Spencers in Guns & Ammo

[Will Ketchum]

The current issue of "Guns & Ammo" magazine (Feb.08) has an article on the Spencer.  It has a pretty good history of the rifle
and does have some on the replicas.  They imply that the replicas are only imported by Cimarron and only in 56-50.  There is no mention of Taylor or the other calibers.

I found the article worth reading but there isn't anything really new for those of us on this forum.

Will Ketchum

[Two Flints]

Will.

Thanks for the heads up, I musta missed it.

Two Flints

[geo]

guns and ammo had an article about ten years ago on the intro of the fletcher-bidwell spencer. was so convincing that i ordered one; little did i know what i was getting myself in for. took seven years for the piece to be delivered. fortuneatly it was worth the wait. among other things in that period of time the popularity of the spencer repros took off and cases, molds, load info, shooting info became readily available. gotta love those carbines. good luck, geo.

[Grizzle Bear]

Geo, I am glad you got a decent gun from Fletcher-Bidwell.  The one they sent me wouldn't even have made a good wall-hanger.

And I quit reading Guns and Ammo when I could read Jeff Cooper on the Internet.

Grizzle Bear

[Two Flints]

Grizzle Bear,

Jeff Cooper and the Internet   Care to explain    I'm not familiar with what he wrote, is there a need to know

Two flints

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Fred,

Jeff Cooper is a proponent on the 1911A1, peace through superior firepower, an armed society is a polite society, and the virtues of thumpers and scout rifles!

[Will Ketchum]

Geo, I am glad you got a decent gun from Fletcher-Bidwell.  The one they sent me wouldn't even have made a good wall-hanger.

And I quit reading Guns and Ammo when I could read Jeff Cooper on the Internet.

Grizzle Bear

Well Rob after getting the magazine for over 20 years I quit.  But then I found myself picking it up from the news stand every once in awhile so I started getting it again a couple of years ago.  About 4 or 5 times a year they have something I enjoy but I have taken to reading things that are out of my normal interests to kind of broaden my knowledge.  Heck I never thought I would want a 17HMR but then I won one at a NRA banquet ....well I still haven't shot it yet but I will.

Will Ketchum

[Harve Curry]

Col. Jeff Cooper:  
Marine veteran of WWII, proponent of the 1911 45acp, father of modern combat shooting, founder of GUNSITE Ranch near Prescott Arizona, competive shooter, used to tour with Thelll Reed of Colt SA quick draw fame, author of TO RIDE, SHOOT STRAIGHT AND SPEAK THE TRUTH among other books and articles, history teacher, concieved the idea of the 10mm Bren Ten cartridge and pistol, scout rifle, color codes of awareness/condition white-yellow-red, world hunter traveler , public speaker.............................
He spoke at one of our NRA Dinner Banquets several years ago. He hunted here in the Black range for mountain lion- he corrected the outfitter saying they were cougar, lions are in Africa
I'll bet he'd like the thump of a 56-50 Spencer, especially when you showed him it could shoot.
He died earlier this past year.

[Harve Curry]

Just got my copy in the mail. I was surprised to read that there were center fire conversions, "In the 1870's many of these guns were converted to centerfire". Anyone else know of that?
, Bill W.

[Grizzle Bear]

Looks like the Jeff Cooper question got answered.  There is a web site with all his G&A columns available for download.

GB

[Harve Curry]

"In the 1870's many of these guns were converted to centerfire".  Anyone else know of that?
I did not know there were center fire 56-50's untill well ito the 20th century.
, Bill W.

[Nlneff]

The Belgian Spencer carbines made by Falisse and Trappman in Liege Belgium were 50 caliber center fire.  Less then 1000 were made, other then some experimental designs by Spencer himself I'm not aware of any center fire Spencers prior to the modern era.