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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Spencer Shooting Society => Topic started by: Cannonman1 on January 24, 2018, 08:04:55 PM

Title: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 24, 2018, 08:04:55 PM
Does anyone know to what units the Spencer rifles in the 22-24,000 range were issued... I know the 37th and 41st Mass/3rd Mass Cav got them but does anyone know of others ??  Appreciate any input.  

Thanks
Bill
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Rim fire on January 24, 2018, 09:06:57 PM
I believe a company of the 57th Mass received 100.
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Two Flints on January 25, 2018, 06:23:12 AM
Cannonman1

My Spencer Rifle with some added information:

The Battle of Fort Stevens was an American Civil War battle fought July 11–12, 1864, in Northwest Washington, D.C., as part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864 between forces under Confederate Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early and Union Maj. Gen. Alexander M. McCook. Although Early caused consternation in the Union government, reinforcements under Maj. Gen. Horatio G. Wright and the strong defenses of Fort Stevens minimized the military threat and Early withdrew after two days of skirmishing without attempting any serious assaults. The battle is noted for the personal presence of President Abraham Lincoln who along with his wife, observing the fighting in the far distance
.
On July 15, 1864, the 37th Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers was issued Spencer Rifles.  The three pages appearing below were scanned from the Regimental History of the 37th Infantry written by James L. Bowen, 1884.

I own a Spencer Rifle with the serial # 23372 and my rifle is in the Massachusetts contract SN range (22-24,000 and 28,000) of those rifles purchased by the State of Massachusetts. There are almost no Spencer serial #s that show up in the above ranges in the SRS records. And I assume it’s  because they were not delivered to the Federal Ordinance Department, but to Governor Andrew of Massachusetts.

This my Spencer Rifle, serial # 23372 and I “guestimate” that my rifle was issued to a member of the 37th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment on July 15, 1864.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-8.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-7.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-6.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-5.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-4.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-3.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-2.jpg)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/condon-1.jpg)I

These are the three pages scanned from the 37th Regimental History by Bowen.

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod3/1-37thFtStevens_zps145d4d93.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/SSSMod/media/SSSMod3/1-37thFtStevens_zps145d4d93.jpg.html)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod3/2-37thFtStevens_zps17524190.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/SSSMod/media/SSSMod3/2-37thFtStevens_zps17524190.jpg.html)

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e29/SSSMod/SSSMod3/3-37thFtStevens_zps804c70a9.jpg) (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/SSSMod/media/SSSMod3/3-37thFtStevens_zps804c70a9.jpg.html)

Thanks for reading.

Two Flints
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 25, 2018, 07:53:32 AM
Good stuff!!  Now this begs the question, to which you may have the answer... Does 22-24,000 range mean 22,000 - 24,000 or does it mean 22,000 - 24,999 or there about?? and because that represents a minimum of 2,000 rifles, that is more than a (assuming about 400 man regiment) would have need for by quite a few. I currently have 2 rifles in that range and that is the reason for my question. Needless to say, they probably both saw some use !!

Thanks much
Bill
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 25, 2018, 07:56:17 AM
I wonder how many of that group of rifles still survives today?? 
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: DJ on January 25, 2018, 08:50:14 AM
Among the wartime 3-band rifles, I believe the number of rifles I have seen in the 22,XXX-24,XXX range is about equal to the number I see in the X,XXX ranges.  I believe I have seen some in the 24,XXX range, but not very high--I suspect the estimate of 2,000 rifles in that range is close or correct. 

Among the 4-digit rifles, most seem to be close to numbers issued to Ohio Independent Sharpshooter companies, although I have not seen many exact matches.  I've also seen a couple that fall in ranges that are generally considered "carbine only."

Not a scientific study--just my impression over the years, and mostly based on rifles for sale, rather than those seen in museums or collections.

--DJ
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 25, 2018, 09:34:45 AM
One of the rifles is 24,033 and the other is 23,750 so separated by about 300.  
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Rim fire on January 25, 2018, 03:08:29 PM
I just sold rifle serial #24015.  It was advertised on this sight.
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 29, 2018, 02:47:17 PM
Here is a pic of the actual board Lincoln fired at.. Note that the account from the time said all shots when through the bullseye.. They did not but they all hit the board!!  I am going to reproduce this target for kicks ..  Hope image is attachable..
BTW.. Board was a 6 x 8 inch piece of pine with what looks like a little over an inch bullseye.
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 29, 2018, 02:51:33 PM
Here is a pic of the actual board Lincoln fired at.. Note that the account from the time said all shots when through the bullseye.. They did not but they all hit the board!!  I am going to reproduce this target for kicks ..  Hope image is attachable..
BTW.. Board was a 6 x 8 inch piece of pine with what looks like a little over an inch bullseye. Range was 40 yards..
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Two Flints on January 29, 2018, 03:22:35 PM
Cannonman,

Check out this link for target board information:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,20780.msg264467.html#msg264467

Two Flints
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Cannonman1 on January 29, 2018, 03:49:10 PM
Very Good!! 
Also.. The units I have come up with having received the Spencer rifle as part of the Massachusetts contract are the 41st Mass Vols. The 37th Mass Vols and a company of the 57th Mass Sharpshooters..  That certainly does not account for them all..

Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: Civilwarguy on February 10, 2018, 07:53:52 PM
I have rifle 23300
Title: Re: Spencers in the 22,000 to 24,000+ range .. Who got them??
Post by: mpdphil on May 29, 2018, 12:40:41 AM
I have SN 23441. It is a 3 band rifle and is 100% as issued in 1864. Pics are in this thread:
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,61013.0.html