Breechldrs Spencer 1865 Carbine Serial Number research

docklady2

Cadet
Joined
Oct 20, 2019
Hi,
I have just joined this group and have spent the past 3 hours reading through the posts and website. Fascinating!

I wonder if you can please point me in the direction to learn more about my father's Spencer 1865 Carbine SN 22350 - its history? There must be a place to find out if this serial number was a military dispatched gun and if so, where.

My father was an avid collector and curator of many historical firearms in his private collection (Burnside 3rd Model Carbine, Springfield Trap door etc.). I grew up looking at his collection on display. I loved hearing about the importance and progression in design of various arms including the Spencer.
Thank you.
 
If anybody takes the time to look this up, could you do me a favor and look up Spencer Model 1860, serial number 33390 as well while you have the books out? Thanks, Rob. I really do appreciate it.

I have to admit; I copied the list of serial numbers of Burnsides carbines back when all of the SRS data was online for free, but that was the only list I had the sense to copy. Kick myself for not taking the time to get all of them. I then made the mistake of posting on CivilWarTalk that I would look up Burnside carbine numbers for anybody that asked me to in a private message, and I ended up regretting it. The magic of Google made that post the number one search result for anybody that searched for Burnside carbine serial numbers, and I just got swamped with requests. I eventually abandoned CWT for years just to quit getting those requests every time I logged on. It has finally went away, but I feel guilty asking for a Spencer number!
 
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Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. We would love to see photos of your Spencer to include makers marks so we can help answer your questions.
 
If anybody takes the time to look this up, could you do me a favor and look up Spencer Model 1860, serial number 33390 as well while you have the books out? Thanks, Rob. I really do appreciate it.

We would love to see some photos.
 
We would love to see some photos.

Here you go, it's not the greatest condition, but I seldom pay large sums for anything, so I get what I can. It's an honest example and I treasure it. I'm not sure why, but the only overall photo I have is the one with the other carbines. I guess I just did all of them while I had the camera out and then did some close-ups. You can't see it in the photos, but it has a crack running through the butt stock on the back side along the length of the magazine.

I have something of a love/hate relationship for the Spencer. A very interesting weapon, and a huge leap forward from a technological standpoint with an important role in history. Unfortunately, it seems any discussion of it inevitably includes the obligatory hatchet job on Ordnance Chief Ripley which always annoys me. I'm not sure why, I'm not related to the guy or anything, I just always feel sorry for him and what historians have done to him.

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Hi,
I have just joined this group and have spent the past 3 hours reading through the posts and website. Fascinating!

I wonder if you can please point me in the direction to learn more about my father's Spencer 1865 Carbine SN 22350 - its history? There must be a place to find out if this serial number was a military dispatched gun and if so, where.

My father was an avid collector and curator of many historical firearms in his private collection (Burnside 3rd Model Carbine, Springfield Trap door etc.). I grew up looking at his collection on display. I loved hearing about the importance and progression in design of various arms including the Spencer.
Thank you.
Welcome from Maryland, in June of 1866 there was an inventory taken and 22,512 New Model Spencers were in inventory, this does not account for those weapons still in the field. Unfortunately the majority of these stayed in the various arsenals. The New York Arsenal having the most 16,164. Since the US Cavalry was greatly reduced in number, the requirement for carbines was also greatly reduced and the majority of the weapons (Spencer NM) were sold off in 1870 to various arms dealers 27,500 were sold to Star, Winchester, Schuyler Hartley & Graham and Remington. Many of these went to foreign countries. The Spencer NM was the chief arm of the US Cavalry until 1870 when it was beginning to be replaced by the M1868 Sharps carbine. It should also be noted that there was an almost even split between the Sharps carbine and the Spencer in 1869. By 1871 out of the roughly 10,000 troopers, 5,744 carried the Sharps, that number increased to 7,135 in 1872 and 8,130 in 73 when the 45-70 Trapdoor carbine became the primary arm of the US Cavalry.

Without more detail on your specific arm it is difficult to tell whether it languished in storage or had field use.
 
Hi,
I have just joined this group and have spent the past 3 hours reading through the posts and website. Fascinating!

I wonder if you can please point me in the direction to learn more about my father's Spencer 1865 Carbine SN 22350 - its history? There must be a place to find out if this serial number was a military dispatched gun and if so, where.

My father was an avid collector and curator of many historical firearms in his private collection (Burnside 3rd Model Carbine, Springfield Trap door etc.). I grew up looking at his collection on display. I loved hearing about the importance and progression in design of various arms including the Spencer.
Thank you.
Nothing anyway near it in SRS books
 
If anybody takes the time to look this up, could you do me a favor and look up Spencer Model 1860, serial number 33390 as well while you have the books out? Thanks, Rob. I really do appreciate it.

I have to admit; I copied the list of serial numbers of Burnsides carbines back when all of the SRS data was online for free, but that was the only list I had the sense to copy. Kick myself for not taking the time to get all of them. I then made the mistake of posting on CivilWarTalk that I would look up Burnside carbine numbers for anybody that asked me to in a private message, and I ended up regretting it. The magic of Google made that post the number one search result for anybody that searched for Burnside carbine serial numbers, and I just got swamped with requests. I eventually abandoned CWT for years just to quit getting those requests every time I logged on. It has finally went away, but I feel guilty asking for a Spencer number!
Closest listed is 33305 to 19th NY Cav. on SRS books
 
Hello Gents, can anyone give me some information on a Spencer Carbine Model 1860, serial number 11534, looking for any historic information, like year issued and to what Union unit.
 
Hi,
I have just joined this group and have spent the past 3 hours reading through the posts and website. Fascinating!
Hello Gents, can anyone give me some information on a Spencer Carbine Model 1860, serial number 11534, looking for any historic information, like year issued and to what Union unit.
Welcome to the forums from the host of the Stonewall Jackson Forum and another firearms enthusiast and sometime collector!
 
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