Spencer Identification needed - French Spencer Purchase ** Photos Added **

[French_shooter]

Hello, I'm the proud owner of a virgin 56-56 Spencer carbine. Completely unfired ! Certainly one of these numerous surplus guns bought in emergency by the French government in 1870-1871 and never used because of a lack of ammunition. No stabler cutoff. The markings over the receiver are "Spencer repeating rifle co. boston mass. pat'd march 6 1860", the serial number is "32135", there's a big "137" stamped on the right side, a"P" followed by what appears as a small "s" and a "2" on the barrel, under the band. There's also a"F" or a "E" stamped on the stock, just behind the trigger plate and a very small "R" stamped on the sling ring plate. If this can help someone identify that carbine, I'd be quite grateful.














                                  (Photos added by T.F.)

[Two Flints]

Hi French Shooter,

Your thread/post appeared before I sent you an Email.  Thanks for the post and welcome to SSS.

Regarding your serial # 32,135.  According to my records, your Spencer Carbine was probably issued to a member of Co. H, 6th NY Volunteer Cavalry on or about 06-10-1865.

Hope this is what you were looking for in the way of information!

Two Flints

[French_shooter]

Thank you for your quick answer ! Is there a way to know how and when it was shipped to France ? It may have been issued to Co. H 6th NY Volonteer Cav., but not to an individual, the mechanism and the barrel were still full of dried armorery grease whan I fell upon it, and after cleaning it, I realized that although the outside shows the wear of the years, the parts are factory new and the inside of the barrel is mirror polished.

[Advertising]

[Major 2]

I had one in the 21xxx range, in similar condition...mine had a 21 stamped on the receiver in front of the hammer
research shows it was issued to the 5th New York Cavalry in Nov 1863.

Many of these were turned in to Burnside Rifle Company to be re built in 1865
does yours have  3 or 5 lands & grooves ?

[French_shooter]

Neither 3 nor 5 but 6 lands and grooves in the barrel !

[Major 2]

Typo    I meant 6 ...Doh !

So that means it is the original Spencer barrel

[French_shooter]

Yes, original and new. I bought it a couple months back, along with several other niceties, such as a Winchester 1886 in 38-56, from an old lady whose husband passed away. So I have no idea how it came into his hands and the wherabouts of that gun.
I ordered and adapted a centerfire block from Buffalo, some brass and a mold, and that Spencer is soon to shoot. By the way, I formed and reloaded some cartridges for the Winchester, and it's a real shooter, very tight groups at 100 m. The 38-56 isn't the most powerful caliber known to man, but it sure attracted some people at the range !