Designed by Christopher M. Spencer the designer of the Civil War military carbine and manufactured from 1882 to 1889, these Spencer shotguns are considered the first successful American slide action repeating shotgun. This highly attractive example features a factory engraving and is marked as a shooting prize. The engraving consists of scrollwork on the receiver and trigger guard. An engraved game dog scene surrounded by scrollwork is featured on the left side of the receiver, and the scrollwork surrounds the engraved "SPENCER/ARMS CO. PAT. APR. 1882" marking on the right side of the receiver. The engraving resembles known patterns by renowned Master Engraver Louis Daniel Nimschke or his New York shop. The serial number is engraved on the lifter. The barrel, which is numbered to the gun, has a bead front sight and the one-line Spencer Arms Co. address. An inscribed shooting prize medallion appears on the underside of the buttstock .The inscription reads "1ST PRIZE/25 STRAIGHT" around an engraved pigeon. Although we do not know the exact shooting competition, the medallion suggests that this shotgun was originally intended to be awarded to a shooter who obtained 25 consecutive clay pigeon hits. The barrel and magazine tube are both an attractive Damascus pattern. The select grade (possibly English) walnut short slide handle and round knob pistol grip stock feature finely executed checkering. The buttstock is fitted with a checkered hard rubber buttplate. Length of pull is 13 3/4 inches.