Spencer Model 1860 Repeating Rifle
Spencer Model 1860 Repeating Rifle - Inventory Number: RIF 255
Landmark Civil War Firearm - Early serial number 8,218!
A historically significant and innovative long arm, the Model 1860 Spencer Repeating Rifle was one of the first successful repeating rifles adopted for military use. Designed by Christopher M. Spencer and patented in 1860, this rifle introduced groundbreaking technology that changed the nature of infantry combat during the Civil War.
Chambered in .52 caliber rimfire, the Spencer rifle features a 30-inch round barrel and utilizes a seven-shot tubular magazine housed in the buttstock. It employs a lever-action, falling block mechanism that allows for rapid, reliable firing—far surpassing the rate of fire of contemporary single-shot muzzleloaders.
The receiver is clearly marked with: “SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. / BOSTON MASS. / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860.”
The walnut stock and forearm are typically robust and well-fitted, often bearing military inspection cartouches on the left wrist. The rifle is equipped with a sling swivel and stacking swivel, and features an iron buttplate, barrel bands, and military-style sights.
The Model 1860 Spencer Rifle was initially issued to elite Union units, including Berdan’s Sharpshooters and various Western cavalry and infantry regiments. Its superior firepower made a dramatic impact on the battlefield, and it remains one of the most iconic and collectible long arms of the Civil War era.
A true milestone in firearms development, the Spencer Rifle represents a key transition from single-shot to repeating military arms, and remains a centerpiece in any advanced Civil War collection.
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