New Spencer!!

[Deadeye Don]

Pards,   I picked up my new Spencer carbine in 56-50 yesterday from my FFL.   It is an Armi sport made and Cimarron imported.

It looks fantastic.  I already have my ammo from TENX so I am good to go.  The great news for those of you waiting for your Spencer to come in is that  THEY ARE HERE!   I found I could load only 5 rounds in the magazine, but having had prior experience with Armi sport rifles I knew there was probably a bar limiting the number of rounds you could load.  I had the same problem with my 1892 from Armi sport.  I just unscrewed the top of the spring follower and then unscrewed the small rod.  Now I can load 7 rounds comfortably.  If anyone knows where I can pick up a period correct sling let me know please.  Safe shooting.  Deadeye.

[Two Flints]

Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War
Cavalry Equipage

Carbine Sling
The sling was made of black leather and was 56 inches long and two and one-half inches wide. The swivel clip at the end attached to a ring mounted on the stock of the carbine. The carbine sling was first introduced in this form in 1839 and remained in use relatively unchanged until a new model was introduced in 1885. The sling is pictured with the swivel run down to the end generally worn on the shoulder. The "bat wing" at the end of the belt should point downward rather than upward when worn.



One source for a Carbine Sling with Snap is:  http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg11.htm  Scroll down the page until you come to the "carbine Sling with Snap offering". They offer both a short and long sling model.

[Deadeye Don]

Two Flints,  Thanks for that link.   Was the sling used by infantry as well as cavalry ?   I see they sell a boot for the saddle also.  Would you happen to have any pictures of the sling in use either by mounted troops or invantry?  Thanks.  Deadeye.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Technically, the infantry used the Spencer rifle which had no sling bar.

[Two Flints]

Hi Don,

You may want to try this link;   http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,12973.0.html

Appearing below:

The original photo is from the Marcot book, while the color photo is from the Smithsonian, showing the Spencer sling on the wrong side, I believe.






Two Flints

[Deadeye Don]

Excellent,  thanks for the pictures.    How does the Blakeslee box offered by Blockade runner compare to others offered for sale?
A price of $99 seems pretty darn good compared to some others I have seen for over $200.  I know...alot of questions for you guys.     Thanks.  Deadeye.

[Two Flints]

Deadeye Don,

Check out the ORI Thread at the tope of page one.  There is a link to Blakeslee Comparisons under the heading, SPENCER ACCESSORIES, just scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Two Flints

[Mick Archer]

Howdy Pards!

  Actually, our friend the model used for the 1866 Quartermaster photographs has the sling on the wrong side.    

   I suspect there were no cavalry soldiers present at the depot to instruct the photographer and the universal bearded model when the images were made.

   However, in the OFFICIAL ATLAS, in 1891, the mistake was corrected.

   

  From the period cavalry manuals, and the "manual of arms" (one such Patten's for example) ... the carbine was on the right.
  It was carried on the right, and the carbine socket and boot was fixed to the right side of the saddle.  This allowed the carbine to be easily raised to the right shoulder for firing from the right shoulder, (without interference or banging with the sabre) and without having the leather belt under the buttplate.

  With the 1851 swordbelt, the weight of the sabre was held by a narrow shoulder strap passing over the right shoulder.  (However, the swordbelt shoulder belt was often not worn.)

  From the 1851 Regulations: 

  189.  CARBINE STRAP AND BOOT-- same as heretofore furnished to the Dragoons, and attached to saddle by a ring and staple rivetted to the pommel end of the right side-bar, (carbine pommel strap, twenty-eight inches long, three-fourths of an inch wide, with oval brass buckle.).

  Mick Archer
  Former Captain, U.S. 7th Cavalry, 1866-1876

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  A couple more.... of the incorrect "hanging" of accoutrements...

 

 

   Mick Archer

[Cooleemee Edd]

When I was in the "Cav'" at Ft. Huachuca in the early 80's, our slings were meant to keep the carbine on the right side. Things were just too busy on the left!  In action, when I had fired my cabine, and there wasn't time to put it back into the boot, It would be pretty painful on everyone to have it just hanging there, so I would gently (as gently as possible) toss it over my left shoulder. If I did it right, the strap would stay in place at the shoulder and the carbine would be sticking up over my left shoulder, butt-up, and wouldn't bang around too much. If you did it wrong, it just banged the horse (and me) like crazy and made for more excitement than desirable. Usually, we kept the carbine for dismounted action and used the sword and revolver while on horseback.

There sure is a lot of stuff for the cavalryman to carry and to think about!  Picket pin, picket rope, horse chow, feed bag, all the other horsey stuff, and then your own stuff!  Over-nighters were fun, but we sure were loaded down!  We were using .45/70 trapdoor Springfields for the most part, but I carried a .45/70 EMF Sharps Carbine (I think it was $175 back on those days). Most of the guys never fired them with live ammo, so when I brought my reloader to post with me, we got some real practice in sometimes. The Army had fine equipment!!

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  Very true..
  It took me a while to get used to swinging the carbine over the left shoulder (when it was slung) in preparing to mount, mount.
  (to keep from banging rider or horse...)

   What makes things worse, I am left-handed.           and there arn't any left-handers in the Army...   

    Mick Archer
   

[Deadeye Don]

Pards,     I havent had a chance to shoot the Spencer yet, but plan to at the next NCOWS shoot here in Indiana.  Great Lakes Freight and Mining Company is the group and Modoc, Indiana is the place.   I thought I would give my impressions of the gun first.
It is a 56-50 carbine.  I bought it through Cimarron as Taylors is apparently having difficulty getting them in.  My FFL actually had orders placed with both distributors as he owns Fall Creek Sutlery and sells alot of Civil war era weaons.  The fit and finish are spectacular.  I found myself just staring at the carbine looking for any tiny flaws I might find.  I found none.  The stock is oiled and not varnished which I think is correct to the period (correct me if I am wrong).  The case coloring is great.  I have cycled the weapon numerous times without problems.  I even loaded the butt stock.  I had to remove the limiting rod so the butt stock would hold 7 rounds.  Apparently Armi Sport has to export them so the gun will only hold 5 rounds.  One would think that Cimarron would remove the rod prior to shipping as it is a simple thing to do.  I chambered a few rounds and ejected them without fail.  The rounds from TENX chambered smoothly.   This Spencer Carbine is a remarkable piece of engineering.  I can now see why Abe Lincoln prefered it to the Henry for  military use.  Now you Henry lovers dont send me hate mail.  I also have a Henry in 45 colt that I love.  It was my first rifle.      Looks like I am out of space here.   Safe shooting. Deadeye.