Cowboys, French Soldiers, and Their Spencers

[Two Flints]

I guess I'm apologizing if these photos are out of line here, but I'm hoping N-SSA members & moderators won't mind this thread showing Spencers and their cowboy owners :D :D :D

A really great photograph of Two Fully Dressed Cowboys, Missoula, Montana Territory, circa 1880s with a Spencer Rifle. These Wild West cowboys are wearing great cowboy hats, fringed leather chaps, and brand new cowboy shirts with kerchiefs. The cowboy seated on left has a Colt revolver? in a double loop holster, as well as a Spencer rifle. The very young cowboy on the right has what appears to be a Winchester in his arms. They are posing with three Native American women and a child.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod2/bebestcowboywithspencer.jpg

[And here is another photo that my wife found for me. She has the Spencer "bug" too :roll: :roll:

Another outstanding photo this one showing an Interracial Armed and Mounted Posse, circa 1890s. Seven determined looking men (four standing; three mounted) pose outside the large doors of a building in an unidentified town. Although none wears a badge, this group clearly means business. They wear large hats and chaps and several are armed; one stands with his finger on the trigger of a Spencer Carbine. A black cowboy and a Mexican cowboy are among the mounted members of this tough bunch.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod2/spencercowboysgroup2b.jpg

A closer look at the cowboy with Spencer.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod2/spencercowboysgroup2a.jpg

Two Flints

[Two Flints]

Hello N-SSA,

Hope you don't mind two more photos showing Spencers and their owners.

French Soldiers with their Spencers used during the Franco-Prussian War

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod2/FrenchSoldierswithSpencerCarbines.jpg

Closer view of one of the French soldiers from the above group with his Spencer rifle

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod2/FrenchSoldierwithSpencerCarbine.jpg

Two Flints

[John Holland]

Thanks, Two Flints!

So, now we know where all those rare Spencer bayonets went!

You never cease to amaze me with the neat stuff you come up with!

JDH

[Terry Davis 10639]

Hard to tell but the revolver in the holster in the first pick looks like it has a finger rest on it like a S&W.

Terry

[Southron Sr.]

Yep, Good Old Uncle Sugar sold lots and lots of war surplus Spencers not only to France, but to dealers that sold them all over the U.S. (obviously to some cowboys) at "bargain basement" prices.

If you have seen that Tom Cruise movie, "The Last Samuari," you note that the actors portraying those Japanese troops that Cruise's character was training were armed with '61 Springfields and Enfields. Apparantly, the movie folks got it right for that movie.

In acutual fact, the Japanese did purchased some "war surplus" arms from Uncle Sugar also, including some Richmonds (captured Confederate arms!)

[Gary/CO]

Thank you for sharing those pictures. It's refreshing to see different photos of unique topics.