Any Spencer in the Gettysburg serial number range is rare and this one is in exceptionally nice condition. Its serial number, 1589, puts it squarely in the first two shipments of Spencer seven-shot repeating rifles, totaling 1,000 guns, delivered and issued to the 5^th and 6^th Michigan Cavalry from mid-December 1862 to Mid-January 1863.

Often referred to as Copeland Spencers, these guns were ordered by Col. Joseph Copeland of the 5^th Michigan Cavalry to arm his regiment. Their production followed a Navy contract of about 700 rifles that extended into the 800 serial number range. Wiley Sword allowed another 250 for various private purchases, etc., and estimated the low number for Copeland’s rifles at 1050, extending to 1550 in the first delivery of 500 rifles and then up to 2050 in the second delivery (with 200 more drawn from a third delivery of 500 in late January that need not concern us here.) Even allowing for errors in the estimate, this rifle still falls about in the middle of Copeland’s rifles, which he (at that point commanding the brigade) issued to the 5^th Michigan, with enough left over to arm about half of the 6^th Michigan as well. These were the only Spencers at Gettysburg, seeing action in the hands of Custer’s Michigan Cavalry Brigade at Hanover and Hunterstown and playing a key role in halting Jeb Stuart’s attack behind the Union right on July 3.

This rifle is complete, all original, and rates about very good for condition, with smooth metal having visible markings and the wood having a tight fit, good color and surface, no chips or cracks and only minor handling marks. The barrel has none of its original finish, but the metal is smooth and a muted silver in color with thin gray areas and minor freckling, but no pitting. Both sights are in place. The rear sight is complete and shows some faint blue. The barrel inspector initials “S.L.” are visible on the left flat at breech. The upper and middle barrel bands show some blue. The lower band shows gray and brown from handling. The sling swivels are in place. The breech shows no case colors, but has the bluish-gray and thin caramel mix of old case color and the Spencer marks on the top of the receiver are fully legible: SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO BOSTON MASS / PAT’d MARCH 6, 1860. The mechanics are good. When lowered, the loading assembly shows a mix of silver gray with bluish-gray and thin brown spots. The hammer shows more of a thin blue. The lower tang is gray and caramel. The screw heads show some thin blue. The serial number on the upper rear of the receiver is sharp.

The magazine tube is in place in the butt stock, which matches the forestock in color. Both have a good fit and edges showing only slight rounding from handling. The butt stock shows a few scratches on the bottom of the left flat, but nothing bad. Neither ink cartouche on the left wrist is visible from wear, the Copeland rifles seeing a lot of field use into 1864. By mid-1864 almost all of them had been replaced by carbines, some having been lost, damaged, or captured, and others simply replaced with new equipment and arms, as happened in Co. M of the 5^th Michigan in February 1864. In this case, the upper and left wrist are both stamped “DELAWARE,” likely from reissue to the 1^st Delaware Infantry, listed in secondary sources as at least partially armed with Spencer rifles during its service.

The Spencer was a revolutionary and influential weapon in the Civil War. Wiley Sword and others estimated that very few of the first 1,000 Copeland Spencers survived the conflict, making them rare in any condition. This one is exceptionally nice and worthy of prominent place in any Civil War arms, cavalry, or Gettysburg collection.  [sr] [ph:L]

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