Author Topic: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle  (Read 1873 times)

Offline umc1984

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*** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« on: August 02, 2021, 06:05:05 PM »
Thanks for the add to the group. I was at a gun show and traded a muzzle loader for a Spencer rifle that was period converted to a long barrel buffalo rifle. I have not done a chamber cast. The rifle bore is 52 cal. It is still a rimfire.  Serial number is 5231. Any comments are welcome.

Pictures posted by Two Flints:  ::) ::)














Offline Coal Creek Griff

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Re: Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2021, 07:12:41 PM »
Welcome, and looking forward to the photos!
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Offline Cap'n Redneck

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Re: Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2021, 04:17:51 AM »
Cool to see another Spencer Buffalo Rifle....they certainly look the part...!   8)

I have an ArmiSport Spencer military rifle in .56-50 centerfire that I've played around with some. 
And while I've been able to ring a steel gong at 300 yards occasionally,  I've never really had great faith in the cartridge as a big game round...
But by removing the two-pronged "steel-finger" that rests on top of the breech-block I've been able to partially insert a .50-70 Gov't round in the .56-50 chamber.  So I have been toying with the idea of having the barrel re-chambered for .50-70, in order to turn the "pop-gun" into a full-grown single-shot rifle.
And if I had a Stabler Cut-Off installed I would still have seven rounds of .56-50 "on tap" in the buttstock in case the "injuns" jumped me while I was "running bufflers"....!

(Come to think of it I DO have a .50-cal. barrel blank lying around....and a fore-end sized piece of hardwood....and my local gunsmith does have a .50-70 reamer....Hmm...; winter project...?)  ::)
"As long as there's lead in the air, there's still hope..."
Frontiersman & Frontiersman Gunfighter: The only two categories where you can play with your balls and shoot your wad while tweaking the nipples on a pair of 44s.

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #3 on: Today at 03:19:48 PM »

Offline Reverend P. Babcock Chase

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2021, 11:38:39 AM »
Howdy UMC,

Cool rifle. What cartridge does it shoot? Original or something else?

Rev. Chase

Offline Jack Wagon

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2021, 01:13:45 PM »
That sounds like a good trade, I love those frontier conversions. On page 40, California Gunsmiths 1846-1900, there is pictured a gun very similar to yours. The rifle is marked B. Bigelow Marysville. I have a Spencer conversion of a new model carbine to a mountain rifle. It features a 26" octagon, single set trigger and a Spencer cut off device. It was re-chambered to 56-46 caliber.  Jw
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Offline Two Flints

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2021, 06:28:47 PM »
Dean (umc1984),

Lots of Spencer conversions to Sporting Rifle for buffalo hunting.  One link for you:

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,10019.0.html

or this one:

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,10132.0.html

Do a search using "Gemmer Spencer" or "Buffalo Spencer" for more links.

Two Flints

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Offline Dave Fox

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2021, 09:50:04 PM »
One  questions the advisability of firing cartridges much more potent than the original chamberings in a Spencer. It is not a robust action. .50-70 loads would perhaps more than explore the action's limitations.

Offline Cap'n Redneck

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Re: *** Photos Posted *** Spencer Buffalo Rifle
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2021, 06:10:00 AM »
"It is not a robust action."

I respectfully beg to differ. 

The lock-up of the Spencer action is in my opinion fully comparable with at least the Trap-Door and the Ballard.  Perhaps not quite on a par with the Sharps, Remington and High-Wall.
John M. Browning copied the lock-up principle from the Spencer in the Winchester 1887 lever-action shotgun, and that action was "skeletonized" and lightened for good measure.
The eventual weak-spot would be at 6 o'clock at the very rear of the chamber, where the extractor claw comes up.  But with modern solid-head brass I don't think that it would become an issue.
Additionally I was talking about re-chambering a modern made replica by ArmiSport of Italy. 
And of course loading it with blackpowder.
I would not recommend rechambering an old original Spencer to anything but it's original range of calibers.
"As long as there's lead in the air, there's still hope..."
Frontiersman & Frontiersman Gunfighter: The only two categories where you can play with your balls and shoot your wad while tweaking the nipples on a pair of 44s.

 

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