*** Photos Added *** My Spencer Needs Identification PLEASE HELP

[so cal spencer]

I aquired a Spencer rifle a few years back that used to hang on the wall in a bar that my dad had purchased when i was a kid. Dont know too much about it and thought maybe someone here could help me out. Model number is unknown with serial #16904 it has a 30 octagon barrel from what i found possibly a Spencer sporting rifle but all the guns i have seen have a rod on the bottom of the barrel which mine does not have. The only markings it has is Spencer repeating arms on the top of the breech and the serial number next to the hammer it also has the initials C.S. on the bottom of the barrel where it meets with the breech. The rear sight looks like it had a notched slide same style as a bb gun would have. If any one has any info it would greatly be appreciated and i will try to post some pics of the gun soon. Thanks.










                                (Photos Added by Two Flints)

[Two Flints]

Hi So Cal Spencer,

I checked your serial #16904 in my SRS books and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, and before it was modified with a different barrel as shown in your photographs, it MAY HAVE been first issued to Company K of the 11th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry on November 11, 1864.  This is just a GUESTIMATE on my part   The closest serial # I find to your 16904 is serial #16897, a Spencer Carbine issued to the same Michigan unit.  Maybe

Hope this helps,

Two Flints

[Herbert]

You have a very nice converted 1860 CW carbine,gunsmith converted to sporting rifle,the rifleing apears to be Witworth rifleing and it is most likly chamberd for 56-46 Spencr rimfire.I have seen another photo of a converted carbine very simular to your rifle with the Witworth rifling so it must have been made by a known gunsmith(check the barrel for a name)The cartridge guide spring seems to be broken,this spring can be obtained from S&S.If the barrel is not compleetly pitted it should be a good rifle to turn back into a shooter

[so cal spencer]

Thank you Two Flints for the serial number info i appreciate it at least i know some of its history now. And thanks to you Herbert for being able to tell me the model # and some of its history after the war the only markings that are on the barrel is under the foregrip next to the breech is C.S. im guessing that was the inspectors initial. Now being that it was converted into a sporting rifle does that have any effect on the value of the gun since know it does not have the original barrel.  Like I said thanks to Two Flints and Herbert for the share of knowledge on this piece of history.

[Herbert]

The Spencer converted sporting rifles are very sought after ,value depends on the gun smith that did the work,starting at a couple of hundred $ more than a unconverted carbine in the same condition to many thousands or $ more for a S.HAWKEN or J.P.GEMMER marked rifle,also any providince of the the original owner helps price,I have seen that C.S mark some were,but my memory is bad these days,I think it is a gunsmith mark but could all so be a barrel makers mark,may be some one here will know more

[so cal spencer]

Would it hurt the value if i lightly cleaned the barrel so that i can try to find the makers name or any other kind of markings. I have seen one pic of a gemmer but the butt stock was shaped different than mine ill try to look some more and see if i can find some other markings. Thanks alot for the reply back.

[Two Flints]

You might try doing a Google search with the words - Spencer Sporting Rifle, or Spencer Buffalo Guns, just as a starter to see what variations you can find . . . just a thought.  Also, check out this link, and the links found in other posts in this link.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,34261.0.html

Two Flints

[Herbert]

Would it hurt the value if i lightly cleaned the barrel so that i can try to find the makers name or any other kind of markings. I have seen one pic of a gemmer but the butt stock was shaped different than mine ill try to look some more and see if i can find some other markings. Thanks alot for the reply back.

As long as you use fine steel wool or bronze wool and a good fine oil no damage will be done.Take it slow and clean with oil every now and then,if it looks like the patina and not the rust is being removed,stop and go to a finer wool

[Jan Buchwald]

Make yourself a small brass chisel or scraber, it is a very gentle way to remove rust without damaging finish

[L4aeronca]

Try using warm olive oil to clean parts and wood.  A friend who restores antique firearms uses this.