An Interesting Spencer

[Coal Creek Griff]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/580035159

I'd be curious to hear comments regarding this rifle.  Note that I am neither the seller nor a potential buyer, just curious.

CC Griff

[Snakeeater]

Yes, it is perhaps most interesting because of its association with the name Charles Lindberg but the rifle has nothing to do with the famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. Besides, the latter's father only adopted the name Lindbergh, having been born as Carl Mansson. Be that as it may, according to Albert Baxter (1891) History of Grand Rapids, Michigan (p448) this Charles Lindberg opened a gun shop on Ottawa Street in Grand Rapids in 1867.  By 1902 Lindberg's Gun Shop had relocated to Pearl Street, and by 1919 had grown to two employees, then in 1920 the company was being managed by his three sons, Frederick, Oscar, and William S. Lindberg. Charles Lindberg's wife is identified as Hannah Johnson, whose father John Johnson came from the city of Jonkopping, in the province of Smoland, Sweden, and brought his family to America in 1865. The first link below shows a photo of Lindberg's Gun Shop, circa 1900, with the proprietor, Charles Lindberg (at right with beard) and sons Oscar (holding a shotgun) and William. 


http://godwin.bobanna.com/charles_lindberg_gun_shop_1.jpg

http://godwin.bobanna.com/GR_1960_and_before.html

http://www.americanarmsandantiques.com/listings.php?id=625

[Snakeeater]

As illustrated in the above link to the recreation of Lindberg's Gun Shop by the Grand Rapids Museum, while the curators may have cobbled many of the guns and gun parts on display from various sources, some may be genuine to Lindberg's shop, particularly the muzzle-loaders. At the American Long Rifle forum, it is mentioned that Oscar Lindberg built a custom half-stocked muzzle-loading rifle for a Dr. W.H. Barnum for $50 in August 1943 (some $695 in today's money) which the unfortunate Dr. Barnum died before he ever got to shoot the rifle. So it could well be that the elder Lindberg may have taken in used guns, repaired or even modified them, then retailed the new gun from his shop.

The Spencer rifle in question was evidently a standard Model 1860 Carbine that had simply been re-barreled with a new octagon to round barrel, re-chambered for either .56-46 or some other cartridge in that range, and appears to have the original fore stock held in place by only the one factory mount. The rear and front sights appear to be dovetailed hunting sights, possibly Marlin parts? The finish of the carbine/sporting rifle appears to have been browned throughout and not re-color case-hardened like Springfield Armory had done. There are none of the 1865 modifications or improvements made to the rifle, so really only the barrel and sights are new replacements. I don't know that I would label it a Buffalo rifle, though perhaps that association is mainly due to the presence of the brass tacks suggesting possible Indian use? You would certainly have to get awfully close to a Buffalo to use such a rifle equipped with the type of sights provided.  Native Americans tended not to use sights or used a horned sight if at all. Most often they just knocked the sights off, even long range sights for the Sharps. That was the conclusion reached by a group of Army officers after examining some 150 rifles of various makes captured from the Cheyenne after Custer's fight. None had any sights or were equipped with only a crude horned sight made of Buffalo horn.

[Coal Creek Griff]

Thanks for the info.  I very much appreciate it.  I'm still in the early stages of learning about Spencers, slowly working my way through Marcot's book.  I've got my reproduction carbine working well, but I don't know much about the  original variations.  Thanks for enlightening me.

CC Griff

[Snakeeater]

The report about the American Indians use of sights is posted on the N-SSA forum at the link below:

http://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/6287-Cheyanne-Indian-and-His-Spencer-Carbine?highlight=arrow