US Model 1860 Spencer Carbine

American Civil War

.56-56 Spencer. 22" round barrel secure by a single spring-retained barrel band. SN: 13365. Blued and color casehardened finish, steel furniture, walnut butt and forend. Seven-shot repeating lever action cartridge carbine with manually cocked hammer and tubular magazine in butt, folding leaf rear sight, Barleycorn front sight, sling bar and ring and sling swivel in toe. Top of receiver weakly marked in three legible lines: SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO BOSTON MASS/PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860. Serial number on receiver tang. A single weak script cartouche is present on the reverse wrist, the DAP of Dwight A Perkins stamped horizontally to the rear of the sling bar mount. The original and correct pattern magazine follower tube is in place in the butt. Some old initials are scratched in the butt and reverse forearm. A search of the Springfield Research Service database did not find this carbine, however several close serial numbers were found, including #133295 issued to the 2nd NY Cavalry and #13321 issued to the 12th Illinois Cavalry. However the bulk of the guns closest to this one were all issued to the Company I of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, including Spencer Carbines #13355, #13359, #13363 and #13370. Overall a solid and well used example of a Civil War Spencer carbine which has not undergone post-war modifications for Indian War service. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore fair to good with decent rifling and moderate pitting along its length. Metal with no finish and moderately oxidized brown patina. Metal with scattered surface oxidation, some roughness and some pitting. Markings mostly visible, with areas of weakness. Mechanically functional action. Wood with moderate wear, showing numerous bumps, dings and mars throughout, as well as some old areas of minor chipped loss.

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Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

[email protected]312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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US Model 1860 Spencer Carbine

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