This is a Model 1860 carbine manufactured by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Boston, Massachusetts. There were approximately 50,000 of this model carbine produced between 1863 and 1865, ranging in serial number from 11000 through 61000. The serial number is 30394 is stamped into the rear of the receiver near the hammer and on the underside of the barrel. That places this carbine in about the middle of the production, somewhere in late 1863 to early 1864. The gun is in untouched, original condition. The 22" round barrel has taken on an overall plum patina, with just traces of the original bluing showing here and there. The brass blade front sight is still attached, as well as the adjustable folding rear leaf sight graduated out to 800 yards. The bore could use a good cleaning, but still shows good rifling. It still gages out at .52 caliber. The receiver, lock plate, saddle bar and ring, barrel band as well as the butt plate all have the same mottled steel gray patina. The tops of the receivers on these Model 1860's are stamped in three lines "SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS./PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860". The only stamping still legible on this one is "SPEN/RIFLE/PAT'D MARC". The serial number of 30394 on the receiver is very legible. The mechanics of this little war horse work perfectly. The seven shot tubular magazine still resides in the stock and is perfectly functional. The rear sling swivel is no longer reporting for duty. The walnut stock and fore end are both dark. I suspect with a little elbow grease they would clean up beautifully. The fore end has a stress crack running from the barrel band to the end of the grip on the right side, but it is shallow and not all the way through the wood. The left side of the stock has two cracks. One runs from the rear of the saddle bar back 3". The other is in about the middle of the butt and runs from the butt plate 1 1/2" forward. Neither are deep cracks, mentioned for accuracy. Known by several nicknames or sayings, "the horizontal shot tower" or, "the gun you load on Monday and shoot til Sunday", the Model 1860 Spencer helped changed tactics during the later part of the Civil War. If you are a Cavalry collector you gotta have one of these in your collection!

Item # AA1299

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