Original Item: Only One Available. Well this is something that we have not has before! We have had a few Model 1860 rifles previously, as well as several Model 1865 Carbines converted to centerfire rifles, and even a few original intact Model 1865 infantry rifles, but never a Model 1867 Rifle in the original rimfire configuration! Most of these that remained in service would end up converted to centerfire. This example looks to have seen LONG use on the frontier, with the stock becoming quite worn and split, and the metalwork getting a good amount of oxidation. It has been cleaned and restored by our antique gunsmiths to stabilize it and put it in its best light.

The Spencer repeating rifles and carbines were 19th-century American lever-action firearms invented by Christopher Spencer. The Spencer was the world's first military metallic-cartridge repeating rifle, and over 200,000 examples were manufactured in the United States by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. and Burnside Rifle Co. between 1860 and 1869. The Spencer repeating rifle 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. Among the early users was George Armstrong Custer. The Spencer carbine was a shorter and lighter version designed for the cavalry. With a 7 round magazine stored inside of the butt stock, understandably this weapon became known as the one you "Loaded on Sunday and shot all week."

Here we have a genuine Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Model 1867 infantry rifle, which were produced in far smaller numbers than the carbines, making any example quite rare. It bears original serial number 96281 clearly on the tang of the receiver, as well as on the underside of the barrel under the fore stock. It still has complete and clear Spencer maker markings on top of the receiver:

SPENCER REPEATING
RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS.
PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860

The barrel is clearly marked M.1867 over the breech, indicating it is the version originally made for .50 Government Rimfire, also known as .56-50 Spencer. This was one of the last variants produced as far as we can tell, as Spencer would go out of business in 1869 without the large Civil War contracts it had enjoyed during the wartime years.

The metalwork of this rifle shows an overall mottled patina, with signs of past oxidation and peppering, but no major oxidation such as pit rust. This has mostly been cleaned away, giving it a great look, and the markings are still well preserved, something we do not often see. The original rear ladder sight was removed long ago, and replaced with a simple notch sight. The front sight is present but worn down, and the bayonet lug on the bottom of the barrel is still present. The action functions relatively well, though it is definitely stiff and we have no way to check to see if it can still feed cartridges or eject spent ones. This version of the action does not have the extractor on the left side, and instead it is on the breech block. The casing ejector on the rear of the breech block is missing. There was not any type of stabler cut-off installed on this rifle, and the back of the breech block was cut out for one.

The stocks are in good frontier worn condition, showing heavy wear, chips, missing chunks, cracks, and even some past splits. These have all been repaired to make this into a lovely example, ready to hang on the wall. The bore looks to have 6 groove rifling, but there is past fouling and oxidation throughout, so the finish is mostly dark. Definitely a rifle that saw service but was not properly cleaned after the last time it was used. The bore is in very good condition, showing a partly bright finish with strong 6 groove rifling. There is fouling and oxidation in the grooves, as well as light wear, so this definitely was a rifle that use during service. The magazine tube is in good condition and still removes.

Overall a lovely frontier worn example of an iconic weapon, the first of this model that we have ever had! Perfect for any collection, and ready to display!

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: Circa 1867
Caliber: .56-50 Spencer rimfire / .50 Government Rimfire
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30 inches
Overall Length: 47 inches
Action: Lever Action with Manual Hammer
Feed System: 7 Round Tube Magazine

History and overview of the Spencer repeating rifle and carbine-

The 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.

The 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.

To 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.

There 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.

At 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.

The 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.

The 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.

In 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.

Despite 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.

NOTE: 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.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.