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Item No.:	9878	Price :	SOLD
Item :	ORIGINAL, CIVIL WAR US MODEL 1860 SPENCER CAVALRY CARBINE, .56-.56

Description :

This is an original, Civil War, M1860 Spencer Cavalry Carbine. The Spencer was a breech loading, lever action, repeating arm 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 carbine is in very good condition. It appears to have an arsenal refinish, as the receiver is blued. It retains about 70% of this finish. The barrel has turned mostly brown, as has the hammer. The lever and butt plate retain abot 80% of their blued finish. The gun works very well mechanically and has very fine bore. The magazine tube is complete and functional. The stock has a number of small dings and scratches from use. There appears to be two small repaired areas above the sling bar on the left side of the stock. This is a good example of the best cavalry carbine of the Civil War. Stock no. 28105

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