Merry Christmas to me...

[Willie Dixon]

Merry Christmas to me!


look what I found via Google-fu:


now, unfortunately right now, I don't have the $7,000 for this exceptional rifle.  If I did, I'd be on my way to Houston right now.  No joke.

why this gun is special to me - I've been wanting to create my own "Gemmer" Spencer and Sharps for a long time.  I absolutely love Spencers, Sharps... and yes, Hawkens.  to me, the combination is just pure bliss.

now this thing, wow!  According to their claims, it has precedence in California in and around the 1880s.  This rifle now shows what I can shoot, gladly in NCOWS with my Vaquero persona. 

I just thought, finding something as unique as this, I'd want to share it with everyone here.

hope everyone is having a wonderful Merry Christmas

[Blair]

Willie,

I too have always been very fond of these myself. In both the Spence and Sharps.
You all have a great Holiday and New Year.
My best,
Blair

[Coal Creek Griff]

OK, I'm going to display my ignorance here. How common were set triggers on Spencers? Were they a factory option on sporting rifles, or a later gunsmith addition?

CC Griff

[Blair]

Spencer does offer a single set trigger in/on some of their Sporting Rifles. However, as a rule, Spencer's have no set triggers.
The Spencer pictured has been heavily modified, probably from a standard issue Military firearm. Often quite a different variation from Spencer's own Sporting Rifle.
I have seen some similar modifications that also required the lever to be modified to make room for the double set trigger style variations. Marcot's book on Spencer Rifles and Carbines shows some of these modifications.
I hope this info helps.
My best,
Blair

[Coal Creek Griff]

It does help.   Thanks.

CC Griff

[Willie Dixon]

This was the first Gemmer Spencer I had found with the double-set triggers, but now I've found two others (different serial #s) online as well.  I can only imagine the double set helping out with accuracy out to 250+ yards.  Too bad the receiver limits the size of the cartridges and makes a stumpy of a 50 cal.  

but... they sure are pretty!  Thanks for all that info Blair

basically, when I'm looking at a project like this, and thinking what's all involved with scratch-building a Hawken...
I'm thinking something like this, would be easiest built much like they did back then:
basically build a Hawken rifle, but with a barrel with the rate of twist set up for the 350gr 50 of the Spencer
"cut out" the comb area where the lock and breach-plate are set... leaving room for the Spencer receiver
set the barrel into the Spencer receiver
inlet the barrel into the fore-stock and bed the barrel
figure out a way to bore through the stock for the loading tube and bullets
gently custom-fabricate a back plate into the crescent stock for the loading tube.

LOTS of work, but boy she'd be purdy.

anyone know a good source or way to get a nice modern Spencer replica receiver? 

[KEN S]

$7,000 for my wife...
  OK OK...$8,000, but that's my final offer

[Blair]

Willie,

My suggestion Would be to check with Larry Romano for the best new made Spencer's. I don't know if he will sell just the action, but a build of this type maybe of interest to him. For all I know he may have built these up on custom order?
The only other option is to buy an Armi Sport Spencer Rifle and start with that... Or find a trashed original and build it up.
My best,
Blair

[Will Ketchum]

I have a friend who built a Gemmer rolling block. He used a 1 1/8 barrel.  It is too heavy for me to hold off hand very long.  Good thing he's one of the strongest men I know.

Will Ketchum

[Willie Dixon]

Thanks for that info guys.  Yeah, I already talked with Romano, and he doesn't seem to be very enthused to just sell a receiver for me.  I can understand that, with insurance and liability and such.  He does make some gorgeous rifles, and if I didn't have the skills, I'd happily pay him to make mine.

I just want to make it myself

basically I was thinking a 1" tapered octagon barrel for a .50 would work well, right now.  That's usually a nicely balanced weapon for me, I've made quite a few in that size regardless of lock.  I'm just looking at my Hawken plans, and I'm trying to figure out the action and the receiver to decide if I'm starting from a blank, or I can at least have Track start the stock for me  I'm thinking if I'm building her though, making it completely from scratch, what I can do, would be pretty awesome.

there's an old Spencer carbine for sale here in town actually.  Gorgeous rifle.  I wouldn't want to use her though, let alone converting to center-fire. So yep, going to take a look at getting a Armi-Sport I guess.

[Blair]

Willie,

I completely understand your wishes to build this yourself.
I wish you the best in you choices.
I will be more than willing to offer any suggestions that you feel you may need.
This is a subject I have worked on for many years. I have built up one Sporting Rifle for myself from an original Burnside Carbine. It is not based on a Gemmer type variation.
My best,
Blair

[Willie Dixon]

Thanks Blair, it's appreciated bud!  I'm sure when I get lost I'll start pestering you

first I need to find a Spencer receiver to use