This original and handsome rifle is a Civil War Model 1860 Spencer repeating rifle. In the autumn of 1862, Ohio Governor Todd recruited and organized ten independent companies of Ohio sharpshooters without field officers to serve on specialized duties. Identification is through records that indicate M1860 Spencer rifle, which carries serial #2240, was issued to a soldier in the 6^th Independent Company of Ohio Sharpshooters some time in 1863. The 6^th Independent Company, along with the 5^th and 7^th Companies, was organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio and mustered into service on Dec 30, 1862. The men were all handpicked to their physical ability and their prowess with the rifle.  They formed as a battalion with a Captain Barber in command, they joined General Rosecrans’ army at Murfreesboro as headquarters guard.  It remained attached to his Army of the Cumberland. After the Atlanta Campaign, the battalion was detached to General Thomas’ headquarters as his guard until the close of the war.

In very good original condition, this Spencer specimen bears serial #2240, weighs ten pounds and is a .52 caliber longarm that used the 56-56 Spencer rimfire cartridge. Initial army contracts with the Spencer Company of Boston, Massachusetts called for 11,500 repeating firearms at a cost of $40.00 each.  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.  Semi-bright bore is strong with scattered oxidation. Receiver frame exhibits old cleaning with light pitting and a smooth dark gray colored surface.  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 graduated to 800 yards, and front blade sight.  Black walnut stock and the forearm appear to have been lightly finished and show no visible government cartouches on left side of stock. Wood surface has few dings and normal scuffing from use and age.  Has one small chip at buttplate tang with a small square-head nail near the chip, an old repair.  Stock also exhibits two very small nail heads at the upper stock neck behind the receiver frame (?).  Has both original iron swivels, one at the toe and other at the middle barrel band.  Rifle never had the sling bar and sling ring. A great, Ohio-sharpshooter identified original Civil War Spencer Repeater army rifle.

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