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MODEL 1860 SPENCER CAVALRY CARBINE

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This is a very good condition Model 1860 Spencer carbine, serial number 29168, dating around late July or August 1864 by Marcot’s production and payment tables. The mechanics and bore are good. Front and rear sights are in place and complete. Barrel band, side bar and sling ring and swivel at the toe of the buttstock are present. The serial number on the wrist and manufacturer’s stamp on top are sharp: “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860,” in three lines.

The metal is smooth overall. The barrel shows as a thin plum with the barrel band showing slightly more blue and traces on blue on the sight, mixed with some brown. The receiver shows mottled browns, blues and grays from faded case colors with some stains and dings on the left, likely from being slung with that side against the horse, and some gray metal showing on the wrist from handling, and on the sling bar and sling ring, but with thin blue on the sidebar plate. The lock and butt plate are plum color. Forestock and buttstock match in color, showing medium brown with some darker areas. The forestock has a short hairline on the right starting from the receiver. The buttstock shows a slight shrinkage gap along the top of the lock plate and edge of the sidebar plate, but otherwise a good fit. The buttstock shows small dings and scratches, but does not have the commonly encountered “Spencer crack” following the line of the magazine tube. The left side shows a few more dings than the right, which is pretty common from being carried on the carbine sling with that side against the saddle, horse gear, and horse. The magazine tube is in place.

Spencer carbines arrived in the field starting in October 1863 and quickly outclassed other arms by their rapid fire, sturdy construction, and use of waterproof and resilient rimfire cartridges. They were in high demand and just as some Spencer army rifles were carried by mounted troops, some infantry outfits got carbines as well, but they are best known for the edge they gave Union cavalry in the last half of the war. Confederate cavalry got them by capture when they could, but obtaining ammunition proved to be a stumbling block to active use in the field, except, it is reported, by Mosby, who managed to resupply sufficiently by raiding Federal depots and supply trains. By war’s end some 50,000 had been produced, in addition to the rifle version. This one follows the standard configuration of the Model 1860 with 22-inch barrel in .52 caliber (.56-.56 the Spencer brochures, referring to the copper case.)

This is a classic Civil War carbine that deserves a place in any cavalry, carbine, or Civil War arms collection.  [sr][ph:L]

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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