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MODEL 1860 SPENCER CARBINE – IDENTIFIED BY SERIAL
NUMBER AS ISSUED TO THE 6TH ILLINOIS
VOLUNTEER CAVALRY 1864 – VERY NICE HISTORIC CARBINE:
One of the more
historically significant carbines issued during the
Civil War, this Model 1860 Spencer Carbine has survived
the passage of time in very good condition. Adding
considerably to the value, this Spencer is identified
via the data records of the Springfield Research Service
by the carbine’s specific serial number as having been
issued in 1864 to Company D, of the 6TH
Illinois Volunteer Cavalry.
The Sixth Illinois Cavalry
was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois during November
1861, the majority of the new recruits volunteering from
Southern Illinois, and
Company D being drawn from the men of Hamilton County.
In 1862 the 6TH was divided into several
detachments or squadrons which served in Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Mississippi, and by early
fall of 1862 the regiment was again united at Memphis,
and in November formed the advance of General Sherman's
Army Corp, in its movements south towards Grenada, Miss.
In April 1863 the
6Th , under the command of Colonel B. H.
Grierson who would later serve as the commanding officer
of the 10TH US Cavalry on the Western
Frontier, campaigned through Mississippi and Louisiana.
The regiment saw service during the siege of Port Hudson
that summer, returning to Memphis in July and
participating in that area against the Confederate
forces of General Forrest and General Chalmer until
early spring of 1864.
In March of 1864
the regiment re-enlisted en masse, and was ordered home
to Illinois on a furlough. When the furlough expired in
May, the regiment reformed and returned to the Memphis,
Tennessee area to resume operations. It was probably at
this point as the regiment was reequipped for service in
the field, that Company D received their issue of
Spencers, to include this carbine.
The regiment
continued to operate in Tennessee during the summer of
1864 and that fall participated in the battles of
Franklin and Nashville. The regiment remained in service
in this general area for the balance of the war,
eventually moving into Alabama during the occupation
period.
November 1, 1865,
the 6TH was ordered to Selma, Alabama to be
mustered out of service, and from there they moved to
Springfield, Illinois for final payment and discharge on
November 20, 1865.
In spite of the active war time service of the 6Th
Cavalry, and the intervening years, this carbine has
survived in remarkable condition.
The metal surfaces are
overall very smooth with no pitting. There is some
traces
of the case coloring on the barrel
band, butt plate and breech block, with the balance of
the metal surfaces having a pleasing patina. The bore is
very good, with bright, shiny surfaces in the lands and
grooves, clear strong rifling throughout, and only minor
patches of very light pitting.
The original rear sight is present and the elevation bar
is intact. The front sight has been replaced with a
wedge cut from a United States copper coin, possibly a
“Large Cent” or a “Two Cent” piece. While I have not
been able to determine which coin was used, it was a
larger diameter coin and portions of the words “United”
and “America” are legible, as well as a portion of the
shield found on the National Eagle. With the age
appearance of the front sight, it was very likely
replaced during the period of the carbine’s use.
The receiver and the breech block are in very good
condition and the block functions with a very crisp
action. The Spencer Company marking on the top of the
receiver are present and legible, and the matching
serial numbers are likewise legible on the upper
receiver tang and on the underside of the barrel. The
lock plate and hammer are overall smooth with no
pitting, and the hammer and trigger are mechanically
crisp. The butt plate is smooth overall with a nice
patina with traces of the case coloring pattern
remaining.
The butt stock and forearm are also in very good
condition, with only minor handling marks and exhibiting
very little wear. The butt stock appears to have been
refinished at some point which eliminated the
cartouche. The wear point caused by the carbine sling
swivel hook is still visible on both sides of the sling
ring bar, and the overall wood to metal fit is quite
good, both indications that the stock was not overly
refinished. The fore end is likewise very smooth, with
a nice finish, with an inspector’s initial “M” stamped
into the rear swell of the fore end. While the fore end
is in otherwise very good condition, there is a sliver
of wood missing from the right rear edge of the barrel
channel that appears to have been missing for quite some
time.
This Model 1860 Spencer Carbine can stand quite well on
its own merits of condition and mechanical function as a
very nice specimen of this historic firearm. This
condition coupled with a solid identification as having
been issued to an active cavalry unit during the Civil
War makes this carbine a particularly nice find and it
will be an outstanding addition to any Civil War
collection. $3,750
NOTE: A certification letter has been
ordered for this carbine from the Springfield Research
Service and will be provided to the purchaser.
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