{"product_id":"original-u-s-spencer-model-1865-saddle-ring-repeating-carbine-with-stabler-cutoff-serial-12591","title":"Original U.S. Spencer Model 1865 Saddle Ring Repeating Carbine with Stabler Cutoff - Serial 12591","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition genuine Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Model 1865 Saddle Ring Carbine. While most M1865 carbines we have seen were made by Burnside Rifle Company, about 40% of the total produced were manufactured by Spencer itself. This is one of the few model 1865s we have had made by Spencer, and it is definitely not an M1860 conversion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spencer factory manufactured nearly 23,000 M1865 Spencer carbines, of which 12,502 were equipped with the Stabler cut-off. In the post-war period, Springfield Armory retrofitted about 12,000 M1860s to incorporate M1865 features. The .56-50-cal. M1865 Spencer carbines manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Co. and the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces with 20-inch barrels, and they had an overall length of 37 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnderstandably this weapon became known as the one you \"Loaded on Sunday and shot all week.\" First produced in 1860 by Christian Spencer of the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company, which remained in business until 1869.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere we have a very good genuine Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Model 1865 Saddle Ring Carbine, which is definitely one of the best Spencer manufactured examples that we have had. It bears original serial number \u003cstrong\u003e12591\u003c\/strong\u003e clearly on the tang of the receiver, as well as on the underside of the barrel under the fore stock. The barrel is correctly marked \u003cstrong\u003eM.1865\u003c\/strong\u003e over the chamber, and it has complete and crisp Spencer maker markings on top of the receiver:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPENCER REPEATING\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT'D MARCH 6, 1860\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1865 carbine was made by both Spencer and by Burnside under license, and they each had their own serial number sequences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork of this carbine is in very good shape, with much of the original blued finish present, with other parts faded to a gray patina. The saddle ring bar is still present, with the original saddle ring installed. The original ladder sight is complete and fully functional. The action functions well, though we have not tested the ability of the magazine to feed. This is one of the 12,502 Carbines manufactured by Spencer with a Stabler cutoff, which is still installed and fully functional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stocks are still in very good shape, with a lovely light oil finish and a lovely red brown color. They show some cracks and old repairs, as expected on a carbine that most likely saw long service on the frontier. The bore is in very good condition, and shows strong 6 groove rifling, with a mostly bright finish and crisp lands and grooves. There are some areas of oxidation and overall light wear, but this is definitely one of the better bores we have seen. The magazine tube removes correctly, and is in good condition, though it may take some effort to open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a very nice example of an iconic weapon. Perfect for any collection, and ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears of Manufacture: circa 1865\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .56-52 Spencer Rimfire\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 20 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 37 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Lever Action with Manual Hammer\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 7 Round Tube Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory and overview of the Spencer repeating rifle and carbine-\u003c\/strong\u003e\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\u003eNOTE: 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":40468651475013,"sku":"ONSV22CWS5","price":2895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV22CWS5__01.jpg?v=1672260700","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-spencer-model-1865-saddle-ring-repeating-carbine-with-stabler-cutoff-serial-12591","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}