*** EXACT MATCH *** Spencer Carbine Serial #

[G.W. Strong]

I just noticed that my carbine has a serial # on the barrel. It was obviously fitted when relined because the secondary serial (48) is on all the parts. The barrel is numbered 16234. Any hits on that number?

[Two Flints]

Hopalong,

Holy SPENCER   An exact match, I think with your serial # 16234.

My SRS Volume 4 indicates that a Spencer Carbine, serial # 16234 was issued to a member of Company K, of the 11th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry on November 11, 1864.

Need photos of that carbine, please Email them to me at fsgrand2@fairpoint.net.

Two Flints

[G.W. Strong]

Mine is just the barrel with serial 16234. The receiver is serialed 16280


I only have a few pics taken before I replaced the missing parts on this carbine. I pulled the fore end tonight so I could send it off to Bob Hoyt to have the barrel relined. That is when I found the second serial.

It now has a rear site, front band, saddle ring and all the missing screws.

Here is one.


               (Photo Added by Two Flints)

[G.W. Strong]

In looking through the roster of Company K, of the 11th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry I see there was a distant cousin. Zenith E. Strong.  That is fun!

[Perseo]

Let me ask the reverse question -- is it common to find a mismatch between the serial numbers behind the trigger and under the barrel?

My question relates to an M1865 carbine that was refurbished at Springfield.

[Two Flints]

Using parts with different serial #s to complete refurbishing a Spencer was probably a common option at Springfield, as long as the fit was OK and the result was a working Spencer.

Two Flints

[G.W. Strong]

Using parts with different serial #s to complete refurbishing a Spencer was probably a common option at Springfield, as long as the fit was OK and the result was a working Spencer.

Two Flints

I agree. I believe that is whay all of my parts were re stamped "48." I have that number stamped in a larger and different font on theupper and lower breech block, receiver, barrel, lever and perhaps other parts I have not found. My question is what does the 48 mean? Was this the 48th one converted?

[Arizona Trooper]

That's actually kind of odd. The 48 on all the parts would indicate that you have a civilian carbine. These were made from rejected parts that were fit up and numbered in the white so that the parts could be matched up after hardening and finishing. It's a batch or assembly number, probably the 48th one they fit up whenever they made that run of civilian guns.

The Springfield refinished Spencers don't need the batch numbers because they are truly parts interchangeable. Any part from any US inspected Spencer would fit any other US inspected Spencer.

It would be interesting to know how an issued M-1860 barrel ended up on a civilian carbine. That's a head scratcher. Net that you got a hit!

[Trailrider]

A lot of surplus Spencers and other guns and gun parts got sold to Francis Bannerman and E.C. Meacham (of St. Louis, MO), where they were assembled into guns and sold for a dollar or two! I know of a Sharps "Military" rifle chambered in .45-2-1/10" (.45-70 cartridge) that has a barrel with a 1-in-54" twist and a .451" groove diameter barrel, versus the standard 1-in-22" and .457-.460" three lands-and-grooves used by the Trapdoor Springfields. The Sharps is a Meacham. That barrel probably came from a muzzleloader.

Even though your Spencer is obviously a re-build, it is sure neat to have at least the barrel traceable to a CW unit! 

[G.W. Strong]

Here is the Civil war service this carbine was likely to have seen.

In November, the Regiment was employed mainly in clearing that section of the country of guerrillas, and was engaged in skirmishes with them at Hazel Green on the 9th., McCormick's Farm the 10th., Morristown on the 13th., State Creek the 14th., then at Mt. Sterling on November the 16th. On the 17th. they were ordered to Crab Orchard, arriving there on the 20th., where it joined their Division and moved to the Cumberland Gap, East Tennessee. From there they marched to the Clinch River, and had a sharp fight on the 28th., then proceeded to Bean's Station, December 1st. The next day they made a scout to Morristown Russelville, Whiteboro and Cobb's Ford, skirmishing at the first two named points on the 2nd., at Cobb's Ford on the 3rd., then on the 4th. returned to Bean's Station, there to be engaged in scouting and foraging until the 11th., when they moved with the command, attached to General Stoneman' Expedition into North Carolina. The Regiment, along with another of its Brigade, charged into Bristol on the 13th., taking a large number of prisoners along with a large quantity of stores. Passing through Paperville, Va., on the same day, they arrived at Abington on the 15th., having skirmished with the Rebels at both places, then the next day, fought Vaughn's Brigade during the entire day, routing him and capturing all of his artillery, while taking 250 prisoners, reaching Marion during the night. The command having been engaged at Mt. Airey, entered Wytheville, at which place a large amount of stores were taken, then destroyed, the Regiment then proceeding to Max Meadow Station, being ten miles further in that direction than had been previously reached by any Union troops. There they destroyed a large arsenal, returning the same night to a point three miles South of Wytheville, then reached Marion on the 17th., when a detachment of the 11th., then forming a part of the Brigade of Colonel Brown, coming upon the Rebels at Breckenridge, charged his cavalry and opened the engagement, which continued with much vigorous fighting for 36 hours, during which, repeated and daring charges were made by both sides, until the Southern forces fell back in disorder across the mountains into North Carolina. A detachment of the 11th. Michigan, numbering 120 officers and men, held a bridge during the whole engagement, which was of much importance, being the key to the position of the Union troops. The bridge was stubbornly held under a severe fire from the force on the opposite side of the river.

The command, with the Regiment in the advance, then made a rapid march to Saltville, Va., arriving there on the 20th.,and, after a severe engagement of over 12 hours, the place was taken, with a large amount of supplies and artillery. After destroying all of the salt works, along with the captured property, the command moved in the direction of Pound Gap, passing through Jonesboro and Morristown, Va., skirmishing almost the entire distance, arrived at that point on the 26th., having been engaged at the Clinch River, Morristown and McCormick's Farm.

Three-Fourths of the men having been dismounted, they were sent on foot down the line of the Big Sandy River, the others crossing the mountains. The 11th. then proceeded towards Lexington, Ky., arriving there January 2, 1865.

On the 19th. of January, 1865, the Regiment being stationed at Lexington, moved to Mt. Sterling, and was engaged at Hazel Green, Flemingsburgh, then in scouting the eastern portion of Kentucky. On February 23rd., they started to join Stoneman's command at Knoxville, reaching there via Louisville and Nashville, March the 15th., when they were assigned to the 2nd. Brigade, forming a part of the force on Stoneman's Expedition through East Tennessee, North and South Carolina and Georgia. The command left Knoxville March 17th., passing through Boon, NC on the 27th., crossed the Yadkin River on the 30th., passing through Mt. Airey on the 31st., Hillsdale the 1st, of April, then arrived at Christiansburg April the 3rd., where they destroyed a portion of the East Tennessee Railroad, passing through Danbury the 9th., Germantown on the 10th., arriving at Salisberry the 12th., where they engaged a superior force of Confederates, capturing 1800 prisoners, 22 pieces of artillery and destroyed a large amount of property, and also the railroad and telegraph lines leading to that point.

From Salisberry the command marched via Taylorsville on the 14th., passing Lenoir Station on the 15th., then was engaged at Morgantown on the 17th. On the 19th., they proceeded to Swananoa Gap, passing through Rutherfordville,then Hendersonville before arriving at Ashville on the 26th., taking at that point 200 prisoners, and capturing a large amount of supplies, including artillery. Passing again through Hendersonville, the command entered South Carolina, via Saluda Gap and Caesars Head, arriving at Anderson Court House on the 1st. of May. They destroyed the remnants of the Confederate Treasury, then moved to Carnesville, Ga., then Athens, then on the 11th., captured the cavalry escort of Jefferson Davis, near Washington. They moved to Hartwell on the 13th., the command guarding the crossing points of the Tugaloo and Savannah Rivers, on the 22nd. crossing the Savannah River, marching via Maxwell's Farm,SC, Greenville, Asheville, Strawberry Plains, Knoxville, to Lenoir Station, where they then proceeded by rail to Pulaski, where they were consolidated with the 8th. Michigan Cavalry on July 20th, then to be mustered out, returned home and disbanded.

From http://www.michiganinthewar.org/cavalry/11thcav.htm