1860 Spencer Carbines were delivered from October 9, 1963 to April 17, 1865. The serial number range was from 11,000 to 62,000. Government didn't require serial numbers to be recorded or to what unit they were issued. Burnside Model 1865 Spencer Carbines,.50 carbine caliber (.56-50 Spencer), 7 shot magazinloader, manufactured in 1865, serial number 1 to 34,500 left side right side Spencer Sporting Rifle,.56-46 Spencer, 7 shot magazineloader rifle, manufactured from 1864 to 1868, serial number in the same range as Model 1860 Spencer Rifles od Carbines.
Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1863 | |
Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1863 | Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1863 |
Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1863 | |
Spencer Carbine Serial Number
| Title | Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1863 |
| Object Name | Rifle |
| Description | Spencer Repeating Rifle, 1865. Serial Number 5518. The Spencer Repeating Rifle was used by U.S. Calvary units after the Civil War. The lever action rifle has a saddle ring attached to it. The 18.5' barrel of the firearm rests in 8.75' section of stained wood, which is then connected to the firing mechanism. The buttstock of the firearm is approximately 14.25' in length, is a section of stained wood, and has the name 'AVERY' carved into it. The firearm is held together by 14 flathead screws and one metal band which holds the barrel to the stained wood section. The lever action moves forward and backward in a perpendicular direction in order to extract a cartridge. The hammer of the firearm also moves forward and backward. On the top of the firearm is a sighting device, which slides forward, toward the barrel, and backward, toward the buttstock. There is also an oval-shaped loop on the underside of the firearm's buttstock, which could be used to attach a strap. On the back end of the buttstock is a 4.5' section of metal where a person's shoulder would rest. This section also has a slightly raised, ribbed section which appears swivel. |
| Date | 1863 |
| Collection | 3D - Personal Objects |
| Creator | Spencer, Christopher |
| Role | Designer |
| Inscription Text | 'AVERY' (carved into stained wood on stock); 'A' (carved into stained wood on stock); 'SL' (stamped into stained wood to the right of saddle ring and stamped in cursive); 'HEY' (?) (stamped into stained wood to the right of saddle ring and stamped in cursive); 'C' (stamped on top of metal section at stock); 'C.S.L' (stamped into stained wood on top of stock); '5518' (stamped into metal near left side of the hammer); 'MODEL 1865' (stamped into metal behind to sighting device); 'SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE / PAT D MARCH 6 1860 / MANUF D AT PROV. R.I. / BY BURNSIDE RIFLE Co' (stamped into metal behind sighting device) |
| Provenance | Weapon Technology |
| Notes | 'The Spencer 1860 was an American lever action rifle. Designed by Christopher Spencer, the Spencer was the world's first military repeating rifle, with over 200,000 examples of the Spencer produced in the United States by three manufacturers between 1860 and 1869. The Spencer repeating rifle was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War, but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the time. The Spencer carbine was a shorter and lighter version.' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_repeating_rifle] 'On June 27, 1864, the Burnside Rifle Co. entered into a contract with the Ordnance Dept. to manufacture about 30,500 Spencer Model carbines with deliveries completed by Aug. 31, 1865. With the changes directed to be made to the carbines, deliveries did not start until April 15, 1865, and they continued until the end of October, with a 30,496 M1865 Spencer carbines being delivered. In total, the Burnside Company made just over 34,000 of this carbine. They paid Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. a royalty of 50 cents for each carbine delivered to the Ordnance Dept., and $1 was paid for the 4,000 Spencer carbines sold to military individuals and civilians.' [https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/spencer-rifles/burnside-rifle-1865-contract-model-spencer-carbine.cfm?gun_id=101068601] |
| Dimensions | H-37.25 W-1.5 D-4.5 inches |
| Dimension Details | 37.25 x 1.5 x 4.5 (height is from barrel to buttstock) |
| Search Terms | Blakely, Andrew B. Cavalry Rifle Military Modern America Weapon |
| Subjects | Civil wars Guns Rifles Weapons |
| People | Blakely, Andrew B. |
| Credit line | Courtesy of Andrew B. Blakely |
| Catalog Number | 1969.043 |