Make: Spencer Repeating Rifle Company
Model: 1860 Spencer Carbine
Serial Number: 54413 (matching barrel)
Year of Manufacture: 1863-1865 / ATF Classification: Antique
Caliber/Gauge: .56-56 Spencer Rimfire
Action Type: Lever operated rotating breechblock, accepts tubular magazines (magazine tube is missing)
Barrel Length: 22"
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a heavily worn blade slotted into a base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight with a v-notch dovetailed into the barrel.
Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The refinished furniture is two-piece smooth wood with a straight wrist grip, straight comb, and a smooth metal buttplate. The buttplate has heavy wear and is missing the magazine tube. The wood shows scattered old blemishes that have been sanded and finished over. LOP measures about 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are multiple cracks on the stock and forend. The furniture rates in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & case color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is worn. There is heavy pitting, oxidation, and erosion throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 3/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about none of its metal finish. The metal surfaces are heavily worn, with pitting, patina, oxidation, scratches, and other blemishes scattered throughout. Some of the metal surfaces show resin from when the furniture was refinished. The screw heads have light to moderate tooling and some may not be turnable. The markings are worn and some are incomplete. Overall, this rifle rates in Fair condition as an antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever is a replacement, and while functional, it does not touch the lower tang while closed. It is missing the magazine tube. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: One .56-56 cartridge
Our Assessment: The Spencer Model 1860 Carbine was one of the most important repeating arms of the American Civil War and represented a major increase in cavalry firepower over the single-shot carbines then in widespread service. Christopher Spencer’s design used a lever-operated rotating breechblock with cartridges feeding from a tubular magazine located through the buttstock. The Model 1860 Carbine was chambered for the .56-56 Spencer rimfire cartridge and used a 22" barrel. This example, serial number 54413, has a matching-numbered barrel and retains the characteristic 22" carbine configuration. The removable magazine tube assembly is absent.
This carbine has essentially no remaining original metal finish, with the surfaces displaying extensive patina, oxidation, pitting, scratches, and other age and service-related blemishes. Some resin from the refinishing of the furniture is present on adjacent metal surfaces. The refinished wood shows numerous old blemishes that have been sanded and finished over, along with multiple cracks to both the buttstock and forend. The bore is dark with worn rifling and heavy pitting, oxidation, and erosion throughout, rating 3/10. The action functions correctly, though the lever is a replacement and does not draw completely against the lower tang when closed. The screw heads show light to moderate tooling, with some potentially no longer turnable, and several markings are worn or incomplete. Overall, this Civil War-era Spencer Model 1860 Carbine rates in Fair condition as an antique. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
