Identification guide for the Spencer-Bannerman, Roper Revolving, and Billings Breechloading shotguns

~Amherst Produced Roper Shotguns~


All Amherst produced guns were 16ga or 12ga shotguns, .40 cal rifles with barrels ranging from 24.5” to 28” long, and they were available in 3 grades, with 16ga examples being by far the most common and produced from mid 1867 until April 1869 and serials ranging from #1 to around #1305-ish.

Serial numbers on these are located on top of the bolt, the frame, and the bottom of the barrel. The bolt is the easiest place to see them if pictured.

12ga examples were produced from late 1867 until April 1869, with just over 300 examples produced. Serial numbers overlapped and started at #1 on this, with #302 being the latest that I have seen with Amherst Massachusetts markings. Almost every one of these were recalled to be fitted with the Roper patent choke in mid 1868, and examples without the choke or threading for it are VERY, VERY rare, and these chokes tend to measure out to be about what we now call “Improved Cylinder”. These were also an early form of “takedown” gun, in that by simply putting it to half cock and removing 1 screw near the trigger guard, you could unscrew the cylinder and action section from the barrel and magazine cover section and easily transport it this way!
Loading port/action covers are of the “inside hinge mount” type up until around #1000 (the 1st picture below) when they swapped to an “outside hinge mount” with them riding on 2 ears more towards the middle of the cover. (2nd picture below)

These are marked as follows on the action cover…

ROPER REPEATING RIFLE CO.
AMHERST, MASS.
PATENTED. APRIL . 10. 1866

-Earlier “Outside hinge” style action cover. Notice the cover riding on 2 pins at the edge of the cover

-Later “Inside hinge” action cover on an Amherst production Roper.

-Hartford production “inside hinge” type cover. All Hartford guns should be this style only!

-Roper Shotgun choke

-Amherst “outside hinge” pins, and the serial location on the bolt, #390

~Hartford Produced Ropers~

Hartford production restarted at Serial #1 and all 12 ga, 16 ga, and .40 rifles that were produced here do share a common serial number range starting at #1 and going to at least #512 as the last known example. The choice to restart serialization at #1 however, does mean that the serials on the Hartford examples DO overlap with Amherst produced examples. All Hartford shotguns had the Roper choke installed, with the same shot restriction, to be about what we now call “Improved Cylinder” as the minimum restriction.

The Roper 12-gauge shotgun/.40 caliber rifle combination rifle was now available and had the following components:

1. A shotgun-type buttstock and rear receiver assembly
2. A 12 gauge round barrel and attached four shot magazine cylinder assembly
3. A .40 caliber round, octagonal, or part round/part octagonal barrel, attached to a 4-shot magazine cylinder assembly
4. Four reloadable Roper shotshells and four Roper rifle shells
5. Rifle and shotgun loading and cleaning accessories, including a loader, a loading block, two wipers, two cap wires, two turn-screw & cone cleaners, a bullet mold, and a bullet starter.

These are marked as follows on the action cover…

ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO.
HARTFORD, CONN.
PAT,APR,10,1866, JULY 14, 1868
~Billings Breechloaders~

One of the last guns produced at the Hartford factory, for a lower $16 price point and meant to fit in a standard shotgun case, while utilizing modern 12. 16, or 20ga paper shotshells. Total production of the Billings breechloader seems to have happened within the year of 1876 and was CERTAINLY less than 550 examples but MUCH MORE likely was less than 80 examples produced total before Billings and Spencer ceased gun manufacturing, making these guns very rare to find today! Serials likely started at #1 and went to at least 51, with serials possibly overlapping depending on the gauge of shotshells intended for it (serial #27 is documented on all 3 gauges). At least 1 was produced as a .40 caliber rifle using the previous Roper steel .40 cal shells, with the frame numbered as “538”, but this was likely a prototype or earliest model that was numbered in the same serial range as the other Hartford produced Roper arms. I personally have observed serials from #4 to #51 on the other examples, but the final number produced is unknown at this time.

-Serials on these can be found in 3 places, on the center pivot area of the breechblock or the top of the receiver when the action is open (see my 16ga #27 below)

-Billings Breechloader serial on barrel near threaded insert for the forend

~Spencer Pump Action Shotguns~
All production model examples are 12ga, and NONE were ever made in 10ga even as prototypes, despite reports from “Atlas Editions Classic Firearms Cards” and other listings.
~1882 Spencer~

-Serial Range and Location… #1 to at least #1749. Serial on bottom of breechblock and bottom of barrel.-Manufactured…from early 1884 to late 1885
-Control Plate… long with 1 screw
-Barrel Removal… vise needed
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER ARMS CO.WINDSOR.CT.U.S.A.PAT.APR.1882.”
-Grades Available 3…

This is the first production model of the Spencer shotguns, based on the 1882 patent with production starting during early 1884, and the first shipment going out in March of 1884. Approximately 800 were made between 1884 and 1885 in Windsor CT. The last guns on the company’s ledger to ship during 1884 were #614, and #750 in late December. The Spencer Sporting Arms Co’s first catalog printed in 1885 listed 3 grades of shotguns and these were available with 30 or 32-inch barrels, with shorter barrels available “by custom order”. Many of these that were custom ordered ended up with 26” barrels although any from ~26 to 32 inches are known to exist. The Model 1882s were 7.75 to 8.5lbs depending on barrel length and grades: These are easiest to identify by long control plates and the single screw on those along with them all having the trombone grip, and the early ones will be wooden gripped. The barrel markings read “upside down” away from you holding the gun in front of you with the left side of the receiver towards your belly, and muzzle to your left.

Serials on these started at #1 and went to around 1750, with the latest observed being #1749.

-Notice the long control plate with only 1 bottom screw.

-Serial location bottom of breechblock, this one is engraved but all of them should be marked here, or on the trigger housing near the wrist of the stock

~Model 1886 Spencer~
-Serial Range and Location…From around #1750 to at least #2482. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from late 1885 to late 1886
-Control Plate… long with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… vise needed
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER ARMS CO.WINDSOR.CT.U.S.A.PAT.APR.1882.”
-Grades Available… 4

In 1886 the second model was released with the only difference being a second screw added to the top of the control plates, and some “prison guard” models having a longer forend, and there were about 1,200 of these 12-gauge models made in their only known year of production.

These are easiest to identify by Serial or by the long control plate with dual screws, the serial number on VERY early ones is either on the bottom of the breechblock or on the bottom of the barrel. After ~1800, they were stamped on the trigger housing near the wrist of the stock.

Serials on these started sometime after #1750, and went to around #2485. The earliest ive seen is #1845, and the latest I’ve seen is #2482.

-Notice the 2 long side control plates with 2 screws

-Photo courtesy of C&Rsenal.

~Model 1887 Spencer~
-Serial Range and Location… around #2485 to #3525. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from late 1886 to November 1889
-Control Plate… short with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… screws out by hand
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER ARMS CO.WINDSOR.CT.U.S.A.PAT.APR.1882.”
-Grades Available… 4

The third and final model produced by the Spencer Company at the Windsor plant was the Model 1887, made from 1887 till the bankruptcy in 1889. These had the serials stamped on the trigger housing on the wrist of the stock. These are easiest to identify by the short control plates with 2 screws, the serial range, barrel address markings, and the lack of Bannerman markings on the side of the receiver.

Serials on these started after #2483, with the earliest i have seen being #2558 and went to #3525 as the last known Spencer made gun.

-Notice the dual screws, with a short control plate

~Bannerman Model 1890~

-Serial Range and Location… #3525 to at least #10,801 but likely went until ~10,836. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from late 1890 to mid 1895
-Control Plate… short with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… screws out by hand
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER RPTG SHOT GUN PAT.APL.1882.”
-Takedown… No

Bannerman’s new Model 1890 started production before December of 1890, with his model being nearly unchanged from the Model 1887 Spencer to start off, minus the new receiver roll markings, the barrel patent markings being reversed, and the various forends. The patent markings on the barrel are reversed from the Spencer Guns and read “right side up” when holding the gun in front of you with the muzzle to your left.
There are at least 5 variations of forends that were equipped on the Model 1890s, including the long Gutta Percha forend from the latest of the Model 1887 Spencer’s, and at least 4 other wooden designs that I have seen as standard (see below).  The Gutta Percha forends were used till 1895, as evident by a sales ad from that year, and an early serial Model 1896 i have seen. The other 4 wooden forends are more commonly used though and include the “tapered furniture leg” style grip, the “straight double flared end” style, a “grooved straight” style, and the “palm swelled flared end” style as i will refer to them below. These names were not official in any way, and are simply names i made up as a simple way to quickly discern them and tell them apart from eachother.

 Serials on these started at #3526, and went to around #10,835. The earliest ive seen for sale is #3772, and the latest I’ve seen is #10,801. They are marked as follows…

F. BANNERMAN MANUFACTURER NEW YORK, USA
MODEL 1890

–The Bannerman Model 1890. Note the 2 screw sideplates, Bannerman markings, and gutta percha fore end. Photo courtesy of C&Rsenal.

-Bannerman 1890 Gutta Percha forend, also seen on some of the latest Spencer made guns, and continuing until 1895 and the eventual release of the Model 1896.

-Bannerman Model 1890 “Tapered furniture leg” style forend

-Bannerman Model 1890 “straight double flared end” style forend

-Bannerman “Grooved straight handle” forend on a Bannerman Model 1890 serial #8443

-Bannerman Model 1890 “palm swell flared end” style forend, the rarest variation by far, likely used RIGHT at the beginning of the restarting of production using existing Spencer made pump assemblies.

~Rumored Bannerman Model 1894~

-Serial Range… They would HAVE to start at #10,802 and go only to #10836 max i would think (if they exist at all)
-Manufactured… unknown due to very dubious existence, but in 1894 if any were marked with this model name

Bannerman went on to market what they called a “Model 1894 Trap Gun” in advertisements, but any pictures or records of examples marked as such have been impossible to find for me in the past 7 years, and none are listed as being marked as such in the Bannerman factory records. These seem to be nothing more than Model 1890s that were marketed in ads to increase sales as a “new model”, as many manufacturers liked to do at this time. The serial number gap in examples that i have PERSONALLY observed between the llast known Model 1890 and the earliest Model 1896are just 36 numbers apart, making therumored Model 1894 extremely unlikely to exist.
Bannermans made after late 1893 started getting new, more shaped and better looking forends before the Corncob style that stayed for the rest of production, and that is the only thing I have found that could point to a reason to call any part of them “new” in any real way, but even then it is dubious at best.

Serial numbers on these are unknown as they very likely DID NOT exist in the first place, but are in the same location

~Bannerman Model 1896~
-Serial Range and Location… Around #11,000 to #18,163 max. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from around late 1894 to mid 1898
-Control Plate… short with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… screws out by hand
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER RPTG SHOT GUN PAT.APL.1882.”
-Takedown… No

These models seem to have been nothing more than a rollmarking change to capitalize on the new stamped magazine tube and “Corncob” forend becoming standard and now marked as the “Model 1896”. The Corncob forend WAS standard on these but a VERY small number of these had the earlier checkered Gutta Percha grips to start, but they were fragile and cracked often and were dropped once existing stock ran out as Bannerman refused to gaurantee them.

Serials on these started at around #10,835, with 10,837 being the earliest ive seen and went to at least #18,115 as the latest i have seen. They are marked as follows…

F. BANNERMAN MANUFACTURER NEW YORK,USA
MODEL 1896

-Bannerman Model 1896 “Corncob” style forend.
-Photo courtesy of Lock Stock and Barrel.

~Bannerman Model 1899~
-Serial Range and Location… Around #18,160 to around #18,550. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from around late 1897 to mid 1899
-Control Plate… short and tilting/tall with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… screws out by hand
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER RPTG SHOT GUN PAT.APL.1882.”
-Takedown… Yes

This is by far the most changed of all the models, and the last major revision made before production ended in ~1904. These are most easily distinguished from a distance by a 2nd left side extractor, a taller left control plate, large takedown levers, and the same 1896 grooved forends, but they are marked “Model 1899” on the receiver. One of the 3 examples I’ve seen is pictured below (#18163) with an unusual forend style that I’ve only seen on this single example that is very similar to the Spencer 1886 guard gun forend.

This model was in production for a VERY VERY short amount of time before the roll marking was changed to the “Model 1900”. In 6 years of searching for these shotguns i have only seen a few pop up for sale, all having the same features and variations of parts and quality of work, and serials within 368 digits of each other.

Serials on these started around #18,150, with 18,163 being the earliest ive seen and went to at least #18,531 as the latest i have seen. They are marked as follows…

F. BANNERMAN MANUFACTURER NEW YORK,USA
MODEL 1899

-Notice the markings and the tall left side control plate

~Bannerman Model 1900~

-Serial Range and Location… Around #18,160 to around #18,550. Serial on trigger housing at wrist of stock.
-Manufactured…from around late 1898 till 1902-1904(unsure on exact end)
-Control Plate…  short and tilting/tall with 2 screws
-Barrel Removal… screws out by hand
-Barrel Markings… “SPENCER RPTG SHOT GUN PAT.APL.1882.”
-Takedown… Yes

The model 1900 seems to have been nothing more than a roll stamping update to the Model 1899. All features are the same and the only thing that seemed to be added was a slight update to the checkering on the front takedown screw from all the models that I’ve seen.

Production of these ended in 1904, as Bannerman’s factory was already empty and for sale by the end of the year and they were no longer listed in catalogs, although existing stock was likely not sold out fully until 1905-1907.

Serials on these started around #18,500, with 18,543 being the earliest ive seen and went to at least #21,954 as the latest i have seen. They are marked as follows…

F. BANNERMAN MANUFACTURER NEW YORK,USA

MODEL 1900

-Model 1900 Bannerman. Note the taller left side control plate, grooved forend, and takedown levers. Photo courtesy of C&Rsenal.