Confederate Spencer Carbine

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

This photo is of a Spencer Carbine stock that was found or captured by Pvt George W. Pifer of Company A of the 11th Virginia Cavalry.  The (entire) Spencer Carbine is in the collection of the Virginia Historical Society and was donated to the Society by Mr. Richard D. Steuart.

Richard D. Steuart (1880-1951) was a Baltimore newspaper journalist and a collector. He donated his extensive collection of Confederate firearms, weapons, and military accouterment to the Virginia Historical Society in 1948 and requested that the collection be referred to as the "Maryland-Steuart Collection" in memory of his "Kindred Who Wore the Gray." Mr. Steuart's grandfathers were surgeons in the Confederate Army. Nine uncles and numerous cousins also fought for the Confederacy. The brother of his paternal grandfather was Gen. George H. "Maryland" Steuart.

The Virginia Historical Society informed me that they do not have provenance for the Spencer Carbine beyond Richard Steuart. They also do not have any documentation on file regarding where George W. Pifer may have obtained the weapon or the identity of "W.H.K." as engraved on the stock.  The Spencer Carbine has a serial # of 14990, which indicates that it may have been issued to a member Company E of the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.



Other photos of the Spencer Carbine that were sent to me were so dark that no detail could be seen.

Two Flints