WTB Spencer Rifle

[Dana Hayman]

Hello, I'm looking to buy either a Romano or original spencer rifle to shoot. I've been watching Gun Broker but almost all are carbines, let me know whats out there.
Thanks Dana

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Dana,

There are original Spencer Rifles around but given there were only some 1003 M1860 Navy Rifles and 11,472 Army rifles produced, which besides the hundreds sold to France during Franco-Prussian War and afterwards destroyed, many more were "sporterized" after the Civil War (either cut down to make carbines or rebarreled as sporting rifles), the attrition rate on the military rifles was much higher than the carbines, which there was more than 12 times as many carbines produced. But just so you have some idea of a price range, consider the examples below. You may pay less but the average price on some 109 original Spencers (both rifles and carbines, M1860s and M1865s), that I have recorded within the past year is $3,155, though excluding a few mint examples that run as much as $18,400. Even if you elect to restore one of the cutdown rifles, an original rifle forend sells for about $200, which with barrel bands, band springs, and nosecap with screw may cost another $150, while a new-made 30" Romano barrel in .56-.50 Spencer will costs upwards of $750. Then there is the added expense for a center-fire conversion block, which are offered both by S&S Firearms for $165 or $15 more for Buffalo Arms' block with more durable color case-hardened finish. I might also add that a Romano-made magazine for the Spencer does not interchange with an original any more than an original magazine interchanges with a Romano.

http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/cgi-b ... em.asp?404 (http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/cgi-bin/display_item.asp?404)

http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/colle ... cat_1.html (http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/collection/rifles-/-muskets/cat_1.html)

http://n-ssa.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t= ... ght=romano (http://n-ssa.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10737&highlight=romano)

[Two Flints]

Hi Dana,

You are certainly welcome to post your WTB Spencer Rifle request on the Spencer Shooting Society (SSS) discussion forum at this link: http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?board=35.0

Two Flints
SSS Moderator

[Scott Kurki, 12475]

Dana,

There are original Spencer Rifles around but given there were only some 1003 M1860 Navy Rifles and 11,472 Army rifles produced, which besides the hundreds sold to France during Franco-Prussian War and afterwards destroyed, many more were "sporterized" after the Civil War (either cut down to make carbines or rebarreled as sporting rifles), the attrition rate on the military rifles was much higher than the carbines, which there was more than 12 times as many carbines produced. But just so you have some idea of a price range, consider the examples below. You may pay less but the average price on some 109 original Spencers (both rifles and carbines, M1860s and M1865s), that I have recorded within the past year is $3,155, though excluding a few mint examples that run as much as $18,400. Even if you elect to restore one of the cutdown rifles, an original rifle forend sells for about $200, which with barrel bands, band springs, and nosecap with screw may cost another $150, while a new-made 30" Romano barrel in .56-.50 Spencer will costs upwards of $750. Then there is the added expense for a center-fire conversion block, which are offered both by S&S Firearms for $165 or $15 more for Buffalo Arms' block with more durable color case-hardened finish. I might also add that a Romano-made magazine for the Spencer does not interchange with an original any more than an original magazine interchanges with a Romano.

http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/cgi-b ... em.asp?404 (http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/cgi-bin/display_item.asp?404)

http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/colle ... cat_1.html (http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/collection/rifles-/-muskets/cat_1.html)

http://n-ssa.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t= ... ght=romano (http://n-ssa.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=10737&highlight=romano)

If only the N-SSA board was available to the membership.... :x

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Don't know if you're still in the market for an original Spencer Rifle but Joe Salter has recently listed an original Spencer Rifle, complete with the original socket bayonet with 7-rivet scabbard, and original rifle sling. The serial number is 7064 and was likely delivered to the Ordnance Department in April/May 1863, and is very close to the range believed purchased by Wilder's Brigade. Rifle is priced at $5,395.

http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=15613

[Dana Hayman]

Thanks R. McAuley,

I am still looking for that Spencer Rifle, The listing you sent me is almost to good, I don't know if I could replace the breach block and shoot such a nice rifle.

Thanks Again
Dana