Spencer rifles have a special attraction from their use by Custer’s Michigan Brigade and Wilder’s Lightning Brigade. Although the Spencer carbine came to dominate production, the first military Spencers to reach the army in 1863 were these Model 1860 Army Rifles, firing a .52 caliber rimfire cartridge loaded from a seven-shot magazine in the buttstock by the lever action of the triggerguard. They were robust, rapid-fire arms and the waterproof rimfire cartridge stood up to jostling in cartridge boxes on campaign. The army initially ordered 7,500, with the first being shipped from the factory in late December 1863, and last in late June or early July. This one is serial number 8670, putting it toward the end of that order, but giving it a good mid-1863 date. A few numbers close to this show up in late war listings for the 8^th Indiana and 10^th Michigan Cavalry, but that does not tell much about a rifle’s earlier issue to a different unit. This one was manufactured in plenty of time to see a lot of action and the condition shows that it was issued. There is also a name lightly scratched into one side of the buttstock.

The rifle follows the standard configuration for the M1860 Spencer Army Rifle and is complete with both front and rear sights, all bands, springs, and swivels in place. The barrel is smooth metal with no pitting and a thin blue-turned-plum finish. Rear sight with ladder and bar is in place. The Spencer markings on the top of the receiver are distinct: “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860” in three lines. The receiver is smooth metal also and shows the typical mottled grays and blues, with some thin brown, of faded case colors, as does the hammer. The underside of the triggerguard shows some battering at the arch around the screw. This might have been to loosen it at some point or setting it down on some rough surface. The sides of the frame, though, are not affected. The lockplate shows more brown and the hammer screw a little lighter from rubbing. The mechanics are good and the bore is dirty, but will clean.

The wood is a warm brown with darker spots and shows use. The forestock has an old sliver out along the top of the barrel channel on the left behind the nose cap, but fits the barrel and receiver tightly. The buttstock shows some dings and divots on the right, a little chipping near the top of the buttplate and at the tang, along with a short hairline crack extending from the buttplate at the level of the magazine tube, though it is solid and stable. As Spencer collectors will know, this is a characteristic flaw of Spencer buttstocks, which were weakened by drilling out for the magazine. The left side shows a corresponding line, longer, but still stable, and heavier use, with more scratches and numerous dings, a small chunk out at the upper curve of the buttplate and a small chip next to the lockplate screw forward. This could be the result of a mounted trooper carrying the rifle slung on his back, where the left side fo the butt would be coming into constant contact with the edge of his saddle and other gear. It might also be the result of fitting the stock with an improvise loop for a carbine sling, which could cause the same kind of wear at the same spots, just from the rifle hanging muzzle down. There are also two small spots near the wrist where the base of a loop or staple may have been fitted. At least one Spencer is known that still retains a saddle staple added by a soldier for that purpose and period photos and drawings show various improvised methods used by soldiers to carry the rifles slung like carbines.

A further clue about the history of the rifle might lie in the name lightly scratched on the right buttstock: “Strickling.” A cursory check of service records gives roughly fifteen candidates under that spelling. Several can be ruled out by early discharges from service, but there are several soldiers in there who might be candidates. A cross-check against units known to have carried Spencers might narrow it down, but spelling variations are possible and there is no unit designation with the name. All in all, however, this is a good example of the desirable Spencer Army Rifle that shows real field use.  [sr]

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