Spencer Model 1860 Rifle

Gunbarrel · January 25, 2019, 08:13:04 PM

A local gun shop has had a Spencer Model 1860 Rifle for sale on an obscure side rack for several months. I've gone by and drooled on it a couple of times and I finally came up with the funds to buy it last weekend.

The rifle is S/N 6061. A friend of mine has the Springfield Research book with the Spencers' information and looked it up. My rifle is in the serial number range of the rifles issued to the 72nd Indiana Volunteers Mounted Infantry, also known as Wilder's Lightning Brigade. Listed and verified are No. 6040, 6042, 6063, 6068, 6069 & 6070.

Talk about excited! I had just had to share.

I took a few pictures of it today. I'm a lousy photographer; so, I apologize for the quality of the pictures.

Notice how it looks like, at one time, it had a (non-original) lanyard rack for a lanyard ring.

DJ · January 25, 2019, 08:52:44 PM

Gunbarrel--

That's a very interesting find. I don't believe it was a unit-directed modification, but at least some individuals in Wilder's Brigade modified their rifles by adding some sort of sling ring opposite the lockplate. On p.32 of "Blue Lightning: Wilder's Mounted Infantry Brigade in the Battle of Chickamauga," by Richard Baumgartner, there is a photo of one such modified rifle, SN 5345, carried by a Private in Co. I, 123rd Illinois (one of Wilder's regiments). I will see if I can add a scan of it. I have also seen other photos of similar Wilder Brigade modifications. Of course without a direct serial number match it doesn't prove anything, but it sure puts a thumb on the scale.

Regarding the local gun shop, if by "obscure side rack" you mean things the proprietor does not particularly value or that perhaps even embarrass him, you might want to mosey on in and save him from it. I can only imagine how ugly it must look next to a pristine row of black semi-autos.

Good luck!

--DJ

El Supremo · January 25, 2019, 08:59:07 PM

Happy for you:

Nice photo's, for sure. Thanks.

Once in a lifetime .....

Never let it go!

Regards,
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

DJ · January 25, 2019, 09:20:46 PM

Oops. I missed the part about coming up with the funds. I guess sometimes I look at the pictures and don't always read the articles. So CONGRATS!

I attach a photo of the sling ring mentioned in my previous post.

--DJ

Gunbarrel · January 25, 2019, 10:18:18 PM

Thank you, DJ and El Supremo! I appreciate the information very much. That's very neat about the ring mounted opposite the lockplate on some of the rifles from this unit. I'm guessing they wanted to make sure they wouldn't loose such a expensive weapon.

treebeard · January 26, 2019, 10:53:04 AM

Gunbarrel— I have started reading Sherman's Horsemen by David Evans which is a pretty detailed recounting of Union cavalry uperations in the Atlanta campaign. The Wilders brigade plays a prominent prominent park in these actions. The recounting of the use of Spencer rifles that were surmerged during a river crossing and kept firing to the amazement of the muzzleloading armed Southerners was cool.

Arizona Trooper · January 27, 2019, 01:55:00 PM

Those two screw holes in the stock wrist mean that rifle was in a mounted infantry unit for sure. What they would do is take the middle coach strap staple off the back of their saddle and screw it into the stock with one of the two lead strap rings. You really only need two coach straps for a bed roll and one lead strap ring. The attached picture is Henry Salmon's rifle, of the 123rd Ill., which was also a Wilder unit.

Congratulations. Great find!

Gunbarrel · January 27, 2019, 08:34:45 PM

Quote from: treebeard on January 26, 2019, 10:53:04 AM
Gunbarrel— I have started reading Sherman's Horsemen by David Evans which is a pretty detailed recounting of Union cavalry uperations in the Atlanta campaign. The Wilders brigade plays a prominent prominent park in these actions. The recounting of the use of Spencer rifles that were surmerged during a river crossing and kept firing to the amazement of the muzzleloading armed Southerners was cool.

Treebeard,

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out!

GB

Gunbarrel · January 27, 2019, 08:36:58 PM

Quote from: Arizona Trooper on January 27, 2019, 01:55:00 PM
Those two screw holes in the stock wrist mean that rifle was in a mounted infantry unit for sure. What they would do is take the middle coach strap staple off the back of their saddle and screw it into the stock with one of the two lead strap rings. You really only need two coach straps for a bed roll and one lead strap ring. The attached picture is Henry Salmon's rifle, of the 123rd Ill., which was also a Wilder unit.

Congratulations. Great find!

A-Trooper,

You all are phenomenal. So much knowledge here! Two Flints, Sir, you need to give these fellas a raise!

Thank you, Pard!

GB