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Item No.:	8124	Price :	SOLD
Item :	MODEL 1860 SPENCER ARMY MODEL RIFLE W/ BAYONET & SLING

Description :

This is an original, Civil War, M1860 Spencer Repeating Army Model Rifle, with its bayonet and original leather sling. The Spencer was a breech loading, lever action, repeating rifle fed from a tubular magazine in the butt. It was .52 caliber, firing the .56-.56 Spencer rimfire cartridge. The cartridge designation referred to the case diameter at the throat and base, being a straight walled case. The Spencer was adopted after a private demonstration given to President Lincoln, who heartily endorsed the new design. The Spencer Carbine would go on to become the main cavalry arm of the United States, serving well into the Indian War period, but it was in its longer rifle configuration that it received its baptism of fire. Custer's 5th Michigan Cavalry was armed with Spencer rifles (Not carbines!) in time for Gettysburg and used them to great effect. Afterwards, the Rebs who had faced them spoke of the "Damn Yankee rifle you could load in the morning and shoot all day!". This rifle is in fine condition. The original blued barrel now has an overall silver pewter patina. The once case colored receiver now has a speckling of dark brown patina over a pewter gray.The mechanics are excellent. The rifle has a very good bore. There is some very light pitting, but the bore is shiny with strong rifling. The wood is in fine condition with just a few small dings from use. All three inspector's cartouches remain visible, but faint. There are two on the left side of the butt stock and one on the forend bottom. The bayonet fits the rifle perfectly. It is in very fine condition, remaining armory bright with a speckling of brown patina. The original Civil War leather sling is a dark brown and remains quite flexible. There is some surface cracking of the leather where it wraps around the sling swivels. This is a very nice example of the Spencer Rifle with a scarce bayonet and original sling. Stock no. 21394

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