{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-model-1860-spencer-repeating-saddle-ring-carbine-serial-number-54333-circa-1864","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Model 1860 Spencer Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine Serial Number 54333 - circa 1864","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a genuine U.S. Civil War era Spencer Repeating Carbine. All parts are correct, and it looks to have seen service during the war and possibly on the frontier afterwards. This has given it a fantastic patina and \"been there\" look, which looks great in any collection. The Carbine is marked with Serial number of \u003cstrong\u003e54333\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating mid 1864 manufacture. This number is found on the receiver tang, and usually on the underside of the barrel, and also on the TOP of the barrel behind the rear sight. This may indicate that the barrel was replaced during service, as it only has three grooves, instead of the usual 6, however it is the correct 22 inches long. Definitely an interesting example!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Spencer's initial order for 7,500 Carbines starting at serial number 11,001, 7,000 were supplied by December 1863 and the balance in early 1864. We checked the Springfield Research Service records, and this serial number does not appear. However, serial numbers 54151, 54257, 54354, and many others in a block nearby went to Company \"A\" of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry during 1864, so it is possible that it may have been part of that shipment! Serial numbers in the range were being delivered in late 1864 and early 1865. Lots of research potential here!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe carbine comes complete with its original 7-Shot tube magazine stored in the butt, this was the gun that advertised, \"\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLoad on Sunday and Shoot all week\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\". Maker’s markings and patent information are legible on top of the receiver, with the right stampings a bit faint:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPENCER REPE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e[ATING-]\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRIFLE CO. BOSTON \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e[MASS.]\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT'D MARCH \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e[6 1860]\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExtensively used at Gettysburg, this really is a Civil War Classic!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular carbine not equipped with the Stabler cut-off attachment, which was retrofitted in the post-war period by Springfield Armory to some of these carbines. This means\u003cstrong\u003e it is still in the original Civil War configuration\u003c\/strong\u003e, complete with the saddle bar and ring. It shows no signs of having been updated to the Model 1865 specifications, and is still equipped with the correct 22 inch barrel as well as a \"non-ribbed\" magazine tube, though as noted previously the barrel has 3 groove rifling, possibly replaced during or after the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stocks are in very good service used condition, with the expected wear of age and service, as shown. There is some staining near the metalwork, and scattered light denting overall. As with many we see, there are cracks on both sides of the butt stock, roughly over where the magazine channel is. These are prone to cracking on the sides of the channel for the magazine tube, which removes a lot of wood from the interior. The stocks have a lovely brown color, having been recently cleaned and restored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork overall is in very nice condition, showing a lovely gray polished patina overall from decades of cleaning. There is some light peppering in areas as well as staining, but no major oxidation issues. We checked the bore, and the 3 groove rifling is still in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves, with a mostly bright finish. There is only light wear and just a bit of fouling and oxidation in the grooves. For a black powder era gun this is definitely a great bore! The carbine functions well, and we did not notice any issues with cycling. We did not try it with any dummy ammo to see if it could still feed. The magazine looks to be functional, with an intact spring and follower. Both sights are present, though the rear sight is missing the spring, and the front sight has had the blade replaced with a brass one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a very nice example of an iconic civil war weapon, that has passed the test of time with flying colors! Perfect for any collection, and ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears of Manufacture: mid 1864\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .56-56 Spencer rimfire \/ .52 cal\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 22 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 39 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Lever Action with Manual Hammer\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 7 Round Tube Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory and overview of the Spencer repeating rifle and carbine-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spencer repeating rifle was a manually operated lever-action, repeating rifle fed from a tube magazine with cartridges. It was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War, but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the time. The Spencer carbine was a shorter and lighter version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design was completed by Christopher Spencer in 1860, and was for a magazine-fed, lever-operated rifle chambered for the 56-56 Spencer rimfire cartridge. Unlike later cartridge designations, the first number referred to the diameter of the case ahead of the rim, while the second number referred to the diameter at the mouth; the actual bullet diameter was .52 inches. Cartridges were loaded with 45 grains (2.9 g) of black powder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo use the Spencer, a lever had to be worked to extract the used shell and feed a new cartridge from the tube. Like the Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Rifle, the hammer had to be manually cocked in a separate action. The weapon used rimfire cartridges stored in a seven-round tube magazine, enabling the rounds to be fired one after another. When empty, the tube could be rapidly loaded either by dropping in fresh cartridges or from a device called the Blakeslee Cartridge Box, which contained up to thirteen (also six and ten) tubes with seven cartridges each, which could be emptied into the magazine tube in the buttstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere were also 56–52, 56–50, and even a few 56–46 versions of the cartridge created, which were necked down versions of the original 56–56. Cartridge length was limited by the action size to about 1.75 inches, and the later calibers used a smaller diameter, lighter bullet and larger powder charge to increase the power and range over the original 56–56 cartridge, which, while about as powerful as the .58 caliber rifled musket of the time, was underpowered by the standards of other early cartridges such as the .50–70 and .45-70.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt first, conservatism from the Department of War delayed its introduction to service. However, Christopher Spencer was eventually able to gain an audience with President Abraham Lincoln, who subsequently invited him to a shooting match and demonstration of the weapon. Lincoln was impressed with the weapon, and ordered that it be adopted for production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spencer repeating rifle was first adopted by the United States Navy, and subsequently adopted by the United States Army and used during the American Civil War where it was popular. The South occasionally captured some of these weapons and ammunition, but, as they were unable to manufacture the cartridges because of shortages of copper, their ability to take advantage of the weapons was limited. Notable early instances of use included the Battle of Hoover's Gap (where Col. John T. Wilder's \"Lightning Brigade\" effectively demonstrated the firepower of repeaters), and the Gettysburg Campaign, where two regiments of the Michigan Brigade (under Brig. Gen. George Armstrong Custer) carried them at the Battle of Hanover and at East Cavalry Field. As the war progressed, Spencers were carried by a number of Union cavalry and mounted infantry regiments and provided the Union army with additional firepower versus their Confederate counterparts. President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth was armed with a Spencer carbine at the time he was captured and killed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spencer showed itself to be very reliable under combat conditions, with a sustainable rate-of-fire in excess of 20 rounds per minute. Compared to standard muzzle-loaders, with a rate of fire of 2-3 rounds per minute, this represented a significant tactical advantage. However, effective tactics had yet to be developed to take advantage of the higher rate of fire. Similarly, the supply chain was not equipped to carry the extra ammunition. Detractors would also complain that the smoke and haze produced was such that it was hard to see the enemy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the late 1860s, the Spencer company was sold to the Fogerty Rifle Company and ultimately to Winchester. With almost 200,000 rifles and carbines made, it marked the first adoption of a removable magazine-fed infantry rifle by any country. Many Spencer carbines were later sold as surplus to France where they were used during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite the fact that the Spencer company went out of business in 1869, ammunition was sold in the United States up to about the 1920s. Later, many rifles and carbines were converted to centerfire, which could fire cartridges made from the centerfire .50–70 brass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41826684698693,"sku":"ONSV24KIS020","price":2695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV24KIS020__01.jpg?v=1720471755","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-model-1860-spencer-repeating-saddle-ring-carbine-serial-number-54333-circa-1864","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}