This single shot .52 Spencer carbine is in excellent condition. The barrel retains all its original blue finish and is free of any blemish. Both the proper rear and front sights are present. Bore has very good rifling with some surface dirt built up in areas along with some light scattered pitting.

Receiver and lock have a gray appearance with just the slightest hint of case color remaining. Top of receiver has a readable maker’s mark of “SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS. PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860.” Action is crisp and works properly. Serial # 58119 is clearly stamped behind the breech. The “S” shaped hammer has a flat face and crosshatching on the spur. Hammer screw head is excellent.

Triggerguard and buttplate also have some hints of color. The magazine moves in and out properly. There are no dents in the body of the magazine and the spring is good.

The wood on the buttstock and forearm is in very nice condition. There are some minor dings and dents but nothing serious. There are no visible cracks. Single barrel band is present on the forearm and the saddle bar and ring are mounted on the left side of the wrist. There are no visible cartouche marks. On the right side of the forearm just forward of the receiver are the lightly carved initials “D.R.” Single sling swivel is present on bottom edge of butt towards the toe.

The right side of the butt is carved with the name “JAS. L. WILCOX.” This is beautifully done in Gothic letters. Upper case letters are approx. 0.75 of an inch in height, while small case letters are approx. 0.50 inch. A nice dark patina has covered the recesses of the carved letters causing them to stand out against the lighter wood background.

Ordnance records obtained from the National Archives show that Spencer carbine # 58119 was originally issued to Denis Rerdon, also listed as Reardon. No doubt they are his initials carved on the right side of the forearm as mentioned above. Rerdon served in Company D, 1^st New York Mounted Rifles and enlisted as a Private on September 3, 1861. He became a reenlisted veteran on January 1, 1864. On September 6, 1865 he was transferred to Company D, 4^th New York Provisional Cavalry and was finally mustered out at City Point, Virginia on November 29, 1865.

The soldier whose name is carved on the carbine is James L. Wilcox. He enlisted as a Private in Syracuse, New York on August 8, 1862 in Company L of the 1^st New York Mounted Rifles and was promoted Corporal on March 11, 1863 but was reduced to ranks the following May 27^th. Wilcox became a reenlisted veteran on September 1, 1864 and was transferred to Company D (the same company as Rerdon) on July 21, 1865. In early September he was transferred to Company L, 4^th New York Provisional Cavalry and was mustered out on November 29, 1865.

The 1^st New York Mounted Rifles were in 97 skirmishes and battles to include Charles City Courthouse, Bottom’s Bridge, Cold Harbor and Deep Bottom. According to military records from the National Archives both Rerdon and Wilcox were present throughout their service. Records do show that sometime around June of 1862 Rerdon was assigned to duty to a howitzer section and remained there till early 1864. Obviously Spencer carbine # 58119 which was originally issued to Rerdon was at some point reissued to Wilcox.

With the weapon is a large file with copies of both soldier’s military and pension files as well as copies of the ordnance report that shows Rerdon being issued carbine # 58119.

Really a beautiful weapon that saw use and care from two soldiers of the Empire State.  [ad]

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