Information ans spare parts

[Pete Holland]

Hi all,
I joined the Cas recently after acquiring a battered and incomplete Spencer carbine M 1865 with serial number 21512 from a British auction.
Home country: the Netherlands. I would really appreciate your expertise and comments onthe following questions:
1, the carbine was sold as a 56-56 with .52 rimfire caliber. I read elsewhere that the M 1865 productions were in .50 caliber. Can anyone tell me which is the right caliber?
2. As mentioned above: there are numerous parts missing. If I buy an ectractor, extractor spring, ectractor screw and other parts which correct desfription should I look for? Are the parts for the 1860 model and the M 1865 the same?
3. Ultimately a centrefire block would have to be fitted. Do all the "old parts" function the same with the centrefire block?
4. I have tried S&S, Ols Arms of Idaho Buffalo Arms and most of the sellers on Ebay. None of them are willing to ship to the Netherlands making restoration fairly difficult. Can anyone offer suggestions on how we could overcome this issue? Are there other spare parts companies I could contact?

Apologies for the lengthy post but I hope to get some input from experienced members.
Thanks in advance and regards,
Pete Holland

[Arizona Trooper]

You might try https://www.granpasgunparts.com/spencer-1

He lists the extractor but not the screw. The extractor spring is not strictly necessary (M-1860s didn't have it.)

Parts are mostly, but not entirely the same. However, most differences are cosmetic rather than functional. Upper breech blocks are the same, lowers are different with the M-1865 having the Stabler extractor spring. Levers, rear sights, hammers and some other parts will interchange even though they are different in detail.

Check your major parts for assembly numbers. If there are matching numbers on the parts you have a commercial model that was made with rejected government contract parts. Chances are you will have to do some fitting on a centerfire breechblock. If all you find are small letters on the parts, you have a government contract parts interchangeable Spencer and a CF block will probably drop right in. You will also need to get a flat face magazine follower, or grind a flat in the original follower to prevent the follower from setting off cartridges in the magazine. Also use ONLY rifle primers. Pistol primers are too sensitive to use in the tube magazine.

If the barrel is 20" (508mm) it is 50 caliber. If it is 22" (559mm) with 6 groove rifling, it is 52 caliber. If it has 3 groove rifling it was sleeved down to 50 caliber. Measure from the face of the breechblock to the muzzle.

Shipping is going to be a problem. ITAR (International Trafficking in ARms) regulations are very difficult to deal with, and there is no exception for antiques as far as I know.

[Sedalia Dave]

If you could find a centerfire breech block to use as a pattern a good machinist could convert your rimfire breech block to CF. The machining is not all that complicated. However, a machinist is going to need an example to work from.

As for the other parts I have no idea how you would get around U.S. ITAR regulations.

[Pete Holland]

Thanks for the input, all of you.
For your information I finally got Regimental Quartermasters to send me some parts to start with.
No problem with customs,sent and received within 7 days to the Netherlands.

If I can pose another question:
I missed the  extractor spring screw and made one myself. However the spring itself keeps moving and does not hold the extractor blade in place.
Any tips on how to solve this would be very welcome.
Thanks in advance and have a good Christmas and New Year!
Regards, Pete