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 fine 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 # 24368, 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 slivers of missing wood at forend back end adjacent to receiver and left and right barrel facets. Somewhat normal. Appears to have been missing a long time. Stock has no cartouche visible. The bore is excellent, almost minty.

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. Could use light lube.  This 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 with all the stampings very clear. A strongly stamped low serial # 24368 on the top of frame behind the hammer.

The heavy-style 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 gray coloring. Carbine exhibits crisp, strong mechanics and retains its single sling swivel under the stock near the toe. Breechblock is strong and exhibits some 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.

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’.