Spencer Carbine (Burnside mfg) Stabler Cutoff?

[milsurpshooter]

My newly acquired Spencer has a small screw near the forward end of the trigger plate that appears to have no purpose.  Could this small screw have been evidence that a Stabler Cutoff was originally installed at the time of manufacture?  If so, would there be a way to tell which version of cutoff would have been used?

[Two Flints]

Not sure I can help with the "model" of Stabler Cutoff that may have been installed on your Burnside Spencer . . .  thought you might find this Stabler information taken from the Marcot book dealing with Burnside Spencers.



S&S Firearms has original Stabler Cut-off parts for sale.  Check out this link.
http://www.ssfirearms.com/proddetail.asp?prod=SP162

Or you can do a search on the Internet for other companies that also sell the Stabler Cut-off.

Two Flints

[Herbert]

If it is a Burncide made carbine the split cutoff is the correct type,You will also need the longer trigger plate screw to fit it S&S sells these or youse to

[mgmradio]

As Herbert said, if a Burnside manufactured one a split cutoff, if Spencer made a solid one. You will need the longer screw and cutoff and washer .

[milsurpshooter]

Thank you for the replies.
- milsurpshooter

[El Supremo]

Thanks for the specifics:

Marcot doesn't appear to show these differences.

Did ALL versions have a SECOND, what seems to be a stop screw on the edge of the trigger bar, please?  Tx.

Respectfully,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[mgmradio]

Kevin,
  Yes the small screw is the stop for the cutoff. Non cutoff guns do not have the extra screw.

[milsurpshooter]

Kevin,
  Yes the small screw is the stop for the cutoff. Non cutoff guns do not have the extra screw.

Was wondering why the manufacturing time/resources was/were used on that screw if no cutoff was installed.  Were the cutoffs ever removed in the field for reliability reasons?  Or should I assume that a private owner removed for personal preference(s)?

Thanks again,
- milsurpshooter

[mgmradio]

Not all 1865 Spencer's were equipped with the Stabler cutoff. The ones that were required extra machining to the lower breach section and trigger plate. The government payed extra for this , so it would be very unlikely to have the modification and not have had the last two pieces added. Do suspect that the cutoff device broke and was not replaced.
  I have Burnside/Spencer number 181 without the modification and it doesn't have any of the additional machining.

[milsurpshooter]

The ones that were required extra machining to the lower breach section and trigger plate.

I will post a pic of the lower breech section tomorrow.  I am not aware of the machined/unmachined differences unless it can already be seen from the earlier pic.
- milsurpshooter

[mgmradio]

Here are pictures of the 1860 lower breach and the 1865 modified for the Stabler cut off. The one on the left is the unmodified one.