of the barrels was more important than having a consistent pattern of barrel. Just a guess on my part though. Also seeing the clay pigeon shooting reminded me of your short series you guys did on clay throwers.
Shotguns back then had different options on barrels back then, as mentioned in the last episode. In terms of price, plain iron, wire wrap, and swirled "damascus" were the order of rising price. Look at some old advertisements. People paid more for the option.
It'll bust some clays! Nice shootin may! These have always been cool to me, the true first pump shotguns, but the trench broom gets all the hype, for mostly good reason tho😅 both great. Pumps still rock!
Could the pump wear be due to manner of gripping? The shorter one fits in the palm, but you're maybe more liable to slide on the longer/thinner one? Alternatively, worse material.
People found a bunch of cannon balls that fluuu into the water after one of the times Bannerman castle burned down... part of it collapsed a few years ago in an earthquake...
Well, I'm pretty sure they got something out of the army's recommendation: advertising material. Btw, I keep finding not one but five dollars every month in my couch. Funny that.
Good grief, this thing looks complicated to engineer. I hate to think of how many people sat around drafting tables trying to put it together this collection of parts to actually work? But at least today I learned that is Spencer,and not Browning; that should be getting credit for making pump actions.
Most of the animals in Europe go on two legs. The other reason for there being so few guns is that it's difficult to keep a 22 slug out of someone else's garden.
If only they had these in the Philippines. They’d either have a huge advantage on the insurgents or the insurgents would have some sweet stolen guns too.
There is one advantage; you only have one barrel so the point of impact will always be the same. They're also easier to point quickly. However, you can have two separate chokes with a double barrel. Changing out shot for a slug is also easier.
Really interesting video, but I do think one thing has to be said at this point. I say this with all respect, but I feel like since the WWI series trailed off, the channel has lost its way. While the recent content has been interesting, I think people are really craving content focused on more historically significant subject matter with more of a military focus. I know you guys have said you'd never again take on a project as enormous as the WWI primer series, but I think its time to jump back in the saddle and take on an ambitious project related to a particular conflict. It doesn't need to be every firearm from that conflict, but perhaps a category of firearms (such as rifles of WWII). I say this only because I have been a huge fan since the beginning and really want to see the show grow and prosper, but I'm afraid this isn't going to happen unless some bold steps are taken into some weightier (and frankly broadly appealing) subject matter.
It's interesting to see how things differ. We (uk) regard defence as preventing you being injured by the attacker. For example you can parry with a sword. Sending stuff down range as far as we are concerned is attack not defence. Defence is preventing injury to you and absolutely not harming the attacker from our point of view. A shield defends, guns attack. Blocking is defence a punch is attack.
There is literally NO other channel that is this in-depth on the history of firearms. C&Rsenal is a god tier historical channel on TH-cam.
Fact.
What impresses me most about the Spencer is just how efficient the design is. You've got a main spring that powers both the hammer and breech block, and the breech block itself is also the lifter, ejector, and has a natural out-of-battery safety; the core of the gun is just a handful of parts. The Spencer gets so much right on it's first go, and that's rare to see when you're practically defining a new weapon type. Shame about it's timing though, as there's no beating JMB once he gets on the scene.
The black powder tangent leading into a ballistol ad was a mental flashbang, you should go off on 39 minute tangents that end in a ballistol ad for april fools
I knew Bannerman because of his "castle", which I believe was actually a multi story warehouse for his military surplus hardware. I saw the building from the AMTRAK train going to New York City from upstate New York in the mid 1980s. I think there were fires and partial collapses of the "castle" since then.
I've been a viewer for a fairly long time but something about this time made me finally become a patron. I've learned so much about the 19th century world and business from your channel and I'm happy to help support!
Great Video! I am looking forward to the Winchester Model 1887 and Winchester Model 1893 being covered in the future!
I'm looking forward to the videos, I'm not looking forward to the 1887 comment section.
The fore ends being so sparingly sized at first and then slowly lengthening is funny to see.
She said.
Those early ones have a great personality though
"Ribbed for..." I heard where that was going.
According to my reprint of the 1897 Sears catalogue, the new model Spencer repeating shotgun has a Sears price of $27.65, a normal retail price of $40, can be taken apart and comes with 30 and 32 inch Damascus barrels. A variant with a 30 inch wire twist barrel and a wood slide is available for $17.85. I would post a photo of the catalogue if I could.
Interesting note on the 3 round capacity when hunting birds, I once was talking out a barricaded suspect who was holding is wife and kids hostage using a 12 gauge. He had shot up the house but nobody was wounded. When we got down to the surrender, he was worried that he had removed the plug from the shotgun and it held 5 rounds, When I told him that was only when hunting birds afield and his hunting license would not be effected by the unplugged gun, he surrendered. Of course he was convicted of a felony and prohibited from owning a firearm thereafter, and has been dead now for many years.
I get so many people telling me my unplugged shotguns are illegal. I’m not sure how people translated the hunting regulation to a general law in their minds
@@TenaciousTrilobite Fudds gonna fuddlore.
@@TenaciousTrilobite They haven't read them, it's an oral tradition passed from fudd to fudd.
Funny how skewed people's priorities can be when they totally lose it.
Been loving your videos, but also Ballistol. I'm still somewhat new to guns, so I took y'all's suggestion and bought some gun oil, a bore snake, and a few of the cleaning rags, and they've done wonders. I think I've found my new stop for cleaning supplies!
Been using Ballistol myself for 3 decades.Not a fan of the smell personally, but the stuff works great, so I tolerate the smell regardless. Ballistol is one of the few products that I would proudly endorse as I use it personally and can attest to its quality and effectiveness.
Good for you on choosing Ballistol, which will save you time and money on the newest snake oil being advertised. The oil subject debate has started thousands of useless threads all over the net.
The last time I was this early Samuel Colt was still alive.
Misspelled letter or it didn't happen.
Last time I was this early Samuel colt was still selling laughing gas
@@tsufordmanThe lasst tymr I wus this erly Samwel Colt wus stil alife
If Samuel Colt claimed to be alive, I don't think I'd believe him
Last time I was this early Samuel Colt was covering up his illegitimate relationship and child😂
Whooooh! Mae, Othias, and Bannerman. A perfect match
The Spencer was manufactured in Windsor, Ct; the little factory still survives. Currently it is being used by an HVAC company.
Good work as always, thank you kindly!
I'm surprised an error like the one with the target distance happened at this point in production as easily as it did, but it just shows again that you're just human like the rest of us.
Keep it up!
Could you do a deep dive history of balistol episode some day? Maybe you could get some cool archival stuff from the company
Like an April fool's video or something of the like.
The history of the shotgun in America is very interesting.
Loving the shotgun series. Looking forward to more weird, obscure ones!
Thanks for covering the Spencer shotgun. A few years ago, while visiting in Connecticut, I saw one in a local history museum. The only firearm they had, but proudly displayed.
Any chance of an "America's first pump shotgun" tee shirt?
It's odd to me to hear Pratt and Whitney mentioned in a context other than aircraft engines.
Imagining the use of a 30” shotgun for guard use, maybe they were used like in watch towers?
The extra range and sight radius would be use for there and the longer barrel wouldn’t be nearly as much of an issue.
Seems more likely, doesn’t it? That longer barrel would be much more appropriate there.
That is the weirdest shotgun I've ever seen, and I love it.
I feel what makes this thing's action feel "weird" isn't that it travels vertically, it's that its movement is "desynced" from the pump. That is to say, it rests at "75% down", then while pumping goes the rest of the way down and then all the way up, then "75% down" pumping forward.
Imagine something with this system being full auto, and trying to watch the bolt vs the charging handle at the same time...
Love that 140+ years later they still run even when heavy used. Pump shotguns thru it all
I was going through the back room at the museum a friend runs and we actually found a Spencer/bannerman riot shotgun
Supreme work y'all, excellent as always
I've got an 1896 that still functions flawlessly.
Been waiting on more early pump guns good work guys
I just saw your two videos on the Spenser's. I looked a the most recent comments but did not read them all. In your first video you mention single loading, I assume the early guns will work single loading the same as the later Bannerman ones. I have an early one but it's packed way in the back of a safe so this description on how to single load was done with an 1896 Model. To single load you open the action and then lay a shell on the top, with the forearm pulled fully back you push down on the shell and after the breech bolt starts to swing down you release your pull a little and spring pressure will move the forearm slightly forward, the breech block will catch in loading position and then the action can be closed, this can be repeated with an empty, or a shell in the breech block, but with a shell in the block you have to keep the action pointed up a slightly to keep the shell from entering the chamber.
Keep your fingers away from the bottom of the breech bolt when closing the action or it could pinch!
As far as de-cocking the gun, these need a rebounding firing pin to allow the breech block to swivel, if not the pin would catch in the primer, so dropping he hammer does not push the firing pin into contact with the primer and the de-cocked gun is safe and does not need a half cock. If the retracting spring breaks the firing pin can hang up a little and cause the action to hesitate, or even lock up after firing. This problem can also cause an indentation on the top of the receiver above the chamber if the firing pin moves forward and catches as the breech block swings down. I have one with a broken retracting spring and it has the same looking dent above the chamber as your early gun. This might also be the cause of the somewhat rough cycling that was apparent in your earlier video.
The Union shotguns are based heavily on the Spenser design with modifications for side eject. These all have swinging breech bolts like the Spenser with later guns having a split breech block with the swinging part only covering the lower part of the chamber with a short stub on top that is held by the lower, there are at least 3 variations of the Model 24 and at least two of the Model 24 improved, the Model 50 internally is almost identical to the second version of the Model 24 improved.
Thanks guys
My bannermen 1890 don't have the bannermen on the spencer it also has the faint checkering on the stock and the pump slide handle is wore near amooth as well
Hickock45 got me onto ballistol but I agree with and 3rd or 4th you and everyone elses recomendations 👍👍 stuff is truly amazing!!!
That's so cool to see the gun in the Veracruz photo. I wonder if that sailor had been to the Philippines and seen what the Winchesters were capable of doing, and pressed his ship's fowling piece into service? Or maybe it belongs to the locals in the photo and our boy there had taken it as a trophy?
I live near Bannerman's Island and tours are given periodically
Long Live C&Rsenal! Long Live Your Dog, Sir!
ah. been waiting for this one.
Look at the blue on the magazine tube where it's protected by the pump.
Man, good thing the Army took that lesson of paper cartridges not surviving in wet conditions!
Without any proof either way I wonder if the barrels are just whatever Bannerman could buy at the time from a 3rd party supplier. Some months it would be Demascus other months it would be wire wound and the cost of the barrels was more important than having a consistent pattern of barrel.
Just a guess on my part though.
Also seeing the clay pigeon shooting reminded me of your short series you guys did on clay throwers.
Shotguns back then had different options on barrels back then, as mentioned in the last episode. In terms of price, plain iron, wire wrap, and swirled "damascus" were the order of rising price. Look at some old advertisements. People paid more for the option.
12:44 wait wait wait wait Roper passed away racing steam powered motorcycles at the age of 73?????
dang
well there are certainly worse ways to go.
I can only hope my eventual departure is something so rad
I was literally lusting over my nineteen twenty five Bannerman catalog this morning.
Got the same one and wishing I could buy some of those classic guns at pennies to the dollar 👌👍
@@JackDarbyshire-pd8uz Or the german medal issued for bravery at the battle of Waterloo for $7.00? 😭
@@loetzcollector466 some of the stuff in that catalog are beyond belief 👌👍
It'll bust some clays! Nice shootin may! These have always been cool to me, the true first pump shotguns, but the trench broom gets all the hype, for mostly good reason tho😅 both great. Pumps still rock!
Last time I was this early Bannermans where still in catalogs.
Well, they are a pharmacy now.
I like that shotgun drum, I'm still waiting on someone to make a belt fed shotgun
I think Mae does real well. I think she really gets in to it too.❤❤❤❤😂😂
I think the wire twist barrel is black powder only.
It's like a pump action Madsen gun!
Could the pump wear be due to manner of gripping? The shorter one fits in the palm, but you're maybe more liable to slide on the longer/thinner one? Alternatively, worse material.
That back story sounded a lot like Sanford and Son
Damascus barrels are so pretty.... artistry long gone...
People found a bunch of cannon balls that fluuu into the water after one of the times Bannerman castle burned down... part of it collapsed a few years ago in an earthquake...
Rise up Dead Man
Rise up Spectre gang
Yay, that's the one I have
Winchester 1887 next?
Well, I'm pretty sure they got something out of the army's recommendation: advertising material.
Btw, I keep finding not one but five dollars every month in my couch. Funny that.
20 or 30 inch barrel.. dont think it will matter much to prisoner when they see the 12 ga beast pointed their way they shape up or its over for them
Good grief, this thing looks complicated to engineer. I hate to think of how many people sat around drafting tables trying to put it together this collection of parts to actually work? But at least today I learned that is Spencer,and not Browning; that should be getting credit for making pump actions.
The Hunt: Showdown community says hello!
It's nice to know even when you own the rights to something you can still get screwed 😢
Most of the animals in Europe go on two legs.
The other reason for there being so few guns is that it's difficult to keep a 22 slug out of someone else's garden.
Oh really? And to which human "animals" do you allude?
@@skepticalbadger Are you inanimate?
Whoot whoot
Sees the barrel and see the saws ......... I mean it's not going to be a bad improvement........
If only they had these in the Philippines. They’d either have a huge advantage on the insurgents or the insurgents would have some sweet stolen guns too.
I, for one, welcome our new shotgun overlords.
As an European, I understand why we weren't as keen on repeating shotguns. It's simply uncouth, not something a gentleman uses.
The 1897 Winchester will hold seven 2 3/4 bullets.
In Denmark shotguns are only allow to load 2 shot at a time, so no advantage of pump or automatic.
There is one advantage; you only have one barrel so the point of impact will always be the same. They're also easier to point quickly.
However, you can have two separate chokes with a double barrel. Changing out shot for a slug is also easier.
Interesting shotgun. What did you pay for it?
Bioshock 1 shotgun.
hi
Algorithm engagement comment
Hunt showdown anyone?
Really interesting video, but I do think one thing has to be said at this point. I say this with all respect, but I feel like since the WWI series trailed off, the channel has lost its way. While the recent content has been interesting, I think people are really craving content focused on more historically significant subject matter with more of a military focus. I know you guys have said you'd never again take on a project as enormous as the WWI primer series, but I think its time to jump back in the saddle and take on an ambitious project related to a particular conflict. It doesn't need to be every firearm from that conflict, but perhaps a category of firearms (such as rifles of WWII). I say this only because I have been a huge fan since the beginning and really want to see the show grow and prosper, but I'm afraid this isn't going to happen unless some bold steps are taken into some weightier (and frankly broadly appealing) subject matter.
Another madson 😂
Alligators unite!!
Sorry guys shotguns not my thing
103rd
Ribbed for ....😂
First?
First! Congrats!
You say that this many screw is generaly bad news, yet you still baught a keltec sub2k😂
Those aren’t action screws. Those are just for the furniture.
It's interesting to see how things differ. We (uk) regard defence as preventing you being injured by the attacker. For example you can parry with a sword. Sending stuff down range as far as we are concerned is attack not defence. Defence is preventing injury to you and absolutely not harming the attacker from our point of view. A shield defends, guns attack. Blocking is defence a punch is attack.
No "we" don't. Look up self-defence doctrine - the law doesn't say anything like that.
Is that a baby bump i see yes** no❤
12th, 11 June 2024
May pregnant?
That’s kinda rude don’t you think?
No kidding