The Spencer .52 caliber, repeating carbine, a Spencer short arm, was invented and patented by Manchester, Connecticut native Christopher M. Spencer. Specimen presented is a very fine, early example of the 1^st Model Spencer seven-shot carbine without any of the modifications that were added later in the war. The US 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.

Just acquired is this early Spencer carbine that bears low serial # 11400, weighs 8 lbs 4 oz, and has an overall length of 39”. This repeater was definitely used but not abused during its military life. The first Spencer carbine contract to the government was July 13, 1863 with the first delivery to the Ordnance Dept on October 3, 1863. All gunmetal wears a pleasing, smooth dark gray / plum patina overall. Carbine has a 22” long round barrel fitted to a two-piece, oiled walnut stock & forend. Both are very good condition with just normal dings and dents overall from service. Barrel has just very light pitting and scuffing near the edge of the muzzle. The folding rear sight is a correct replacement. Forend does shows one small gouge and an area of darkening on the upper left side near the barrel. Both the shoulder stock and the forend are untouched. Stock, in very good strong condition, does show four, thin surface cracks overall: 1¼” long @ rt side of forend; 1½” long @ rt rear near butt plate; 4” long @ lf side above sling bar; 1” long @rt side near butt plate. All are minor cracks from age and use. Shoulder stock also exhibits five hand-scratched letters on its lower right side behind receiver tang (hard to decipher). Stock bears a single cartouche visible just back of the saddle ring bar on the left side.

The rifled bore shows light to moderate rust pitting about 8” or 9” down from the muzzle tip. Rifling VG. Would clean to semi-bright. The original, steel, tubular loading magazine located in the buttstock is in very good undented condition. Spring is strong, undented, and fits tightly in the shoulder stock. This 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. All stampings are thin, but readily visible. Does show a strongly stamped serial #11400 on the top of frame behind the hammer.

The heavy, regular Spencer carbine sling bar and sling ring are tightly attached to the stock’s left side. Lock screws are excellent, not buggered up. Remaining metal surfaces of the carbine are dark gray and exhibit small light scratches scattered about. Iron butt plate wears a mottled dark gray. Carbine exhibits crisp, strong mechanics and retains its single sling swivel under the stock near the toe.

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. If one seeks an excellent, original, Civil War Spencer carbine, look no further. This is it.

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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