Non-member wants help on Spencer Purchase

[Two Flints]

Hello, I was wondering if you could help me? I am currently working on purchasing a Spencer carbine. From what I can tell, it is a Model 1860.  It does not have the post civil war alterations (Stabler cut-off), it is in original rimfire configuration with a 22" barrel. The Spencer markings on top are fairly worn. Serial number is in the 42,000 range. Am I accurate on this being a war time production Model 1860?




Thank you very much,
Ryan

PS I used to use the Springfield Research site to look up serial numbers. It seems to have changed and you can't do that now. Is there any similar sites or somewhere I can research this and other serial numbers?

Ryan

[Hell-Er High Water]

Two Flints,

I have been in touch with Ryan directly by eMail and this morning I gave him the information from the Marcot book that I think he needs.

I hope so at least.  If not, he can let us know and I'm sure others can help.

HHW

[Bead Swinger]

Hi Ryan
'Definitely war-time production; probably shipped from the factory in late '63 or early '64 if my memory serves me rightly. The data in Marcot will be helpful for this. My rifle is in the 39K range, so this was completed shortly before or after my rifle was.

If you get this one, or another - you can always join the list...

'Best of luck with your find.  If you get it, there's more than enough info on this list to help you to figure out how to shoot it. The 56-56 is really a fun round.

Beadswinger

["Houston 1852"]

Hello, thank you for your help!  I really appreciate it.  I made the call and ordered this carbine.  I had been tossing and turning over it for a couple months.  I'm a civil war buff and collector.  I have a Burnside and Sharps.  I've always dreamed about owning an original Spencer though.  There is sooo much history behind them...and so much more than I realized after reading some of the posts on this site.  I have joined SSS, so I look forward to learning much more.

Thanks again,
Ryan

PS  I have also ordered the Marcot book, I've heard very good things about it.

[Bead Swinger]

When you get that marvelous beauty, please post pictures. If you ever want to take her out shooting - those S&S conversion blocks are really nice.

[Dakota Widowmaker]

I got a chance to sit down with a fella who had a war time spencer in "reasonable" shape. The barrel outside was all brown.. really brown!!!

The rifling looked "clean", in that It looked like there were no visible pits or such.

The action was VERY  smooth... a bit looser than I would have thought going into battery, but, lockup was solid and firm.

His firing pin was busted, so, he couldn't even use the rimfire conversion cartridges... he was going to order a "drop in" and convert it to centerfire to see if it would work with the DW/hell-r highwater modified lee bullets.

Its interesting to note, the blanks I brought with chambered PERFECTLY from the stock and into the barrel with not much play at all.

The old timer with the REAL Spencer was droolling over ammo I had brought and I promised that if he got the CF conversion, I would make sure he had 25rds of fresh new 56-50 ammo to shoot at the range.

[I am still waiting to hear if he has even ordered the CF parts, as he is retired and has to get "significant other" approval before he can purchase it]