Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Breechloader, Spencer carbine or rifle. . Manufactured by Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Research Center: Weapon2450-Breechloader-Spencer . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2450-Breechloader-Spencer.html

Breechloader, Spencer seven shot rimfire carbine, Model 1860, 56/56 cartridge, not fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. . Spencer carbine was a repeater, capable of handling seven all weather or metallic rim fire cartridges at a time, providing a major advantage over the single shot paper cartridge percussion weapons previously employed. The so called 56 / 56 cartridge was used, this meant that the side of the cartridge fitted over the bullet was straight, however the bullet and bore are smaller at approximately .52 caliber. Seven cartridges were loaded by a magazine tube fitted through the butt. The magazine had an internal spring, cartridge was readied by raising and lowering a lever also serving as a trigger guard. Serial numbers run to about 67,000. Manufactured by Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Mark on top of frame: SPENCER REPEATING - / RIFLE CO. BOSTON. MASS. / PAT'D MARCH 6. 1860. . Serial number on rear of frame. Cartouches on the left side on the butt are typically weak, additional inspector marks may appear on the receiver, and barrel. Standard features include: The hammer striker head is flat and wider than the receiver, leaving an edge not aligned with the receiver. Chamber edges are sharp, bore has six lands and grooves. Carbine is fitted with an iron buttplate with hole and catch to secure the magazine tube, single iron band, Spencer long range sight. This early version was never fitted with a saddle bar, strap hook on bottom of butt. Research Center: Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v1 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-086. Barrel length, 22in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v1.html

Breechloader, Spencer seven shot rimfire carbine Model 1860, 56/56 cartridge, cavalry model fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. . Spencer carbine was a repeater, capable of handling seven all weather or metallic rim fire cartridges at a time, providing a major advantage over the single shot paper cartridge percussion weapons previously employed. The so called 56 / 56 cartridge was used, this meant that the side of the cartridge fitted over the bullet was straight, however the bullet and bore are smaller at approximately .52 caliber. Seven cartridges were loaded by a magazine tube fitted through the butt. The magazine had an internal spring, cartridge was readied by raising and lowering a lever also serving as a trigger guard. Serial numbers run to about 67,000. Manufactured by Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Mark on top of frame: SPENCER REPEATING - / RIFLE CO. BOSTON. MASS. / PAT'D MARCH 6. 1860. . Serial number on rear of frame. Cartouches on the left side on the butt are typically weak, additional inspector marks may appear on the receiver, and barrel. Standard features include: The hammer striker head is flat and wider than the receiver, leaving an edge not aligned with the receiver. Chamber edges are sharp, bore has six lands and grooves. Carbine is fitted with an iron buttplate with hole and catch to secure the magazine tube, single iron band, Spencer long range sight. Intended for cavalry use, saddle bar and ring installed on left side for hanging from a sling, strap hook on bottom of butt. Research Center: Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-086. Barrel length, 22in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v2.html

Breechloader, Spencer seven shot rimfire carbine, Model 1860, with 1865 modifications, Stabler cutoff using 56/52 cartridge, cavalry model fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. . Spencer carbine was a repeater, capable of handling seven all weather or metallic rim fire cartridges at a time, providing a major advantage over the single shot paper cartridge percussion weapons previously employed. The so called 56 / 56 cartridge was originally used, this meant that the side of the cartridge fitted over the bullet was straight, however the bullet and bore are smaller at approximately .52 caliber. Seven cartridges were loaded by a magazine tube fitted through the butt. The magazine had an internal spring, cartridge was readied by raising and lowering a lever also serving as a trigger guard. However, the 7 shot repeater proved to be unreliable, having a tendency to jam, so a number were reverted back to single shot by installation of the Stabler cutoff. This was lever installed on the bottom of the receiver, it could be switched on or off to enable or block the feed from the magazine. A square notch was cut into the bottom of the receiver, if the lever is removed, which is common, the square notch remains. In addition the sharp edges of the top of the receiver were milled rounded, this so that the cartridges could be more easily inserted into the chamber. The straight cartridge was also redesigned to a tapered cartridge 56 / 52 or 56 / 50, the bullet was smaller but still about .52 cal. The orginal six groove rifling was milled, and a sleeve was inserted with three groove rifling. The 22inch barrel was not shortened. The straight edge of hammer was milled to a bevel eliminating the edge protruding from the side of the receiver, however this 1865 beveled hammer was the same size as the 1860 straight hammer, so either can be found. The smooth magazine thumbstall was replaced with a ribbed surface. However, since the point of the conversion was to disable the magazine, either magazine can be found. Serial numbers run to about 67,000, all were manufactured before 1865 about 10,000 were modified in 1865. Manufactured by Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Mark on top of frame: SPENCER REPEATING - / RIFLE CO. BOSTON. MASS. / PAT'D MARCH 6. 1860. . Serial number on rear of frame. The wood was often refinished, old cartouches were sanded out and sometimes a new one will appear on the butt. No changes were made to the other features, iron buttplate with hole and catch to secure the magazine tube, single iron band, Spencer long range sight, saddle bar and ring installed on left side for hanging from a sling, strap hook on bottom of butt. Research Center: Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v3 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-087. Barrel length, 22in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2451-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1860-v3.html

Breechloader, Spencer seven shot rimfire rifle, Model 1860, 56/56 cartridge, infantry model not fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. . Spencer breechloading rifle was a breechloader and repeater, capable of handling seven all weather or metallic rim fire cartridges at a time, providing a major advantage over the single shot paper cartridge percussion weapons previously employed. The so called 56 / 56 cartridge was used, this meant that the side of the cartridge fitted over the bullet was straight, however the bullet and bore are smaller at approximately .52 caliber. Seven cartridges were loaded by a magazine tube fitted through the butt. The magazine had an internal spring, cartridge was readied by raising and lowering a lever also serving as a trigger guard. Serial numbers run to about 67,000, of which approximately 11,000 were rifles. Manufactured by Spencer Repeating Rifle Co., Boston, Massachusetts. Mark on top of frame: SPENCER REPEATING - / RIFLE CO. BOSTON. MASS. / PAT'D MARCH 6. 1860. . Serial number on rear of frame. Cartouches on the left side on the butt are typically weak, additional inspector marks may appear on the receiver, and barrel. Standard features include: The hammer striker head is flat and wider than the receiver, leaving an edge not aligned with the receiver. Chamber edges are sharp, bore has six lands and grooves. Rifle is fitted with an iron buttplate with hole and catch to secure the magazine tube, single iron band, Spencer long range sight. Intended for infantry use, this is long rifle, three bands, two strap hooks, saddle bar not installed on the rifle. Research Center: Weapon2452-Breechloader-Spencer-Rifle-Model-1860 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-093. Barrel length, 30in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2452-Breechloader-Spencer-Rifle-Model-1860.html

Breechloader, Spencer seven shot rimfire carbine, Model 1865, 56/52 cartridge, cavalry model fitted with saddle riding bar, .52cal. . Spencer Model 1865 carbine was manufactured by Burnside Rifle company, Providence Rhode Island. Approximately 34,000 were produced, serial numbers ran from 1 to 34000. The straight cartridge used for the Model 1860 carbine was replaced with a new tapered cartrige, referred to as 56 /52 or 56 /50, the actual bullet was either .52cal or .50cal. Burnside introduced 3 groove rifling, otherwise most of the Spencer design details were followed. Spencer Model 1865 was manufactured by Burnside Rifle company, Providence Rhode Island. Mark on top of frame: SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE / PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860 / MANUF'D AT PROV.R.I. / BY BURNSIDE RIFLE CO. Additional vertical stamping MODEL / 1865. . Serial number on rear of frame. Cartouches on the left side on the butt are typically weak, additional inspector marks on the receiver, and barrel. The Model 1865 featured a shorter barrel, 20 inches, versus 22 inches. In addition the smooth thumbstall on the magazine was replaced with a ridged thumbstall, and the hammer was redesinged with a bevel to narrow the striking surface. Most were fitted with the Stabler cutoff, which effectively converted the repeater back to single shot, this slowed the shooting but reduced jams. Research Center: Weapon2455-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1865 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-089. Barrel length, 20in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2455-Breechloader-Spencer-Carbine-Model-1865.html

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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