Spencer Carbine

StuBert

Cadet
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Hi New here and looking for some information on a Spencer carbine I recently pickup up. It is in excellent condition, but there is no markings that I can see as to which armoury it was manufactured in. The serial
# is 274. There is a few proof marks here and there. Any help would be appreciated, I can send pictures to anyone that would like to see them.....thanks StuBert
 
Hi @StuBert welcome to CivilWarTalk. Happy to have you aboard. :bounce::frantic::bounce:

If you would like to post pictures of your Spencer, you can do so here in the forum. On the bottom right of each post box, there is a button labeled "Upload a file." If you click on that button, you will have the option to select a picture from your device and add it to your post. Once the images are uploaded, you can choose to leave them as attachments or insert them into your post as a thumbnail or the full image.

Looking forward to seeing images of your Spencer. And again, welcome to CWT!
 
Welcome!! Please recheck the number. Is it a rifle or carbine? If the number really is #274, then it would be the rifle version. And it would have been issued to the Navy, as all Spencer rifles serial numbered under approx. 800 were contracted to go to the Navy. Please post pics!!
 
Welcome!! Please recheck the number. Is it a rifle or carbine? If the number really is #274, then it would be the rifle version. And it would have been issued to the Navy, as all Spencer rifles serial numbered under approx. 800 were contracted to go to the Navy. Please post pics!!
I will tomorrow thanks for the come back
 
Welcome!! Please recheck the number. Is it a rifle or carbine? If the number really is #274, then it would be the rifle version. And it would have been issued to the Navy, as all Spencer rifles serial numbered under approx. 800 were contracted to go to the Navy. Please post pics!!
Ok thanks I will try tomorrow.
 
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Hi @StuBert welcome to CivilWarTalk. Happy to have you aboard. :bounce::frantic::bounce:

If you would like to post pictures of your Spencer, you can do so here in the forum. On the bottom right of each post box, there is a button labeled "Upload a file." If you click on that button, you will have the option to select a picture from your device and add it to your post. Once the images are uploaded, you can choose to leave them as attachments or insert them into your post as a thumbnail or the full image.

Looking forward to seeing images of your Spencer. And again, welcome to CWT!
Welcome!! Please recheck the number. Is it a rifle or carbine? If the number really is #274, then it would be the rifle version. And it would have been issued to the Navy, as all Spencer rifles serial numbered under approx. 800 were contracted to go to the Navy. Please post pics!!
 

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Any information would be greatly appreciated...any more detailed pictures please just ask.....thanks StuBert
 
So, from your pics posted, it is a carbine. And it also has the stabler cut off device attached forward of the trigger. That means that it was sent back to the arsenal and refurbished in 1867. The device was installed to make the weapon a "single shot" to prevent the waste of ammunition, and swivel around back to a repeater when needed. The barrel would also have been re-sleeved and converted from its original .52 cal. to a modified 50. cal. That much I know. The serial number has me stumped. It is a 3 digit number, and that number falls into the group of rifles that were produced for the Navy. My best guess would be that the receiver came from a Navy rifle and during the conversion was placed on a carbine model. They were not particular about reusing parts. However this is a guess. There are folks here that are vastly more knowledgeable than I am on such things, hopefully one of them can answer this mystery.
 
So, from your pics posted, it is a carbine. And it also has the stabler cut off device attached forward of the trigger. That means that it was sent back to the arsenal and refurbished in 1867. The device was installed to make the weapon a "single shot" to prevent the waste of ammunition, and swivel around back to a repeater when needed. The barrel would also have been re-sleeved and converted from its original .52 cal. to a modified 50. cal. That much I know. The serial number has me stumped. It is a 3 digit number, and that number falls into the group of rifles that were produced for the Navy. My best guess would be that the receiver came from a Navy rifle and during the conversion was placed on a carbine model. They were not particular about reusing parts. However this is a guess. There are folks here that are vastly more knowledgeable than I am on such things, hopefully one of them can answer this mystery.
I mic'ed the barrel and it came out to 52 calibre
 
Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. I agree with Michael W that is is a refurb. A couple of things to check would shed some more light on this Spencer. Look for the serial # under the fore stock. plus there should be a makers name on the top of the receiver and how many grooves does the barrel have?
 
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