Martin B. Lloyd came to Texas shortly after the Civil War and quickly established himself in the local business community. His first business venture was gathering and selling South Texas cattle. Lloyd thought that the large number of cattlemen in Ft. Worth would be well-served with a local bank. This bank laid the groundwork for Lloyd’s financial empire. Lloyd’s daughter, Ruth, married Samuel “Burk” Burnett, founder of the 6666 Ranch. In fact, the “L” brand that still graces the ranch’s horses and barn comes from his last name.
Lloyd had many interests, including collecting weapons. His collection of more than 130 firearms became part of the permanent collection of the NRHC thanks to his great-great-granddaughter, Anne W. Marion. This shotgun is one of the many fine weapons in the NRHC’s firearm collection.
The shotgun was made by Thomas Spencer of London. Spencer started his gun-making shop in 1819, and he produced a wide range of firearms. Most of his firearms in the early years of his business were flintlocks, and he often offered fine engraving for his more upscale clients.
The shotgun is a double barrel, flintlock, muzzle-loading piece, so the gunpowder has to be poured down each barrel, followed by the wadding and shot.
The gold inlay shows that the original owner of the shotgun possessed a dark sense of humor. The gun maker had to engrave the lettering and scroll work, then carefully hammer gold wire into the engraving.
The shotgun features hand-inlaid gold embellishments and find hand-engraved details. The barrels are a fine example of the Damascus twist method that was common in shotguns made before 1900.
This article appears in the Summer 2022 issue of the Ranch Record. Would you like to read more stories about ranching life? When you become a member of the Ranching Heritage Association, you’ll receive the award-winning Ranch Record magazine and more while supporting the legacy and preservation of our ranching heritage. Become a member today.
