Spencer Receiver Markings--a question (PHOTOS/Captions added)

[DJ]

I recently acquired a Spencer M1867 rifle, and it has resurrected a question I have had bouncing around in my mind for a few years--what accounts for the differences in the Company/patent markings on Spencer receivers?  I have examined two M1860 rifles (one in the SN 3,000 range and one in the SN 23,000 range; an M1867 (SN 94,000 range) and an M1865 carbine (SN 9,000 range) and all of the markings display differences--the three lines of letters vary in length, contain (or lack) punctuation, and differ in their vertical spacing.  Oddly, the two that look the most similar are the earlier rifle and the 65 carbine.  Just a glance at the pictures (which I have forwarded to Two Flints) shows that the lines of type are aligned differently on some receivers. I have no idea how
these markings were applied, and I don't recall any references discussing the issue.  If the markings on a receiver were all applied using a single 3-line stamp, then it appears there were at least three of them.  If they were stamped individually, oh my, what workmanship.  Perhaps someone with toolmaking experience, or a contemporary reference can chime in with ideas.


                                               M1867 Rifle in 94,000 SN range


                                               M1865 Spencer Carbine in 9,000 SN range


                                               M1860 Rifle in 23,000 SN range ("Massachusetts" contract)


                                               M1860 Rifle in 3,000 SN range (First Army contract)

--DJ

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Pard,

While I can't cite a specific reference, it was NOT uncommon in the mid- to late 19th Century for there to be several dies used during production of guns.  Sometimes the dies broke and were replaced by a slightly different wording.  In some cases, even the two pieces of the broken dies might be used, resulting in some strange gaps between letters in a word, lack of punctuation (periods, commas, etc.) or other strange things.  Remington markings, especially on their over-and-under double derringers changed a number of times between the introduction of the gun (under E. Remington & Sons, Ilion, N.Y.) in 1866, during ownership of Marcellus Hartley and Oliver Winchester (bet you didn't know ol' Ollie owned 50 percent of Remington Arms Co.), and later when Hartley "merged" Remington and Union Metallic Cartridge, as Remington-UMC.

While these variations can be interesting to collectors, and may help identify groupings of various arms within a type, they are just the vagaries of mass production.   Very often, due to a manufacturer using up an inventory of parts, you can see a transition grouping where older style parts, markings, etc., will apperar on later production pieces.

Happy Holidays, Pard!

[Four-Eyed Buck]

That holds true with Marlins as well, lots of unusually marked ones or weird parts serial combos. Turns out  the different iterations of the company would use up left over parts before going to new production..............Buck

[Bead Swinger]

What's the serial number on that Massachusetts Contract rifle?  I've got one of those...