The Spencer .52 caliber, repeating carbine, a Spencer short arm, was invented and patented by Manchester, Connecticut native Christopher M. Spencer. Specimen presented is a very fine, early example of the 1^st Model Spencer seven-shot carbine without any of the modifications that were added later in the war. The US 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 Spencer carbine bears serial # 59940, weighs 8 lbs 4 oz, and has an overall length of 39.” Definitely used, but not abused during its military life, this Spencer repeater is in very good to excellent condition. All gunmetal wears a pleasing, smooth dark gray / plum patina overall. Carbine has a 22” long round barrel fitted to a two-piece, oiled walnut stock & forend. Both are excellent condition with just normal dings and dents overall from service. Barrel has just scattered light pitting and scuffing overall. Original folding rear sight.

Both the shoulder stock and the forend are untouched. Stock, in very good strong condition, exhibits two light cartouche marks on left wrist behind the sling ring bar. Also shows nice saddle wear on that side, as well as a thin 5” long surface crack.  The bore shows light pitting with rifling strong. Bore would clean to bright. The original, steel, tubular loading magazine located in the buttstock is in good condition. Spring is strong, undented, and fits tightly in the shoulder stock. This tube was used to store seven 56-56 caliber Spencer copper / brass rimfire metallic cartridges that fed the receiver. An extra cartridge would be chambered in the received. 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. All stampings are worn thin on the right hand portion but remainder is readily visible.  Shows a stamped serial # 59940 on the top of frame behind the hammer. T

he heavy, regular Spencer carbine sling bar and sling ring are tightly attached to the stock’s left side. Lock screws are excellent, not buggered up. Remaining metal surfaces of the carbine are dark gray and exhibit small light scratches scattered about. Various sub-inspector marks are seen on major components. 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.

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.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!