Product Details
A RARE AND EARLY .56-52 SPENCER THREE BAND INFANTRY RIFLE OF THE CIVIL WAR, CIRCA 1863, serial no. 3852,
with 30in. barrel rifled with six grooves, fitted with block and blade front-sight that also acts as a bayonet lug, and elevating ladder rear-sight, top of action stamped 'SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE COMPANY, BOSTON, MASS, PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860', plain unmarked back-action lock, two piece walnut stock, the fore-end secured with three spring retained barrel bands, iron butt-plate, the butt containing a seven round tubular magazine, complete with sling swivels
Provenance: The Spencer was the worlds original assault rifle, that many would argue changed the course of the Civil War. This example is a very early Spencer dating 1863, in fact it was Spencer rifles that were first ordered, issued and to see action, from early 1863. No Spencer carbines were on issue at the time of Gettysburg (1-3 July 63) but rifles were, certainly the 5th Michigan cavalry (part of Custer's brigade) had them and used them effectively against J. E. B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry. The Spencer rifle achieved further success in the hands of Colonel Wilder's Lightning Brigade of mounted infantry who were entirely armed with them, many the result of private purchase. The Lightening Brigade put their rifles to good use at the battle of Hoover's Gap in the summer of 1863 and provided massive supporting fire during the battle of Chikamauga that helped save the Union Army from destruction and gaining the title The Horizontal Shot Tower. The U.S. Ordnance purchased 11,470 Spencer rifles mostly in the 700 to 11,000 serial range, many more thousands were privately purchased by States and private individuals. An essential collector's item for those with an interest in The Civil War or the evolution of small-arms.
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Estimate £2,000-2,500
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament