The Spencer .52 caliber, repeating carbine, one of the earlier Spencer short arms, was invented and patented by Manchester, Connecticut native Christopher M. Spencer. This Civil War specimen is a nice example of the 1^st Model Spencer seven-shot carbine without any of the modifications that were added later in the war. The U.S. government contracted for a total of over 95,000 Spencer carbines during the war with 65,000 made at Spencer’s Boston, MA factory and 30,000 of the weapons made at the Burnside Rifle Company in Rhode Island. This carbine bears a serial # 56288, weighs 8 lbs. 4 oz., and has an overall length of 39”. The first Spencer carbine contract to the government was July 13, 1863 and the first delivery made to the Ordnance Dept on October 3, 1863.

All gunmetal wears a smooth, dark gray even patina overall. Carbine has a 22” long round barrel fitted to a two-piece, oiled walnut stock / forend that is in very good condition with just normal dings and dents overall from service. Barrel has just very light pitting overall; also has the original folding rear sight and small brass blade front sight. Both the shoulder stock and the forend appear to have been lightly refinished. Stock shows a 9” surface crack on right side from the comb to the butt strap. No cartouche is visible. The bore is dusty with good rifling.

The original, steel, tubular loading magazine located in the buttstock is in very good, undented condition. Spring is strong, undented, and fits snugly in the shoulder stock. Metallic tube was used to store seven 56-56 caliber Spencer copper / brass rimfire metallic cartridges that fed the receiver with an extra cartridge in the chamber. Top flat on the receiver, forward of the hammer, is stamped with “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS / PAT’S MARCH 6, 1860” in three lines but all the stampings are very thin, almost undiscernible. Does show a strongly stamped serial # 48580 on the top of frame behind the hammer.

The heavy Spencer carbine sling bar and sling ring are tightly attached to the stock’s left side. Lock screws are in very good condition, not buggered up. Remaining metal surfaces of the carbine are pleasing dark gray and exhibit small light scratches scattered about. Iron butt plate wears a mottled dark gray. Carbine exhibits crisp, strong mechanics and retains its single sling swivel under the stock near the toe. Breechblock is strong and exhibits inspector markings along with some assembly numbers.

Cavalry regiments who were issued the M1860 Spencer carbine were: 1^st Connecticut Cavalry, 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th Michigan Cavalry, 4^th US Cavalry, 5^th New York Cavalry, 1^st New York Veteran cavalry, 2^nd Wisconsin cavalry, 8^th Indiana Cavalry, and the 1^st New Jersey Cavalry.

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