Romano barrels for early spencer carbines

[Crazeyiven]

Seems like I read somewhere that L.Romano made the barrels for some of the early spencers.  If so, are there any special markings?

David

[El Supremo]

Hello:

Based upon what LARRY told me between 2009 and 2015 and him adding info over the past few years:

Larry was the first to produce a fully functional authentic 1860 56-50 chambered Spencer reproduction in 1996.  There were a couple other "attempts", such as the Howell that was a totally separate effort believed to be approximately 6 months younger than Larry's and the successor "Fletcher-Bidwell" that failed supposedly due to functioning and production problems.  Tom Hunger of The Old Winchester Sutler was asked by the N-SSA to install a half-cock notch in the Howell version it that so that would be "approved". 
One delivered F-B carbine #28, did function after gunsmith and case rim modifications.  As of Jan 2020, five finished F-B carbines have surfaced.  The F-B's are visibly different from Romano's dead-nuts 1860 Spencers. His have inertia firing pins, modern threads, hot blued barrels, 8620 receiver, block and levers.  Also through-hardened, S-7 tool steel lock parts. The Fletcher-Bidwell version is not N-SSA approved.  The DIFFERENT Ken Howell "WISCONSIN GUN" carbine Bill Osborne brought to the N-SSA in 1996 was N-SSA approved after Hunger's work.  Ken made only one of HIS in 56-60,  one in 44 and one in 45. Only his 56-50 survives.  Ken has his and the other two were broken into parts by the Piper group for which he worked.

Larry has done just about every possible repair to original and Armisport repro Spencers including lining and rebarreling.  He has never lined any of his Spencer barrels.  He can do anything else.

Larry has a large and complete shop that contains elaborate CNC and Pratt and Whitney machinery.

He has made from scratch, approximately 77 complete repro, N-SSA approved Spencer 1860 rifles and carbines for the 1865 56-50, not 56-56 cartridge. These bear HIS name and address, either hand engraved on early ones or stamped on his later ones on the top of the receiver with a "frame number" on the top of the receiver tang and on the underside of the barrel, under the fore end.  The last digits of the frame number or complete frame number are also on many other parts.

His frame numbers are either hand engraved, 10XXX, three-digit or STAMPED, 10OXX, two-digit. Co trary to at least one Forum post, there are no 100XXX, six digit Romano's.  One so claimed was finally shared to have a 10XXX number. 

There are incorrect forum posts here and on the N-SSA forum about mostly his barrels so it would be wise to email him at romanorifle.com with specific questions.  He keeps records of all such repair and complete rifle work.

Among other incorrect Forum information:
He has never made a "baby" Spencer in 44 caliber or one in 38-40.
He has never used or installed a Hoyt blank on any Spencer RIFLE but has, at the request of two owners, fitted exactly two Hoyt rifled three land & groove SPARE CARBINE barrels for his Romano barrelled RIFLES.  These can be identified by the Hoyt 56" twist vs his with more lands and grooves and only either 36" or 32" twist rifling. He did use a few Hoyt blanks in his early Maynards.
He has never used any other maker's barrels than Douglas button-rifled, 36" twist on Spencer 10XXX, "three-digit guns, and on a very few 100XX RIFLES. 
He has never affixed a cartouche or stamping of any kind on his stock wood and he is the only one that made his stocks.  There are examples of cartouches affixed to some of his guns AFTER delivery by others.

His first Spencer barrels using BUTTONED Douglas blanks DO HAVE visibly SMOOTHER GROOVES than his later CUT-RIFLED ones. Either type is first-class quality.
He has never put gain twist rifling in any Spencer barrel he's built or installed, although he can rifle gain twist.
He did make three Spencers in 45 LONG COLT with Lane extractors.  They were not N-SSA approved.
He has produced one or two highly engraved and a couple "Gemmer-style Spencer RIFLES..

His very early Spencer barrels were profiled and chambered by him from bottoned DOUGLAS rifled 4140 blanks with a 36" twist with either equal width OR narrow lands and wide grooves.

As far as I know, he is the only one doing Spencer, Maynard and musket barrels that stress relieves his barrels. 
It matters.

Larry ONLY cut rifles barrels and liners.

Larry used only the most expensive, Pacific Tool piloted reamers for barrels and chambers.  He now, 2019, uses another vendor's top quality, piloted reamers.  His chambers are "dead nuts" round, have minimal taper and match original guns, unlike the relatively sloppy and oversized ones usually found in other repro's or "enlarged" ones done by others.

He has never had or used a chambering reamer for the slightly different STARLINE 56-50 "Taylors" case. 
His 56-50 liners and barrels ALL have the same bore dimensions and he makes no changes if STARLINE cases will be used.
He has never used or recomnended the use of his 50 Maynard bullet in his Spencers because it is longer, heavier and fatter.  Sizing the fatter .519" Maynard bullet to fit the .512" Spencer bore in the preferred lead alloy will require heavy force and cause base cupping.  He has never described either his Spencer or his Maynard bullets as interchangeable.

Like most gunsmiths, Larry has progressed through variations in his barrels that include:
1. Different barrel steel alloys including 12L14 and 41L40.
2. Different numbers of lands and grooves and groove depths.
    And variations in the widths of lands and grooves.
3. Different twist rates of 36" ans 32".
     As far as I know Larry is the only one to use these twists in Spencers.

So, no name on his Spencer barrels.  Only two/three digits under forearm.  Twists of 36" and 32".
His rifled from scratch barrels are ALL 41L40 with 32" twist, something no one else has done.
The Douglas buttoned ones have only 36" twist.

Hope this TMI helps.

Updated 28JAN20 to reflect more info from Larry.  VR/JKT

Respectfully,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny