Taylor's 56-50 Spencer, SOLD PENDING FUNDS

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Well, I finally gave up on trying to make affordable and easy blanks for the 56-50, and I don't want to cry every time I loose one! I am switching to a Henry for Civil War re-enacting, which actually there were members of the real 12th Illinois Cavalry that used Henry rifles, so my group favors them, and actually encourages them!  I have a modified lifter block that lets me use 44-40 brass for blanks.  I really can't afford to keep a stable of guns at this time, so...

As such, I have decided to sell my Taylor's / Armi Sport Spencer carbine.  It has only about 25 rounds through it.  It comes with the original hard case, Lyman Taylor's 56-50 dies, Dakota Widowmaker/Hell R high water mould, about 100 rounds of starline brass, about half loaded with 40 grns 777, and a carbine sling.

I am selling it all for $925 plus $25 UPS ground to FFL of your choice. I can take a credit card through my wife's kennel business.

Contact me via Email at:  imarangemaster@yahoo.com

[Two Flints]

Tuolumne,

"I am switching to a Henry for Civil War re-enacting"   Such statements are blasphemy when uttered on SSS   However, You are still  obligated to check in and share your knowledge of Spencers and loading expertise with us despite your decision to go over to the "yellow side".

Two Flints

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Ah yes, I will still wear my SSS cap with pride!  Who knows, maybe some day I will be flush and I will pick up another in a caliber that lends itself to cheaper re-enacting blanks like a 45 or 44.  For now though, I'll stick with just "Yellow".

Did I mention that it has a really great trigger pull from the factory?

[major]

TL
If you like the 44-40 but still like the Spencer then why not get the best of both worlds?  You can get a Spencer in 44-40 and use the 410 shells as blanks.  I know that you have already read my article about doing this.  Another thing to consider is that the price of brass is going up and up.  I think that .44 Mag brass is now over .17 cents each.  You can get 410 shells off the skeet range for free and even if you have to buy them the cost is only about 5 cents each in once fired condition.
Another thing I found out last summer is that the 410 blanks will work in a .45LC Henry.  I was at a reenactment and got talking to a fellow that was using a Henry in 45.  He was using the 5 in 1 blanks and we got into a discussion of the cost.  Just for giggles I had him try my 410 Spencer blanks in his .45 Henry and they worked flawlessly.  If anyone in your reenacting unit has a Henry in .45 I would be willing to send you a few of the 410s to try.
As for selling your Spencer you might want to try the N-SSA board.  http://www.n-ssa.org/phpbb/ you might have some luck with the Skirmishers in the N-SSA.
Terry

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Hmmmmm...

The other Henry I am getting is 45 Colt! ..  Maybe I could get a few from you and try them.  It would be nice not to have to use the modified block I got from you (it works with heavily roll crimped 44-40 brass too!)

The plan was to eventually get a 45 Colt or 44-40 Spencer and use your 410 blanks when I can afford to keep a stable of guns again. Do your 410 blanks work in 45 Colt Spencers also?

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Here are some high resolution photos of my Taylor's Spencer Carbine offered for sale.





                                                   (Photos added by T.F.)

[major]

TL
I would be happy to send you some of the 410 blanks just get me your address and I will pop them in the mail. t.schultz5@verizon.net.
A couple of other things.... If you are going to use a .45LC Henry than you can probably use the 410s but if they will not work in your gun then you would be better off using the converted block and 45LC brass.  If you use 44-40 you will get a considerable amount of blow back from the loose fit and it will gum up you action after about 50 shots.  The .45LC cases will provide a better gas seal and help keep the action cleaner longer.  I don't know how good a gas seal the 410s will provide in the 45 Henry but they provide a great seal in my 44-40 Spencer.
I sent some of my 410 blanks to a person that has a Spencer in 45 and he could get them to chamber OK but the breach would not fully close.  I think the flange on the 410s is just too thick for the sliding block.  This didn't seam to be a problem with the .45 Henry I tried them in.
From an historic stand point I feel that the use of a Spencer is more correct than using a Henry for reenacting for the following reason.  If you were able to use a time machine and go back to the CW in mid 1863 you would have a much easer time finding a trooper with a Spencer than finding one with a Henry.  The government purchased about 120,000 Spencers but only 1200 Henrys.  There were a total of about12,000 Henry's produced during the CW.  So you can see that the Spencer was a much more prevalent arm than the Henry.
I also have all the dies you need to make the 410 blanks.  When you are ready I would appreciate it if you would contact me for the dies.
Terry

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy,

Major,

You got it!  I will PM you my address for a few blanks.  If they work, I will order the dies from you.  I will keep what you said about the  410 blanks not working in the 45 Colt Spencer.  I like 44-40, and loaded with 777 and a 200 grn JSP it could make a good deer thumper.  Not as good as a 56-50, but....

I have a ton of 45 Colt brass. For using them for the blanks in the 45 Colt Henry (with the modified block) will they fee without a star crimp?  I know the 44-40s do, but I only used 777 the time I tried it, and fouling wasn't a problem.

If I wasn't strapped, I even offer to trade the 56-50 for A 44-40 Spencer, but I am committed on the author Henry.

PS, what's the link for your article about making the 410 blanks again?

Bernie

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Sold pending funds!

[Two Flints]

T.L.,

I will expect my usual percentage of the sale price

Two Flints

[major]

TL
45 brass will cycle in the Henry without the star crimp most of the time.  But they hang up going into the chamber more often then one would like without the star crimp.  I can get you a star crimp die for 45 if you need one.
The web address for the Spencer article is at: http://www.9thnycavalry.webeditor.com/spencer_article.html
And the Henry article is at: http://www.9thnycavalry.webeditor.com/henry_article.html
Terry

[Four Sixes]

Here is a picture of the .45LC blank that I made for my 1860 Henry. I used the Winchester AA 410 shells. No need to modify the gun at all and they cycle and fire well...after 10 shots, my barrel did get hot


                                                             (Photo posted by T.F.)
4-Sixes

[major]

4-6's
Did you have to size down the brass with the Mac Supersizer 77 as in my article?  Or will they chamber and eject without this step?
Terry

[Four Sixes]

Hi Terry,

I size the 410 shell in my .45LC carbine sizer die first before loading just on the safe side. And I have no problem in feeding and loading. I believed I try a few without sizing it, and I didn't experience any problem either. So, you may not need to the sizing at all using the Winchester AA shell.

For me, just to aviod any doubt or trouble later on, I sized all of them through my 45LC sizer...it was very simple and easy step for me

4-Sixes

[major]

4-6's
The problem with depending on a sizing die to reduce the size of the shell is that the shell holder prevents the sizing die from going over the entire area.  The area near the flange that the shell holder takes up can be a problem.  It may not be a problem with 45 but to use it in a 44-40 Spencer, it is necessary to use a MAC Supersizer 77 to size the entire brass area all the way up to the flange.  BTW even with using the MAC they still will not work in a 44-40 Henry.
The make of the hull didn't seam to matter much in the Spencer, except that it didn't like Fiocchi hulls.
Terry

[Four Sixes]

Hi Terry,

I guess each gun has its own temperament...we just have to find out what it like. I have once heard someone comparing gun to the lady..."one has to find out what it (or she) likes and don't like; once we've done that, then it will be smooth sailing all the way... (May be that hold some truth in it, don't you think so...hahaha

4-Sixes