Found in a Paris Flea Market

[Apache Sam]

OK,  My dad was stationed in Paris about 50-60 years ago in the Army.  While wondering the streets he happened on a flea market and found this Spencer and bought it for 8 dollars he thinks. (or maybe 13, it was a long time ago and details are fading).  Being primarily a pistol man, it sat in the back of the closet primarily until we started inventoring things and trying to come up with a geneology if you will on all his stuff.  It's been tons of fun and now I'm up to this spencer.  I thought it would be cut and dried until I started looking at it and reading up on them.  Now I'm so confused I can't help but think it's no telling where this thing came from and what it was or where it's been.  But it's worth a shot.  Attached are some pictures.

The serial number on the reciever is 1313.  That number is also visible through the rust on the bottom of the barrel.  Additionally on the bottom of the barrel there is a six digit number which was struck through.   Some other noteworthy things.  The barrel is 18+ inches long from where it attaches to the receiver.  It has a swivel on the front barrel band.  There are no markings whatsover anywhere on the wood.   The saddle ring is a complete mystery to me.

I'd sure like to hear some feedback from some of you who have studied these for years.
Thanks
sam

[Roscoe Coles]

If I remember correctly (my book is not here) it is a new model , hence the NM on the barrel.  They were made after the Civil War and sold largely to the European market, which would explain why it was found in Paris. It has a shorter barrel than the GI guns and a few other odd differences, like the sling swivel and the odd carbine staple and ring,  but it is a real Spencer and it looks to be in good shape.  Very nice gun.

[Herbert]

what you have is aspencer sporting rifle frame and butstock with a new model carbine barell, forstock, barellband with sling were standard on NM carbines,you can tell it is a sporting rifle action by the searial number being of center so it could be read when tang sight was atached,screw holes in tang are fore ataching sight ,sadle ring looks licke wincheater one since it was found in france it was probly made up by winchester to get ride of spencer parts they had after they bought the machinery ,parts and spare rifles from the american repeating rifle company if so it is a very rare carbine and worthy of more recerch

[Herbert]

if searial numbers match on botom of barell it is factory set up another unusual feature is sling swivel on sporter butstock it hase been delibratly changed to carbine posible special order but i stil licke the winchester theroy that carbine ring is defently unusual and looks to be factory instaled ,what dose the front sight look lick,i carnt tell from photo also witch way does the spencer cutoff swing

[Kropatchek]

Hi there
Being new to the SSS forum and reading through different post. I have a simmilar Spencer also the odd saddle-ring, crossed out serialnumbers on the bottom of the barrel. Have sent Two Flints some pictures which I hope he willl publish shortly together wich a full description.
Kropatchek

KRO, I did already

Two Flints