Manufactured c. 1867, subsequently converted into a sporting rifle around the late 1870s by importer/dealer Benjamin Bigelow of Marysville, California. "B. BIGELOW/MARYSVILLE, CAL" marked on top of the breech of the barrel, with a Rocky Mountain blade type front sight and a fixed notch rear sight. Includes a scanned copy of an 1877-1878 dated Benjamin Bigelow catalog which lists converted Spencer sporting rifles as an offered product "for sportsmen and hunters."

Good as period converted by Bigelow and refinished, with charming frontier character, brown patina and some scattered patches of pitting. Wood is also good as sanded and re-oiled, with some light scratches and dings, and a filler piece on bottom of the buttstock in place of the previous sling swivel mount. Mechanically fine.