I am new to this Forum and have a Spencer rifle that is unusual. This rifle has been changed to an octagon barrel, very long and heavy walled. The rifle has set triggers that work. The front site is missing; there is a fairly large slot milled into the front of the barrel where the site would be installed. The rifle is not in particularly great shape and with the different barrel the model number of the rifle is gone (where it would say Model 1860). The serial number is 33479. The front stock is cracked, I have it off the rifle and it pins into the barrel with a wedge type of mechanism. Can anyone tell me if there is information about this rifle, where it was first issued, later converted and what the purpose would have been? It would have seemed that there were more powerful rifles available than the Spencer at the time; who would have converted this rifle for long range shooting?
Here are some pictures of my Spencer rifle. As you can see it is equipped with double triggers (they work very cleanly, seem to be adjusted well and are crisp). The serial number is to the left of the hammer, 33,479. The front stock is blackened at the end by the barrel; it is missing a piece of wood on the right side. I have that piece of wood; it was sealed in an envelope many years ago. I think there has to be some history behind this rifle. The rear stock is solid, missing the rear swivel (although I have heard this was intentional on these conversions, no one was slinging these on their backs). It is also missing the rear cover on the rear butt plate and the internals. I would guess that the installation of set triggers and the long octagon barrel eliminated the need for rapid fire. There are no names on the barrel that I can find. The sights look like they were knocked off at some point. I am trying to give the most accurate description that I can. Somebody used this rifle pretty heavily. See pics.
Thanks,
Sac River Mike
(Photos added by Two Flints)
Thanks to all who share information, what a great site!
Sac River Mike