Spencer, Smith, & Sharps Comparison Photos.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Here's a post with comparison pics showing our BELOVED SPENCER , a Sharps and Smith carbines in action photos.  Photos and some text  edited and posted by Two Flints. 

First photo:  Top to Bottom: 1860 .56-56 Spencer Carbine, .50 caliber Smith Carbine, and .54 Caliber
1863 Sharps carbine.


Second photo: Same as above with respective actions open


Third photo: L to R  Modern .56-56 center fire for S&S breechblock in original 1860 Spencer, original
government issue No. 56 rimfire (56-56) for 1860 Spencer, Smith .515 bullet rubber cartridge with flash
hole visible in base, Sharps .54 caliber paper cartridge with 50 grain FFG and old CVA bullet.


1) Smith open and ready to load


2) Close up of Smith breech with rubber cartridge in it.


3) Smith chamber with deep sharp shoulder to headspace rubber cartridges


4) Smith action with cartridge in place.  Ready to close. Re-size as you can.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

When all is said and done, as much as I love my new toy (the Smith), the Spencer still rules as far as I am concerned.  The 7+1 Firepower, coolness, and shear panche'!  I just wish the darn plastic Spencer blanks held more than 12-15 grains of powder!  That's half of what I shoot in my New Model Army .44 Remington!  It is downright anti-climactical to fire a Spencer 15 grain squib load when all around you with Sharps, Smiths, Springfields, Enfields, and Henries are booming off with 40-60 grains!
                                 
I am playing with some ideas on 348s and 50-70s for blanks, but nothing yet.

Thanks for posting the pics, Two Flints!

[Crazeyiven]

Tuolumne Lawman-

Could you make your own blanks?  Something like this one?  Maybe with a 56-50 case, or, a reworked 50-70 case?


SPENCER CARBINE BLANK ROUND - UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY:  Head stamped with a single "U", this .50 caliber UMC Spencer Carbine Blank is full form, with a reduced neck to aid in chambering and complete with the paper wad visible.





Link to above photos appears below.
http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/06_ammunition/06_item_058.htm

David

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

Thanks, it is a good idea.  I actually have several of those blanks and shot shells.  They used the same case for both.  I would need to have a custom die made to form the 50-70 brass, and I think that would cost $$$$$$$$!  If I get my hands on some 348 brass, it may be tapered enoug if cut.

[Hell-Er High Water]

TL,

348 Winchester brass is available on eBay.  There are several lots listed at this time.

I purchased several hundred rounds in the not too distant past from various vendors on eBay for conversion to 56-50, 43 Spanish, 8MM Guedes and other odd calibers.

It both necks down or blows out with satisfactory results.  A versatile case for various odd jobs.

HHW

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings, TL!

   Don't go out spending cash on a die you may have in your reloading kit! After trimming your .348WCF brass, run the 'neck' into a .45-70 [.44mag??} sizing die until the brass will chamber. Set your die, and size a magazine full for function testing.
   When fired, the brass may expand into the leade and rifling, depending on the powder charge, brass hardness, etc. Resize again, and reload blank charge.
   I sure can't recall the die I used years ago to make shotshell brass, but you get the idea! Now if I could remember where I put those reformed shells...

   Be Well!

      M.T.Marfield:.
          5-16-07

[Major 2]

Some years ago a Pard in The 7 ILL bought some surplus 11mm Checkslovakian blanks with wood plugs
these things were about 3" long with the bullet shaped plug 
When cut down by hand with a Little gem tube cutter to just at the bottle neck .. these work very well in the Spencer.
They were cheap I think he paid $2 a thousand they are throw away at that price.

He sent me a few doz I cut down ... I used in the films
they look a lot those in the above photo

[Tuolumne Lawman]

TL,

348 Winchester brass is available on eBay.  There are several lots listed at this time.

I purchased several hundred rounds in the not too distant past from various vendors on eBay for conversion to 56-50, 43 Spanish, 8MM Guedes and other odd calibers.

It both necks down or blows out with satisfactory results.  A versatile case for various odd jobs.

HHW

Pard, Do you have a 348 brass case that you could stand next to a loaded 56-50 or 56-56, maybe with a ruller between them, and take a JPEG?  I'm working on an idea, and if it works (depending on shouldertr location, etc.) , it could make really slick brass blanks.  If I buy a bunch (500) from Williams or someone, they will be fairly cheap.  45 grns FFFG and a a little cream of wheat under a little piece of masking tape or inventory dot would make the Spencer boom at the re-enactments!

[Hell-Er High Water]

TL,

Are you going to be at High Sierra next weekend?  If so, I can bring a couple of cases that you can have to experiment with.

HHW

[Tuolumne Lawman]

TL,

Are you going to be at High Sierra next weekend?  If so, I can bring a couple of cases that you can have to experiment with.

HHW

Nope, as much as I would like to be, I will be Fresno area walking my oldest daughter down the aisle and turning her over to the preacher and her soon to be husband, (A Lt. Cmdr. in the Navy, FA18 Super Hornet instructor pilot).  And I could not have picked a better son in law if I had choosen him myself<GGGGGGGGGG>