Spencer M1865 3 Band - I WANT IT!!!

Selair · May 12, 2017, 09:42:09 AM

Hi Y'alll

Im contemplating putting some cash down for this one as I've desperatly wanted a 3 band antique since, well, forever. He is asking a fairly jaw dropping figure (for me) but I want to know what you guys would consider reasonable? I believe that because it is a m1865 it will be hard/impossible to trace the serial number, but if anyone cares a guess at what it might have been up to in its younger days I'd be all ears.
Cheers!

treebeard · May 12, 2017, 12:40:00 PM

I like it also!, I think all of us that love these old Spencer's bemoan the lack of information on the serial numbers of M1865's.

Herbert · May 12, 2017, 01:23:00 PM

very high chance is was used by the Canada they bought most if not all of the 1865 spencer rifles(2000 at least.maybe 2500,records seem a bit mixed that I have found)price is very hard on these but $3000+ would not surprise me,in Candia I would expect it to bring its best price

Selair · May 12, 2017, 01:25:18 PM

Aha! Makes sense now. I'm in Canada as is the seller. We both thought it may have made its way up here recently. Maybe not!

Herbert · May 12, 2017, 02:10:51 PM

Candia sold there Spencer rifles back to a US arms dealer,they kept there Spencer carbines though(can not find the details just now)so good chance it had made a couple of trips across the border,some would have stayed behind though

DJ · May 12, 2017, 08:27:00 PM

I think I agree with Herbert that $2,000 is pretty much the lower end for Spencer riflles. Below that you're usually looking at a rifle with problems. $2,500 is middling, and as you get to and pass $3,000 or maybe $3250 you should be starting to see something special, like a some case coloring, significant amount of blue, little or no pitting, pretty nice bore.

I haven't seen the gun you posted close up, but it gives the impression of not really being at either extreme. But here I am evaluating someone else's girl--if you've fallen in love, just let me congratulate you.

--DJ

Selair · May 13, 2017, 12:31:19 PM

Thanks very much guys.
Some thinking to do on this one for sure...and quickly. It may go up for sale on gunbroker soon apparently

Arizona Trooper · May 13, 2017, 08:17:08 PM

Several years ago I was in contact with a fellow in Mass. who claimed that the first 2000 M-1865 rifles were delivered to that state. These are supposedly the ones that have US inspectors marks on the left barrel flat. We lost touch and I never got any documentation so don't know if this is for real. My Mew Model carbine is built on M-1865 rifle #2440.