(<< Back)

Item No.:	10719	Price :	$1,495.00
Item :	BARN FIND, CIVIL WAR SPENCER MODEL 1860 REPEATING CAVALRY CARBINE, .56-.56

Description :

This is an original, Civil War, M1860 Spencer Repeating Cavalry Carbine. The Spencer was a breech loading, lever action, repeating design fed from a tubular magazine in the butt. It was .52 caliber, firing the .56-.56 Spencer rimfire cartridge. The cartridge designation referred to the case diameter at the throat and base, being a straight walled case. The Spencer was adopted after a private demonstration given to President Lincoln, who heartily endorsed the new design. The Spencer Carbine would go on to become the main cavalry arm of the United States, serving well into the Indian War period, but it was in its longer rifle configuration that it received its baptism of fire. Custer's 5th Michigan Cavalry was armed with Spencer rifles (Not carbines!) in time for Gettysburg and used them to great effect. Afterwards, the Rebs who had faced them spoke of the "Damn Yankee rifle you could load in the morning and shoot all day!". This is a barn find, near relic Spencer in poor to fair condition. It has a steel gray and brown patina with some heavy pitting over much of the gun. The lever, lock, and butt plate are dark brown. Everything appears to be original to the gun except the rear sight. Given the amount of finish on the sight, it is almost certainly a replacement. The action functions correctly and the magazine tube is complete with spring and plunger. The bore is dark and heavily pitted. The stock is in fair condition with a number of dings, scratches, and chips from use. There are several check cracks running forward from the butt plate on both sides of the stock. This is a little rough, but it's hard to find an original Civil War cavalry carbine for less than $1500.00! Stock no. 32319

HOME | ABOUT US | TERMS | WANTS | LINKS

Contents & Photos Copyright © 2001- 2025 CSArms, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Site design by Sam Lisker