need info

[ken h]

Hi Everyone
I have an 1865 Spencer carbine that I would like to get any information possible about Serial#11880.Also the carbine is nickle plated.I have read several times that the US army issued nickle plated firearms to their indian scouts,due to the lack of care given them.I wonder if this could have been issued to a scout?Any help that anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated.

[Two Flints]

Hi Ken,

I own an original 1860 Spencer Carbine.  The receiver, trigger guard and butt plate were at some time nickel plated; the barrel band was brass plated, as well  As I understand it, my Spencer Carbine was used as a display item at a Veteran's Hall.

I removed the nickel and brass plating, with some difficulty, installed an S&S firing block and have back to her "original appearance" and she is also a nice shooting Spencer now!

In response to your post, I took the following paragraph from this article:

http://huachuca.army.mil/pages/history/Thrapp.html

The scouts weapons were those of mounted men for the most part, although their sidearm was to be a Colt single action .45 caliber revolver nickel-plated "because the Indians often neglected their arms", and the nickel was believed a rust deterrent. In fact, according to one student, such a weapon was rarely, or never issued, and the scouts' neglect of their arms was considered exaggerated.

American Indian Scouts may have been issued revolvers with nickel plating, but Spencers were probably nickel plated to be used as a display model, or by someone who wanted a clean look for his Spencer or maybe to cover over rust that had developed on the finish.  But, this last part is just my opinion

Also, see this link:  http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=38988.0

Two Flints

[Snakeeater]

FYI - If you should however decide to remove the nickel-plating, Brownells offers a nickel plating stripper that does not require heating or agitation. And its a whole lot less expensive to remove it than to apply it or refresh the nickel plating (see second link).

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/pre-finish-surface-prep/room-temperature-nickel-stripper-prod1102.aspx

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/electroless-nickel-plating/electroless-nickel-plating-prod1069.aspx