Spencer Markings

[LaughingTerror]

Hi all I recently gained possession of this Spencer. I am trying to find out anything I can. It was my Great Grandfathers. I am interested as it has a couple of markings I haven't seen on Spencers before Like the IC marks on the receiver and the 87 on the stock. It has a center fire conversion done by my father and he has shot it some. I am going to reload for it and am excited to start learning to do that.

Thanks
Robert

Forgot to mention it has 6 rifeling groves and no stabeler cut off.

[LaughingTerror]

More Pictures

[treebeard]

It?s great that you have an inherited Spencer. Sadly there is virtually no information on the distribution of the M1865?s by military unit or individual troopers. Would you know the military service of your great grandfather? Can not help you on the markings. Congrats on your family heirloom.

[Arizona Trooper]

The IC and 87 are most likely militia markings rather than regular army, probably a state unit. Most of the regular army markings are less cryptic, like "10 CAV" for 10th Cavalry, and they are quite rare. I suspect they were applied only when there was a problem with arms disappearing from a post armory. The small letters are sub-inspector marks put on at the Armory. The cartouches in the wood are the final assembly inspections. This one hasn't been to Springfield for refinishing, or one of those would be a script ESA. Nice carbine!

[LaughingTerror]

Thanks for the info. I am not sure if my great grandfather was the one to carry it or if he got it from somebody else. He was in Massachusetts so I am curious to see if any militia units from there are the 87th. Going from what you said I am thinking I company of the 87th something.

Robert

[Roscoe Coles]

?IC? was used by the US military to mean ?inspected condemned.? The mark was put on equipment prior to its sale by the military.  The idea was that equipment without this marking was presumed to be stolen military property.  This was not always done and it did not necessarily mean the equipment was not operational or functional.  I used to have a set of military ?US? and ?IC? branding irons for cavalry horses and I have seen the mark on a number of different pieces of military equipment. 

The British used a similar system with there broad arrow stamp, stamping a second broad arrow point to point with the original military mark, to indicate release from military ownership.