I have been thinking about the issue of historical accuracy and the Spencer, etc.
I have several CW re-enactor friends, and they continuously refer to "stich Nazis." One went to a re-enactment where ONLY 3 band .58 cal. muskets were allowed, even though it portrayed an early CW event! The reality is that in the early CW days, the variety of long arms, issue and non-issue, boggles the mind. They were creating a "reality" that was not real, nor was it accurate. Another talked about an event where only de-farbbed replica muskets (ones with moderm markings removed, and original markings and finish applied) were allowed. Ugh!!!!!!
Take .44 Henries and Spencers in all their current calibers. We have to accept them, as there in no rimfire to be found, except maybe a few rounds at $25 each. Yes, I agree it would have been preferable to have no staple and ring on the Spencer Infantry rifles Armi Sport made. There is more historical precedant for the staple and bar on a rifle, however, than a .44-40 model carbine! As I stated in another thread, some 56-56 CW carbines were re-barreled as 56-50 infantry rifles after the war, and the staple and ring remained.
We must be careful to not try so hard for "reality" that we create a reality that did not exist, or rob ourself of enjoying as much of a reality that we can, even if it is centerfire instead of rimfire or has a staple and ring even though most didn't, etc.
If we were truely "realistic" WE WOULD EAT SOW BELLY, FATBACK, HARDTACK, AND WHITE BEANS. We would all be skinny, gaunt, underfed, have disentary, scurvy,trench foot, and smell HORRIBLE!
Just my thjoughts as a High School US History Teacher and old west, Civil War enjoyer.