UPDATE INFO FROM TAYLORS, first hand

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Howdy pards,

I was talking to Sue at Taylors.  The 56-50 rifle length is in the works.  Should be out later this year.  Initially will be in 56-50 only, at least for now.

Talked to her about taking out the right hand extractor blade on the 44 and 45 Spencers to improve reliabilty.  She said they have heard about this, but would not endorse or disclaim it. She just doesn't know enouigh about it.  I will check with Tammy in a week or so.

TUOLUMNE LAWMAN

[US Scout]

TL-

Glad to hear they have finally got the rifle length version nearly ready.  I've been bugging them about that since the first carbines came out years ago.

Some of the .44 and .45 carbines have extractor problems.  Tommy, their gunsmith, sometimes cuts the lip off the right extractor.  The extractor needs to remain in the rifle otherwise the cartridge may slew too far to the right and jam on loading.  Recommend you talk to Tommy (not Tammy) about what needs to be done.

[Two Flints]

US Scout,

How did you contact Tom, their gunsmith?  Is there a direct # to his location?  Or do you just ask to be transferred to him when calling?

Two Flints

[major]

I shoot the Armisport with blanks that I make form 44 magnum brass.  I removed the LEFT extractor from my 44 Russian model and it reduced the jamming problems dramatically.  Another trick I found is that when levering the gun hold it vertical with the muzzle pointing up in the air and work the lever quickly.

[US Scout]

Two Flints,

Just call Taylor's regular phone line and ask to speak to Tommy.  He is right next door to the office.  If its not hunting season, he is usually in.

Scout

[Two Flints]

Hi US Scout,

Thanks for the info, I was also wondering if a Taylor Spencer ever needs repair, do you know what procedure to follow?  Whom do you speak to on this?  Do you still go directly to Tom, or one of the lady's incharge there?

Two Flints

[US Scout]

The ladies in the front office (there are only 2-3 of them) don't know anything about gun repairs so go direct to Tom for the answers. 

Taylor's are good folks but there are only about 6 folks working there, and Tammy and/or Sue are sometimes out at the shows, matches, etc.  Tom is the one you want to talk to if your Spencer is having problems or you need a replacement part of any kind.  The ladies up front handle the finance part, but Tom is the one who knows guns.

I had one of the first Spencers off the boat and it had a lot of problems (as might be expected with a newly introduced firearm).  I worked with both Tammy and Tom in getting it fixed, and they were really good about trying to make it work to my satisfaction, but after two years the rifle had spent more time in their shop than in my safe.  They finally swapped it for another one that works fine (though I had a part fail that they promptly replaced).