Locked breech

[5judge]

New to the site, so apologies if I'm not meeting standards. Acquired an apparently clean, straight M.1860 Spencer carbine manufactured in 1863 in 56-56, of course. Two problems. First, the breech occasionally locks tight when fully open. Only dismantling it will bring it back into operation. Does this empty. Second, acquired an original upper block converted to centrefire. When this converted block is installed the tail of the loading lever, when the action is closed, lacks a full half inch of meeting the triggerguard plate and the upper block itself, eyeballed, sits too low when closed against the breech face. I want to shoot it; it's why I acquired it. Bore and chamber fine and the weapon is otherwise tight and solid. Should I swap it off or are there cures for my two problems? Any Spencer-specific gunsmiths in the western Carolinas area?  Thanks, Dave Fox.

[Herbert]

The reason the action is jaming is because the block stop (the round bit on the triger plate is worn)a little brazing and filing will fix this or place a thin shim between the upper and lower blocks,a thin washer shim is best around the shaft that conects the upper block to the leaver,this is only a emergency fix as it allso will tighten the swing of the action up if the shim is too thick and the triger plate will only were more,for the centerfire block to work check the measurments from front to back of the centerfire block against the original,also check the slot measurments and the thickness of the leaver tenon that the slot is in against the original,this sounds like what happens with the S&S blocks ,easly fixed by thining the tennon and making the slot the same as the original,good luck with your carbine,also check weater it has been converted by Sprinfield to 56-50 ,if it has you will be able to see were thw liner was solderd in the original 56-56 bored out barrell

[5judge]

Thank you, Herbert. At the Greenville, SC gunshow this morning I passed the Spencer and your repair suggestions to Wormy, a CAS participant and shade tree gunsmith. In answer to your question, this Spencer carbine is G.I., in original 56-56 calibre, six-groove rifling, and, by the low serial number, was delivered to Uncle Sam 7 December, 1863. Sam passed it on to the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry. At the gunshow was a so-so M.1865 carbine with a near mint, original M.1860 magazine tube. My carbine's tube is cracked and ratty. Before I order a replica tube from S&S, I'll inquire after a good, loose one (vain hope!). Have brass, dies, and a proper .535 Rapine mould on the way here, the latter throwing a heeled slug. By the way: picked up a copy of Marcot's Spencer book from Track of the Wolf for sixty-some dollars; half what the cheapest is on Amazon.

[Jobe Holiday]

Is your 7th PA Spencer Carbine in the same serial number range as the one shown in Marcot's book?

JH

[5judge]

Can't find the e-mail from my Chicago Spencer-fanatic friend with serials and my Spencer's off being worked on, but yes: it's nestled among something like five serial numbered 7th Pennsylvania pieces and next to one of them.

[Arizona Trooper]

If you know of someone that's good with a welder, those magazine tubes weld very nicely (but they are thin!). I've done several. Herbert has the right fix for the lever jamming open.

Marcot's Spencer book is excellent! You will like it. 

[Hard Mouth]

My 90-y/o father used to visit his grandfather's farm for a couple of weeks every summer when he was a kid. Played with a Spencer when he was there. When about 8, finally asked if he could take it home with him. Had it ever since. Couple of years ago, I gave him a copy of Marcott's book. That book's now been highlighted all over, has page tabs stuck on, etc. He's amazed at the research and documentation! I had just sorta hoped he'd be a little interested....

[Herbert]

It does make you feel good when a present is apreciated even more than you expected ,well done