M1865 Serial Numbera

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,

Are there any records for serial numbers of M1865's issued to units following the civil war?  

Any records of how the government disposed of M1865's which were delivered under contracts before the end of the war?

Were contracts with Spencer abruptly canceled at wars end leaving Spencer with unfinished rifles?  

Are there any records of the disposition of these parts and rifles?

Regards
Colt Fanning

[Two Flints]

Hi Colt,

Don't know if this information helps to answer some of your questions, but it's straight out of the Marcot book.



Two Flints

[Colt Fanning]

Hi,
I meant to say carbines rather than rifles.  Is any of this material available for carbines?
Thanks for the reply.
Regards
Colt

[Two Flints]

Hi Colt,

Again, from the Marcot book, same chapter, but on the carbine.  I don't have any of my research books here in MA; they're all in Maine  Sorry I can't be of more help   Waiting on some of the SSS history experts to add their information to answer your original questions





Two Flints

[Herbert]

The 1865 spencer carbine contract was extended 60 days  before it was finished ,to find indiual serial numbers of isued spencers you would have to go to regimental records as the 1865 model was isued in large blocks from stock as nealy all the spencers were in storage wen this hapened searial numbers would be all over the place,many more remained in storage than were isued,large scale sale of surplace spencers began in in 1870 only a couple of hundred had been sold up to this point,by 1877 the bulk had been sold,the great majority being sold to france