This original Civil War longarm is a M1860 Spencer repeating rifle. Identification of the soldier is stamped on the rifle itself and indicates this longarm was used and later owned by Private David S. Pettit of the 6^th Independent Company of Ohio Sharpshooters.

Pettit, a farmer lad from Tuscarawas County, Ohio, first tried to enlist in the 55^th Ohio Infantry in 1861, and again in the 61^st Ohio infantry in 1862, but he was not accepted as he was too young; 14 years old in 1861, and 15 years old in early 1862.  Pettit, however, turned 16 in 1862 and did manage to enlist with Co K, 61^st Ohio in Sandusky, Ohio on March 2 of that year. Pettitt served with the 61^st and was present for duty all through ’62 and into 1863 until Jun 26 when he deserted the regiment at camp in Middletown, MD on the march to Gettysburg, PA. No stranger to fighting at his young age, Pettit had survived the rigors of battle in western Virginia, Freeman’s Ford, VA, 2^nd Bull Run, Stafford Court House, and the entire battle at Chancellorsville, VA. He was subsequently listed as AWOL on the unit’s June muster roll and dropped out of sight. Interestingly, in the available military records, no disciplinary measures were found to have been instituted against him.

Six months later, on January 4, 1864, soldier Pettit was back in Ohio when he enlisted as a private at Barnesville with the 6^th Independent Co., 1^st Battalion of Ohio Sharpshooters for three years. The unit was assigned as Maj. Gen George H. Thomas’s headquarters guard in Nashville, TN and served him until it was mustered out in July 1865. Pettit was with the Sharpshooter Company all the while and mustered out with them.  At his muster out, he purchased his Spencer rifle and other accoutrements for a sum of $10.00, received his discharge and returned home to Ohio. He soon traveled west to Greenfield, Iowa, was married and worked as a laborer. Pettit applied for and later received a military pension for his service in the army. He died on 28 Oct 1928 in Iowa.

In very good original condition, this Spencer specimen bears serial #9096, 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 and will clean to bright. Receiver frame exhibits light pitting and a smooth, mottled gray colored surface. The soldier’s identification is stamped (engraved) here in small block letters on the forward left face of the frame and clearly reads “DAVID S. PETTIT. / 6^TH INDPT. Co. O.V.S.S.” Strong three-line top plate stamping thin with original maker address “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860”. Barrel retains the original folding rear sight with slide and is graduated to 800 yards. Mechanics crisp.

Full length black walnut stock does not appear to have been cleaned. Shows two visible government cartouches on left wrist of stock. Wood surface has dings, dents, and normal scuffing from use and age. Has a light surface crack on both sides of forend beneath the rear sight. Shoulder stock also exhibits fine, small, hand-crafted wood inlays that depict four symbols of the Federal Army Corps.  Nicely executed. Rifle retains both original iron swivels, one near the toe and at the middle barrel band; never had the sling bar and sling ring.

An excellent, original identified Ohio-sharpshooter Civil War Spencer Repeater army rifle. Comes with Pettit’s military and pension records from the National Archives in Washington, DC.

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!