Spencer & Other Firearms Serial # Search - Info Added In Your Original Post

[Two Flints]

Hello SSS,

If you have the Serial # of any of the following firearms as listed below,



I may be able to provide you with an approximate date of issue for your firearm within the range of other similar serial #s, and the military unit receiving that issue. BUT, I NEED THE COMPLETE SERIAL # - NO XXs

For example, my original Spencer Carbine, Serial # 51,649, was issued on or about March, 1865 to the 7th Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, Company A.

Two Flints

[Tubac]

Two flints,
I'm interested. Would you like the info in a PM or on the forum?
I've got a Sharps, a Smith, a Gallager, a percussion remy and apercusion 1860 Colt.
Tubac

[Two Flints]

Tubac,

Either way, which ever you're most comfortable with...price is still the same

Two Flints

[Tubac]

Two flints,

OK, here they are;

Tubac,

Based upon on the serial numbers you gave me, I was able to find the following information.

I selected the issue date and unit receiving your particular firearm, which was closest to the serial number for each firearm you listed. I am just using the printed information available to me.  Hope you find this information of some value.

1860 Colt Army 115430 = issue date 01-19-1864; unit Co. I, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry                           
Remington NMA 42882 =  issue date 11-1864; Co. C, 5th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry or    Co. K, 16th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry

Sharps Carbine 48082 =  issue date 07-1862; Co. L, 5th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
                         
Smith Carbine  8662  =  issue date 1863; Co. H, 2nd WVA Volunteer Cavalry or issue date 1864; Co. I, 3rd Maryland Volunteer Cavalry                     
    
Gallager Carbine 6119 = issue date 1864; Co. A, 1st Maryland PHB Cavalry (PHB = Potomac Home Brigade)

Thank you, T.F.!  You're Welcome, and I hope this information is what you were looking for and accurate! T.F.

Tubac

[2 Hatchet]

  Hello Two Flints,  I just traded some strange green paper with writing and pictures on it for a Good Model 1860 Spencer Carbine. I just saw this post and was wondering what information you could tell me about this Spencer Carbine serial No. # 300xx. It is in good condition and the buttstock appears to be marked ICF where I believe the cartouche should be. Just to the right of the saddle ring attachment. It also has two other marks on the same side of the buttstock near the buttplate. One is a Script N with what looks like a script P beside it and a little lower to the left of this mark is something then a W.
Sorry but my camera will not photograph these marks as they are kind lite but I'll try and post some photos from a friends camera later!  Thank You for any info!!!  2 Hatchet

ADDED LATER W/Photo:

Here is some more info on the photo of my Model 1860 Spencer Carbine. Serial # 30029. The bore is in good shape after I chased the dust bunnies out of it! Mechanically fine, has not been converted to centerfire. It is shootable and I plan to convert it to centerfire and shoot some blackpowder cartridges through it sometime in the future. It was found in a Garage sale in Amarillo Tx. awhile back. I just bought it a few day ago from a friend of mine. It needs the rear sight ladder slide & retaining screw to be complete.

[2 Hatchet]

 Two Flints, Hey sorry about that the complete number is 30029. Thanks 2 Hatchet

Here you go 2 Hatchet: Found two choices for you, could be either one. Hope this is of some use to you and accurate! T.F.

Spencer Carbine Serial # 30,029 = issued 7-13-1864; Co. G, 6th Indiana Volunteer Cavalry  or issued 10-1864; Co. I, 19th New York Volunteer Cavalry

[2 Hatchet]

Two Flints,  Thanks for the info!!!   2 Hatchet

[Tubac]

Two Flints,
Thank you for the information. It's very helpful.
Tubac

[Bead Swinger]

2-Hatchet
Those sight parts can be had from S&S Firearms in NY.  They'll also be the best source for the CF conversion block.

Not surprisingly, they'll want more of the funny green paper with pictures on it.

If you're looking to shoot BP, take a look in the SSS ORI thread on reloading for originals, and 56-56 in particular.  If you care for help or guidance, there's lots of willing and experienced folk here on the list, myself included.

[2 Hatchet]

Hey Bead Swinger,   Hey thanks for the info about the parts and I'll probably need to fill a pipe and call for a council of some SSS members from time to time for some help!  Thanks   2 Hatchet

["Houston 1852"]

Hey Two Flints, I've been having trouble with my email lately.  I just wanted to thank you for your help with my serial number search.  I really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Buffalow Red]

HOW ABOUT A 12G SXS  only markings on it is   The New England       i think it is built by cressent
inside of recever says         73, S30,  ser #5094

Buffalow Red,  Sorry, guess I can't be of help.  At the beginning of this thread I listed all the makes and models I could provide information on.  Your particular shotgun is not listed, although it could be listed in another book.  I have only the one book, especially for Spencers, and the other firearms are just an added bonus as listed.

Two Flints

[Four Eyes Henry]

Hello there,

I thought I'd show you my guns and maybe get some historical info if it's available.

The 1860 #60870 and the 1865 #12349 were bought from a friend (also collector and trader in antique guns).

For the 1860 I needed some parts that were found at S&S last year.

The 1865 rifle #90801 I found in France at a little gun- and militaria auction I stumbled upon when I was on holliday.

It too is in need of some new parts, they too wil come from S&S.

[Two Flints]

Hi Four Eyes Henry,

Sorry, but my records don't take into account the high serial # you have for your Spencer rifle (90,801).  My highest serial number is 59,867.

Your 1860 #60,870 may have been issued to Co G of the 18th NY Volunteer Cavalry.  Your 1865 Carbine #12,349 may have been issued to Co I of the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry.

Two Flints

[Arizona Trooper]

Two Flints,
   Usually when two numbers are listed it's because the arms were issued to a unit, called in and reissued elsewhere. This is why it can be so hard to determine "issue by association". The first unit to get the arms would get them pretty much in s.n. order, but the second unit would be quite random. If you find a unit with high and low numbers intermixed, it's probably a reissue unit, and numbers between those reported most likely weren't there.

  This was pretty common. Gnl. Wilson got huge numbers of Spencers just before his raid through the South at the end of the war. His goal was to be 100% Spencer armed before he left. Most of his guns were called in from units in more subdued areas and reissued to his cavalry. Spencer couldn't possibly deliver enough in time, especially since they were in the process of switching over to the M-1865.

  Anything on rifle #8966 or Merrill carbine 7233? Neither were in Springfield Research Service when they took down the website.

  The 90K serial number is probably an M-1867. Spencer numbered the M-1867s and New Models as if the M-1865s had continued the M-1860 range. It seems that they wanted to get the numbers higher after the war to reflect their success to foreign buyers. A lot of earlier M-1867s had M-1865 marked barrels, mine does.

 

[Arizona Trooper]

One other bit of caution on Spencer SNs. Numbers between 1 and 24,000 can be any one of three guns, an M-1860, M-1865 Spencer  made Spencer or M-1865 Burnside made Spencer. Numbers between 24,000 and 34,500 can be either an M-1860 or Burnside M-1865. All those numbers overlap. If the hit is for a volunteer unit, it's almost certainly an M-1860 unless it's listed as a carbine below serial number ~10,000, in which case it has to be an M-1865, Spencer or Burnside. In a further complication, most of Spencer's initial M-1865 production was a lot of 2000 or so rifles. I have found some evidence that these were done for a Mass. state order, but have yet to find the order itself. So, any rifle under SN ~2500 could be an M-1860 or M-1865. If it's in a Mass unit, it's probably an M-1865. If it's in a the 5th or 6th Mich. it's certainly from the 1st delivery of M-1860s.

Most of the M-1865 carbines were never issued and wound up being shipped to France for the Franco-Prussian War. In a really weird arms deal, the victorious Germans wound up selling most of the American arms back to an American broker, in new, unissued condition. They were reimported in the late 1870s.

[Two Flints]

Arizona Trooper,

Anything on rifle #8966? >>> Spencer rifles with numbers from 8913 to 9005 were issued to Co. H of the 28th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, which covers the serial # you provided.

Merrill carbine 7233 The closest guess for the Merril serial # you provided is that it was issued to the Kansas Volunteer Cavalry; all the four digit serial numbered Merril Carbines were issued to the Kansas Volunteer Cavalry.

By the way, thanks for your thoughts on the serial # findings.  I know what I'm doing is, in some cases, guestimates, but I'm only trying to approximate previous Civil War unit connections with the limited information I have.  And I made this very clear in the first post of this thread...I think I used the words "approximate unit issue" and not exact unit issue.  In the book I have, all Spencer serial #s are listed in numerical order from #8 to #59867 and then a big jump to the next serial #92961.

Two Flints

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Two Flints,
You are providing some good history for us.
I have two original Remy NMA's

Number one is a Transition between OMA and NMA S/N 89087 (Two line address bbl, dovetailed German silver front sight, NMA frame and rammer)  This gun was issued as it has all the sub-inspector marks in all the right places and one (an H) between the tg back edge on the left side of frame and the left grip. (never saw one here and don't know the significance of it either).

Ainsworth has his "A" all over this specimen!

This pistola was converted to 44 C.F. (conversion number is 12) by a Non-Remington factory or armory in it's period of use.

Number two is a NMA S/N 92965 and was issued as well as it too has all the sub-inspector marks in the right places and even on the grip flats. This pistola too, was converted to 44 C.F. by a NON-Remington Factory or Armory during period of use, and carries conversion number 65 in all the appropriate places.

I shoot these tow occaisionally at our CAS matches. over 1i40 years old and still work like they should. In fact that one I'm shooting in my old avatar.



Any help on the S/N's would be appreciated.

[Two Flints]

Half Creek Charlie,

Your Number one, a Transition between OMA and NMA, S/N 89087 falls between serial numbers 88,268 & 89,557, your serial # may have been issued to CO. A, 13 Missouri Volunteer Cavalry

Your Number two is a NMA S/N 92965 - falls between serial numbers 92,558 & 93,257, your serial # may have been issued to CO K 2nd New York Mounted Rifles (closest issue), or to CO F 6th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry

Two Flints

[Steel-eye Steve]

Hey Two Flints,

I sent you a PM