Requesting help with Serial Number of Spencer Carbine

[springensie]

I have a Model 1860 Spencer Carbine, serial number 56575.
It has the usual "Spencer Repeating
                        Rifle Co. Boston, Mass.
                        Pat'd March 6, 1860"
My great grandfather was in Company G, 1st Regiment of the Missouri State Militia Infantry.
He and my grandfather lived in Brunswick, Chariton Co., Missouri.
The carbine has a brass plate with "Chariton Co. 35" embedded in the top of the stock
in front of the butt plate. The carbine was given to me by my father and I assume it was
passed down at least from my grandfather.

Thank you for your assistance.

[Two Flints]

Hi Springensie,

Thanks for joining SSS

First of all,   you really have to read and understand my standard disclaimer that I print out for everyone, who requests Spencer serial # information.  So, here it is:

Some time ago I acquired the four volume set of the Springfield Research Service (SRS) Serial Numbers of U.S. Martial Arms. I purchased the set so I could maybe help SSS members identify which unit their original Spencer Carbine or rifle was issued or assigned to during, and perhaps, after the Civil War.

Unfortunately, not all the Spencer serial numbers are listed in the four volume set I own.  And, to make identification even more difficult, there are huge and multiple  gaps between indicated serial numbers. This paragraph is a DISCLAIMER of sorts. As a courtesy to SSS members, I am happy to reveal to you the information I have regarding the serial number of your Spencer carbine or rifle. But, please remember, I am just regurgitating what I read in my SRS volumes with some "unscientific conjecture" on my part. What I do is the following: I take your Spencer serial number and try to place it in between the two closest serial numbers I find listed in my SRS volume(s).  In most cases, if the serial numbers for the Spencer before and after your own serial number were issued to the same unit, I assume your Spencer  MAY  have been assigned to the same unit.  Or, if your Spencer serial number is very, very close to another Spencer serial number in my SRS volume(s),  I assume your Spencer MAY have been issued to the same unit.

I call this "unscientific conjecture" the "Two Flints guesstimation".  I'm guessing and estimating at the same time on what I believe to be correct  information based upon the information I find in my four volume set of SRS.   I certainly and absolutely make no claim to the accuracy of my "unscientific conjecture" and you should use the information I offer only if you want to, and not to accept it as "Gospel". 

Other SSS members and even guests of SSS may post a comment suggesting that my serial # information is completely inaccurate,  but haven't I already done that with my disclaimer?   

In any case, the serial # information I provide is only a starting point, at best, and you should perhaps research the history of your Spencer Carbine with whatever resources you can find on the Internet or else where.

Now, regarding your Spencer Carbine, serial # 56575, according to my SRS Volume, I find that your Spencer Carbine may have been issued to a member of Company E, 6th Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, in July of 1865.  The closest serial # I found to your Spencer Carbine #56575 is 56566 another Spencer Carbine issued to the same unit as mentioned above.

Hope this helps.

Two Flints, Moderator
SSS Moderator

[Keydet]

Two Flints,

I recently acquired a 1860 Spencer with serial number 42492...any chance you could tell me if there is an associated unit, of if it falls within the SN set that is likely issued to an identifiable unit?  THanks in advance!