*** UPDATED *** Photos of a 56-56 Spencer Carbine

[wolflobo76]

Here are photos of my carbine which has been coverted to centerfire.













                                              (Photos Posted by Two Flints)

WolfLobo76

                                 

[mtmarfield]

   Greetings!

   Bravo! Keep us posted on your journey!

            Be Well!

                      M.T.Marfield

[Two Flints]

Hi Wolflobo,

 Spencer Carbine serial # 13530 is an exact match issued to a member of Company I, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry in May, 1864.

The photos you sent me were just fine as you can see.  I'll add the others to the "Mould" Thread as I stated earlier in my Email back to you.

What do the letters stand for on the buttstock?  Initials, unit or person?

Two Flints

[wolflobo76]

I think the letters on the buttstock are someones initials.

[Preston County Rider]

Wolflobo - FWIW - there was a trooper in Co I, 3rd Mich Cav by the name od Henry C. Evarts. Maybe he went by "C" vice Henry. This guy is the only "E" name in Co I with a "C" listed as part of his name. Maybe...

PCR

[wolflobo76]

Hi Wolflobo,

 Spencer Carbine serial # 13530 is an exact match issued to a member of Company I, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry in May, 1864.

The photos you sent me were just fine as you can see.  I'll add the others to the "Mould" Thread as I stated earlier in my Email back to you.

What do the letters stand for on the buttstock?  Initials, unit or person?

Two Flints

The last number is a "6" not an  0 .  It is hard to see it in the pic.

[Two Flints]

My mistake if it's a 6, (13536) then I have a serial # 13535, pretty darn close, issued to the same unit as mentioned in my last post

Got to go see my eye doctor . . .   When I was in Middle School the kids used to call me "coke bottles" because my glasses were so thick, and now much older . . . well you know what I'm saying

Two Flints

[Trailrider]

This business of initials and names carved in rifle/carbine stocks can get to be an obsession, if you're not careful!    I latched onto a Sharps Cartridge Conversion Carbine 46 years ago that had a name carved in the stock. Name wasn't too common. Tracked him for nearly a quarter century, off and on.  Ran into a distant relative of his mother (found on his death certificate), and got in touch with nieces and obtained photos, etc.  Haven't proven the connection 100 percent, but have had lawyers tell me my proof would stand up in court! Turned out this was (then) a 17 year old from Central Illinois who hired on as a civilian teamster employed by the Quartermaster at Sidney Barracks, Nebraska, in 1875-'76.  Evidence strong that he was with Crook's column at least as far as Camp Cloud Peak (where Sheridan, WY, now stands).  Co. G, 3rd Cav. under 1LT. Emmett Crawford had three of these Sharps on their records from 1871 through 1876 (when the Ordnance Records stop) at Sidney, even though they had been issued their Trapdoor Springfield Carbines. Apparently used the Sharps to arm their QM people in the field, and also for target practice, since they were only authorized 3 rounds per man per month (later 10, and still later 15)...there were over 50,000 rounds of .50-70 on hand at the post! Sharps was probably acquired by purchase, though the records don't exist to show the sale. The kid lived into his 80's and was known to be very honest and thrifty.  Wouldn't have carved up government property nor autographed a stolen weapon, so he probably bought the Sharps and, since they didn't record serial numbers, probably carved his name in the stock to distinguish it from the other four! Found his grave site in Los Angeles...about twenty-odd years after I got the carbine!  Still trying to prove one photo of a busy-bearded man is the same as a known picture of the elderly man with a mustache! 

I've seen other military arms with initials and names (mostly initials unfortunately), and they probably were done in a similar circumstance.  BTW, some M1860 Spencers were still in use with the cavalry after the CW, along with the newere M1865 .50 caliber ones!   Must have given the troops in the field fits mixing up ammo.  Of course, you can shoot .56-50 ammo in a .56-50 arm, but not visa versa.

[wolflobo76]

Wolflobo - FWIW - there was a trooper in Co I, 3rd Mich Cav by the name od Henry C. Evarts. Maybe he went by "C" vice Henry. This guy is the only "E" name in Co I with a "C" listed as part of his name. Maybe...

PCR

Hiya PCR,  Yep that could be very possible. I did have a many Greats Grandfather that fought during the Troubles  but I have to do some research to find out what unit he served with and when. I did see a pic of him in a museum with other troops when I was growing up  but can't remember the unit.

[wolflobo76]

My many greats grandfather's name was Valentine Herr.   As I said Idon't know what unit he served with.