RARE c1866 SPENCER SPORTING RIFLE .56-46 Rimfire OCTAGONAL BARREL Antique 1 of only 1,800 Manufactured between 1864 and 1868

Product Description

RARE c1866 SPENCER SPORTING RIFLE .56-46 Rimfire OCTAGONAL BARREL Antique

1 of only 1,800 Manufactured between 1864 and 1868

Here we present an antique Spencer Sporting Rifle in .56-46 Rimfire manufactured in Boston, Massachusetts. This rifle is one of only 1,800 manufactured between 1864 and 1868. This is truly one of the iconic rifles of the Civil War and Western Frontier.

The Spencer was the world’s first military metallic cartridge repeating rifle, and over 200,000 examples were manufactured in the United States by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. and Burnside Rifle Company. The Spencer repeating rifle was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the time. Among the early users was George Armstrong Custer. The Spencer carbine was a shorter and lighter version designed for the cavalry.

The Spencer Repeating Rifle Company was in existence for a relatively short period of time, from its inception in January 1862 until completion in December 1868. During these six short years the company focused on production of military contract rifles and carbines, eventually providing 13,474 rifles and 64,692 carbines to the government during the Civil War and subsequent Indian Campaigns. At the end of the Civil War in 1865, full factory production of sporting rifles began using newly forged receivers. The demise of the company and the end of the Sporting Rifle factory production was mainly due to demand. The breechblock would not accept longer, more powerful cartridges that were being utilized on the frontier which resulted in decreasing sales.

The overall condition is good. Weathered patina throughout. The action is not presently functional: the hammer moves properly and is under spring tension but does not hold the cocked position. The bore is in very good condition with strong rifling. The forestock is a replacement, the butt stock shows use and remains solid. A rare post-Civil War Spencer rifle for the civilian market!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 29-3/8 inches.

Caliber: .56-46 Spencer Rimfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2900
#230929