1860 Spencer Rifle Unknown Screw

[45lcolt]

I recently passed on the purchase of a nice 1860 Spencer rifle. All looked good except for a screw in the top of the rcvr just to the right and a little foward of the chamber .

  Do any of you know the purpose of this screw?  Opinions thus far have been:
   -  to provide access to the breech in case the breechblock became stuck (requiring the hole to be drilled into the breech)..
   - attach a "sporting sight".
   - stop a crack from expanding by using a screw to block it.
   - No idea.
The seller says the screw do not extend into the chamber , but has no idea of its purpose. 
For all I know it keeps the barrel from falling off.
   Did I pass up a good thing or did I make the right choice given that nobody seems to have a good reason for the screw?

[Trailrider]

That just don't look right to me!  Can't imagine what it's for, but the screw head is sure buggered up!  I can't imagine what it would be for...

[JimBob]

Were you able to inspect the chamber to see if the hole for the screw extended into the chamber area?You're guess about holding the barrel on may be closer than you think.

[Herbert]

Were you able to inspect the chamber to see if the hole for the screw extended into the chamber area?You're guess about holding the barrel on may be closer than you think.

Yes may be a screw for a take down rifle expermint by some smith ,the screw seems to have seen a fair bit of youse,only a gess

[Jobe Holiday]

For my 2 cents, if the rifle were cheap enough I could live with the odd screw!

With today's technology there's not much on an antique arm that can't be repaired.

JH

[St. George]

I'll throw this into the mix...

'Way Back When' - it was a common practice to affix a screw, or drill a hole through some part of a weapon, so it could be used in a display.

Bannerman did a lot of this - and often provided a wooden plaque cut in the shape of a shield, in order to create a panoply for someone's den.

This practice would continue well after WWII, with numerous articles on 'How to Convert Your Bolt-action Rifle to a Floor Lamp' perhaps being the most commonly found in the various gun magazines of the era.

At that time, these weapons had very little value, beyond that of 'accent piece' or 'nostalgia', and older collectors would've seen many examples of this form of decoration as closets were cleaned out.

Should this be purchased, and the hole repaired - it'll still be a repaired piece, and not original - and 'original' is what folks pay for.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[45lcolt]

Tks for the replies. I didnt take possession of the rifle - I sent the money but had second thoughts after I wasnt able to find out what the screw was for, and canceled the sale. Even tho the price was very good, I just didnt feel right with the screw.  Cud be nothing to be concerned with but then nobody really knows what it is for.  I didnt really want to get it and have to send it back if the screw was a problem. But then I may kick myself for not buying it. So now I'll just look for another one that doesnt have some weird/unknown modification.


   

[Jobe Holiday]

Not everything that is repaired is able to be detected with the naked eye. I've been in this game for some 50+ years and some of the repairs that I've seen done....and hidden....would try your very imagination! Absolutely undetectable without an x-ray examination. Who among us even thinks about an x-ray examination when making a purchase? Seriously folks, I'm not kidding. You wouldn't believe the lengths some people will go to just to make a sale. And, that is what I was refering to when I mentioned todays technology. It's worse than ever for hidden repairs. You can mask anything! It is a real "Caveat Emptor" market out there!

Just my 2 cents.

JH

[St. George]

Don't always need to X-Ray - freezing works well, to show anomalies.

Folks who collect and deal in high-dollar weapons 'will' submit a piece to the processes - it's a part of 'provenance' in a world where the seller's word is supposed to be worth something.

In the case of a common piece like a Spencer, as well as many Winchester models - there's very little need to do such a thing, though, since they're ubiquitous, though getting pricier - but in the world of the better Colts, faking is rife.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[pale rider]

I actually saw one other Spencer (carbine) that had a similar screw in the reciever. Could you email me at
jdulw71252@aol.com
I have a couple of questions I would like to ask you about the Rifle.

Thanks

[45lcolt]

Just send you a PM will try and answer whatever questions you may have.  Maybe what you saw is the same as what is on this rifle.