FINE, ORIGINAL M1860 SPENCER RIFLE IDENTIFIED TO EDWARD P. THOMPSON, 5TH INDEPENDENT COMPANY, 1st OHIO SHARPSHOOTERS

$9,975.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: G3337

This identified, original Civil War longarm is a M1860 Spencer repeating rifle. Identification of the soldier is via serial number from the unit’s ordnance records.  Longarm was used by Corporal Edward P. Thompson of the 5th Independent Company, 1st Ohio Sharpshooters. Thompson was a twenty-one year old lad from Olmstead, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, when on October 22, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Union army for three years. Thompson was soon mustered into Federal service at Camp Cleveland on Dec 5, 1862 with the 5th Independent Company, 1st Ohio Sharpshooters regiment. Assigned to the command of Major William Rosecrans at Murfreesboro on March 9, 1863, this company, as well as two other sharpshooter companies, saw service at Duck River, Chattanooga and the Little Suck River where it was engaged with enemy sharpshooters until early November 1863. Thompson was promoted to Corporal and the records also indicate that this battalion buried 875 men on the battlefield of Chickamauga. Thompson survived the rigors of military service and was with the 5th company when he mustered out of service on July 19, 1865 at Nashville, TN. At his muster out, he likely purchased his Spencer rifle, received his discharge, and returned home to Ohio. Cursory records indicate that he married and lived in Rock River, OH where he was listed as a president of a bank.  Thompson died on June 18, 1912 in Ohio.

In very good original condition, this Spencer specimen bears low serial #2383, weighs ten pounds and is a .52 caliber longarm that used the 56-56 Spencer rimfire cartridge. Produced in the 1863 to 1864 period, the rifle measures 47” overall with a 30” round barrel that features six-groove rifling. Barrel is mated to a black walnut two-piece stock and is fitted with a blade type front sight for the angular type socket bayonet. Bore is strong but dusty. Receiver frame and barrel exhibit light pitting in areas and a smooth, mottled gray colored surface. Never cleaned. Thin, three-line top plate original maker address stamping “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860”. Barrel retains the original folding rear sight with slide graduated to 800 yards. Mechanics crisp.

Full length black walnut stock never cleaned. Shows a clear single government cartouche on left wrist of stock. Wood surface has dings, dents, and normal scuffing from use and age. No cracks visible. Rifle retains both original iron swivels, one near the toe and at the middle barrel band; never had the sling bar and sling ring.

Longarm comes with a copy of Thompson’s military records from the National Archives in Washington, DC. Also included are three modern framed pieces, a B&W photocopy of the 1st Ohio Sharpshooters (frame broken); a framed copy of a likely post-war image of Thompson, and a photocopy of the Ordnance Record with soldier’s name and serial # for identification. Has a previous owner’s letter of authenticity, color photo images of the soldier’s grave site, and miscellaneous paper clippings and other notes. Included with the rifle is a CD which highlights the 1st Ohio Sharpshooters. No pension records are included.

A fine original, serial-number identified Civil War Spencer Repeater army rifle from an Ohio-sharpshooter.

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!

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