The serial number will tell you your firearm's history and when it was made. Firearm Dates by Serial Number. Updated on June 30, 2018. 1884 Spencer rifle s. It is absolutely forbidden to cancel or alter the serial number of the rifle. If your rifle malfunctions in any way, do not un it. Contact the importer or Armi Sport for servicing information and direction for service. If a shot sounds weak or unusual, do not fire another round through your rifle. Unload the rifle and check the bore for.
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- A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
This Spencer rifle bears serial number 4452 and was manufacturedin 1863.
The Spencer rifle, with its lever action, seven shot tubularmagazine and internally-primed metallic-cased cartridge, was apopular wartime breechloader. Its inventor, Christopher Spencer,was a native of Connecticut and a former employee of Samuel Colt.His design was one of the most technologically-advanced arms of theCivil War era, but because of the time required to sell both hisidea and his guns to the U.S. government, they were not availableuntil 1863.
These modern arms, in both rifle and carbine configuration, weremore than a match for anything that the Confederates could muster.The firepower of the Spencer was used with devastating effect onmany Civil War battlefields. In its first combat test,Spencer-armed Union troops under the command of Colonel John Wilderearned the nickname 'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated anumerically-superior Confederate force at the Battle of Hoover'sGap, Tennessee on June 24, 1863.
One week later, the Spencer again saw action in the hands oftroopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of George Custer'sBrigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Spencers continued to servethrough the end of the Civil War, and saw action during the IndianWars as well.
Christian Minor Spencer was born in Manchester, Connecticut onJune 20, 1833. At age 11, he went to live with his maternalgrandfather, Josiah Hollister, a veteran of the Revolutionary War.It was there that young Christian learned the rudiments of wood-and metalworking. By the age of 14, Spencer was apprenticed to theMount Nebo Silk Manufacturing Co., located in South Manchester,Connecticut. This firm was owned by the Cheney family, one of NewEngland's most enterprising and influential families. After a year,he entered a second apprenticeship, this time with local machinistSamuel Loomis.
In late 1850, Spencer returned to the employ of the Cheneys as amachinist. During this period, he perfected several experimentalmachine designs, and in the process, he developed what would be alifelong relationship with the Cheneys. At the advice of FrankCheney, Spencer worked as a toolmaker in Rochester, New York, thenas a machinist in the locomotive repair shops of the New YorkCentral Railroad. He also worked briefly for the N. P. Ames Companyof Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, where he received his firstformal experience with the manufacture of firearms. His next stopwas at the factory of Samuel Colt, where he helped to design manyof the specialized machines used in the production of Coltrevolvers. C
hristian renewed his employment with the Cheney family in 1854when, at the age of 22, he became superintendent of hisbenefactor's new silk ribbon manufactory in Hartford. During thisperiod, Spencer designed and patented a machine to attach labels tospools, thus allowing one shop girl to do the work of three. TheCheneys paid Spencer a $25 royalty on every machine he produced.Although working 11 hour days six days per week, Spencer began toexperiment with an idea for a breech-loading repeatingfirearm.
By 1859, with the encouragement of both his father and theCheneys, he had perfected a lever-action rolling block rifledesign, and on March 6, 1860, he was awarded a U.S. patent for hiswork. With financial backing from his father, Ogden Spencer, aprosperous wool merchant, Christian was able to secure the servicesof Luke Wheelock, an experienced gunsmith, for the production ofprototype firearms. Spencer also befriended Richard S. Lawrence,then superintendent of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, andthis association most likely influenced certain aspects ofSpencer's design.
By the spring of 1861, civil war had come to America, and theCheney family entered into a contract with Spencer in which allrights and patents for Spencer's rifle design would be assigned tothem. In return, Spencer would receive a royalty of $1 for everyrifle produced. This was later lowered to 50 cents for eachmilitary arm produced. The Cheneys had long been friends of GideonWelles, Secretary of the Navy in Abraham Lincoln's administration,and this gave them, and Spencer's rifle, access to governmentofficials in Washington.
At this time, Spencer also contracted with Connecticut ammunitionmakers Crittenden & Tibbals for the manufacture of a .56caliber rimfire metallic cartridge for use in his rifle. In itsfinal form, the Spencer rifle employed a spring-loaded seven-shottubular magazine which was located in the buttstock, and alever-action which, when operated, ejected a spent cartridge andchambered a fresh one. Manual cocking of the hammer then readiedthe rifle for firing.
The stage was now set for Spencer's rise to fame. Through thepatronage of Secretary Welles, Spencer's rifle was successfullytested by the Navy, resulting in the purchase of 1,000 guns. Armytrials followed in the spring of 1862, and this resulted in thesale of an additional 10,000 guns. In addition, President AbrahamLincoln also took part in a demonstration of the Spencer, firingseven shots at a target forty yards away. This demonstration tookplace on the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, andresulted in Lincoln's personal endorsement of the arm. Spencer nowhad contracts but no manufacturing facilities.
Once again, the Cheney family would prove to be indispensable toSpencer, as Charles Cheney rented a portion of a piano factory inBoston for production of Spencer firearms. After several delays,the first shipment of Spencer carbines was delivered on December31, 1862. Both Army and Navy placed additional orders during thesummer of 1863, and many other Spencer arms were purchasedprivately.
By the end of the war, more than 144,000 Spencer rifles andcarbines had been manufactured; over two-thirds were purchased bythe U.S. government. To keep up with demand, Spencer subcontractedsome production to the Burnside Rifle Co. of Providence, RhodeIsland. Spencer rifles and carbines met with high praise from thosewho were equipped with them, and with respect from those who facedthem in battle. In its first combat test, Spencer-armed Uniontroops under the command of Colonel John Wilder earned the nickname'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated a numerically superiorConfederate force at the Battle of Hoover's Gap, Tennessee on June24, 1863.
One week later, Spencer rifles again saw action in the hands oftroopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of General GeorgeArmstrong Custer's Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Wilder'stroops were called on again at the Battle of Chickamauga inSeptember, 1863, when they fought to hold the Union center in theface of determined attacks by General James Longstreet'sConfederates. Spencer rifles and carbines also saw service withseveral other Union infantry and cavalry regiments.
Although the South lacked the capacity to manufacture metalliccartridges used by the Spencer, captured arms and ammunition sawservice with troops under the command of Colonel John Mosby, thefamed 'Gray Ghost of the Confederacy,' as well as with other unitsand individuals. The effectiveness of the Spencer was greatlyincreased by two other inventions, the Blakeslee cartridge box, andthe Stabler cut-off device. The Blakeslee cartridge box wasinvented by Union cavalryman Erastus Blakeslee and consisted of aleather-covered wood box containing six to ten tubes, each of whichheld seven Spencer cartridges. Troops equipped with these boxescould quickly reload the gun that, in the words of one awedConfederate, could be 'loaded on Sunday and fired all week.'
Later Spencers, beginning with the Model 1865, were equipped witha cut-off mechanism invented by Edward Stabler which, when engaged,prevented the breechblock from moving far enough to chamber acartridge from the buttstock magazine. This device permitted theSpencer to be used as a single-shot arm, with a full magazine heldin reserve. Spencer carbines continued to serve on the frontierafter the Civil War, but the firm's prodigious wartime outputcontributed to a large post-war surplus.
Declining sales forced the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. intoinsolvency, and in October, 1868, all of the company's assets weresold to the Fogerty Rifle Co. of Boston. Within a year, Fogerty'sassets were in turn purchased by Oliver Winchester, and ChristianSpencer agreed to assign all future repeating rifle designs orimprovements to Winchester. Spencer later returned to the firearmsindustry with the formation of the Spencer Arms Co., whichmanufactured his design for the first practical pump-actionshotgun. This firm was later sold to noted arms dealer FrancisBannerman. Christian Spencer died on January 14, 1922.
These modern arms, in both rifle and carbine configuration, weremore than a match for anything that the Confederates could muster.The firepower of the Spencer was used with devastating effect onmany Civil War battlefields. In its first combat test,Spencer-armed Union troops under the command of Colonel John Wilderearned the nickname 'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated anumerically-superior Confederate force at the Battle of Hoover'sGap, Tennessee on June 24, 1863.
One week later, the Spencer again saw action in the hands oftroopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of George Custer'sBrigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Spencers continued to servethrough the end of the Civil War, and saw action during the IndianWars as well.
Christian Minor Spencer was born in Manchester, Connecticut onJune 20, 1833. At age 11, he went to live with his maternalgrandfather, Josiah Hollister, a veteran of the Revolutionary War.It was there that young Christian learned the rudiments of wood-and metalworking. By the age of 14, Spencer was apprenticed to theMount Nebo Silk Manufacturing Co., located in South Manchester,Connecticut. This firm was owned by the Cheney family, one of NewEngland's most enterprising and influential families. After a year,he entered a second apprenticeship, this time with local machinistSamuel Loomis.
In late 1850, Spencer returned to the employ of the Cheneys as amachinist. During this period, he perfected several experimentalmachine designs, and in the process, he developed what would be alifelong relationship with the Cheneys. At the advice of FrankCheney, Spencer worked as a toolmaker in Rochester, New York, thenas a machinist in the locomotive repair shops of the New YorkCentral Railroad. He also worked briefly for the N. P. Ames Companyof Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, where he received his firstformal experience with the manufacture of firearms. His next stopwas at the factory of Samuel Colt, where he helped to design manyof the specialized machines used in the production of Coltrevolvers. C
hristian renewed his employment with the Cheney family in 1854when, at the age of 22, he became superintendent of hisbenefactor's new silk ribbon manufactory in Hartford. During thisperiod, Spencer designed and patented a machine to attach labels tospools, thus allowing one shop girl to do the work of three. TheCheneys paid Spencer a $25 royalty on every machine he produced.Although working 11 hour days six days per week, Spencer began toexperiment with an idea for a breech-loading repeatingfirearm.
By 1859, with the encouragement of both his father and theCheneys, he had perfected a lever-action rolling block rifledesign, and on March 6, 1860, he was awarded a U.S. patent for hiswork. With financial backing from his father, Ogden Spencer, aprosperous wool merchant, Christian was able to secure the servicesof Luke Wheelock, an experienced gunsmith, for the production ofprototype firearms. Spencer also befriended Richard S. Lawrence,then superintendent of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, andthis association most likely influenced certain aspects ofSpencer's design.
By the spring of 1861, civil war had come to America, and theCheney family entered into a contract with Spencer in which allrights and patents for Spencer's rifle design would be assigned tothem. In return, Spencer would receive a royalty of $1 for everyrifle produced. This was later lowered to 50 cents for eachmilitary arm produced. The Cheneys had long been friends of GideonWelles, Secretary of the Navy in Abraham Lincoln's administration,and this gave them, and Spencer's rifle, access to governmentofficials in Washington.
At this time, Spencer also contracted with Connecticut ammunitionmakers Crittenden & Tibbals for the manufacture of a .56caliber rimfire metallic cartridge for use in his rifle. In itsfinal form, the Spencer rifle employed a spring-loaded seven-shottubular magazine which was located in the buttstock, and alever-action which, when operated, ejected a spent cartridge andchambered a fresh one. Manual cocking of the hammer then readiedthe rifle for firing.
The stage was now set for Spencer's rise to fame. Through thepatronage of Secretary Welles, Spencer's rifle was successfullytested by the Navy, resulting in the purchase of 1,000 guns. Armytrials followed in the spring of 1862, and this resulted in thesale of an additional 10,000 guns. In addition, President AbrahamLincoln also took part in a demonstration of the Spencer, firingseven shots at a target forty yards away. This demonstration tookplace on the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, andresulted in Lincoln's personal endorsement of the arm. Spencer nowhad contracts but no manufacturing facilities.
Once again, the Cheney family would prove to be indispensable toSpencer, as Charles Cheney rented a portion of a piano factory inBoston for production of Spencer firearms. After several delays,the first shipment of Spencer carbines was delivered on December31, 1862. Both Army and Navy placed additional orders during thesummer of 1863, and many other Spencer arms were purchasedprivately.
By the end of the war, more than 144,000 Spencer rifles andcarbines had been manufactured; over two-thirds were purchased bythe U.S. government. To keep up with demand, Spencer subcontractedsome production to the Burnside Rifle Co. of Providence, RhodeIsland. Spencer rifles and carbines met with high praise from thosewho were equipped with them, and with respect from those who facedthem in battle. In its first combat test, Spencer-armed Uniontroops under the command of Colonel John Wilder earned the nickname'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated a numerically superiorConfederate force at the Battle of Hoover's Gap, Tennessee on June24, 1863.
One week later, Spencer rifles again saw action in the hands oftroopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of General GeorgeArmstrong Custer's Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg. Wilder'stroops were called on again at the Battle of Chickamauga inSeptember, 1863, when they fought to hold the Union center in theface of determined attacks by General James Longstreet'sConfederates. Spencer rifles and carbines also saw service withseveral other Union infantry and cavalry regiments.
Although the South lacked the capacity to manufacture metalliccartridges used by the Spencer, captured arms and ammunition sawservice with troops under the command of Colonel John Mosby, thefamed 'Gray Ghost of the Confederacy,' as well as with other unitsand individuals. The effectiveness of the Spencer was greatlyincreased by two other inventions, the Blakeslee cartridge box, andthe Stabler cut-off device. The Blakeslee cartridge box wasinvented by Union cavalryman Erastus Blakeslee and consisted of aleather-covered wood box containing six to ten tubes, each of whichheld seven Spencer cartridges. Troops equipped with these boxescould quickly reload the gun that, in the words of one awedConfederate, could be 'loaded on Sunday and fired all week.'
Later Spencers, beginning with the Model 1865, were equipped witha cut-off mechanism invented by Edward Stabler which, when engaged,prevented the breechblock from moving far enough to chamber acartridge from the buttstock magazine. This device permitted theSpencer to be used as a single-shot arm, with a full magazine heldin reserve. Spencer carbines continued to serve on the frontierafter the Civil War, but the firm's prodigious wartime outputcontributed to a large post-war surplus.
Declining sales forced the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. intoinsolvency, and in October, 1868, all of the company's assets weresold to the Fogerty Rifle Co. of Boston. Within a year, Fogerty'sassets were in turn purchased by Oliver Winchester, and ChristianSpencer agreed to assign all future repeating rifle designs orimprovements to Winchester. Spencer later returned to the firearmsindustry with the formation of the Spencer Arms Co., whichmanufactured his design for the first practical pump-actionshotgun. This firm was later sold to noted arms dealer FrancisBannerman. Christian Spencer died on January 14, 1922.
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- The American West - 1850 to 1900
Spencer Carbine Serial Number Dates 2017
The Spencer Carbine made its appearance during the Civil War,and many of these government-purchased arms were re-issued in the1870s for service on the frontier. These guns utilized aspring-loaded seven-shot tube magazine that was located in thebuttstock. In post-war models, a patented magazine cut-offprevented the breechblock from traveling far enough to the rear toaccept a magazine-fed cartridge. This allowed soldiers to load andfire single rounds, with the ammunition contained in the magazinekept in reserve. The serial number on this carbine indicates it wasmade c.1863-1865 in cal. .52 rimfire (56-56) and converted bySpringfield Armory c. 1867-1874 to .50 cal. by sleeving the barrel.SN 50266
Spencer Carbine Serial Number Dates 2016
Christian Minor Spencer was born in Manchester, Connecticut onJune 20, 1833. At age 11, he went to live with his maternalgrandfather, Josiah Hollister, a veteran of the Revolutionary War.It was there that young Christian learned the rudiments of wood-and metalworking. By the age of 14, Spencer was apprenticed to theMount Nebo Silk Manufacturing Co., located in South Manchester,Connecticut. This firm was owned by the Cheney family, one of NewEngland's most enterprising and influential families. After a year,he entered a second apprenticeship, this time with local machinistSamuel Loomis.
In late 1850, Spencer returned to the employ of the Cheneys as amachinist. During this period, he perfected several experimentalmachine designs, and in the process, he developed what would be alifelong relationship with the Cheneys. At the advice of FrankCheney, Spencer worked as a toolmaker in Rochester, New York, thenas a machinist in the locomotive repair shops of the New YorkCentral Railroad. He also worked briefly for the N. P. Ames Companyof Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, where he received his firstformal experience with the manufacture of firearms. His next stopwas at the factory of Samuel Colt, where he helped to design manyof the specialized machines used in the production of Coltrevolvers.
Christian renewed his employment with the Cheney family in 1854when, at the age of 22, he became superintendent of hisbenefactor's new silk ribbon manufactory in Hartford. During thisperiod, Spencer designed and patented a machine to attach labels tospools, thus allowing one shop girl to do the work of three. TheCheneys paid Spencer a $25 royalty on every machine he produced.Although working 11 hour days six days per week, Spencer began toexperiment with an idea for a breech-loading repeating firearm. By1859, with the encouragement of both his father and the Cheneys, hehad perfected a lever-action rolling block rifle design, and onMarch 6, 1860, he was awarded a U.S. patent for his work. Withfinancial backing from his father, Ogden Spencer, a prosperous woolmerchant, Christian was able to secure the services of LukeWheelock, an experienced gunsmith, for the production of prototypefirearms. Spencer also befriended Richard S. Lawrence, thensuperintendent of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, and thisassociation most likely influenced certain aspects of Spencer'sdesign.
By the spring of 1861, civil war had come to America, and theCheney family entered into a contract with Spencer in which allrights and patents for Spencer's rifle design would be assigned tothem. In return, Spencer would receive a royalty of $1 for everyrifle produced. This was later lowered to 50 cents for eachmilitary arm produced. The Cheneys had long been friends of GideonWelles, Secretary of the Navy in Abraham Lincoln's administration,and this gave them, and Spencer's rifle, access to governmentofficials in Washington. At this time, Spencer also contracted withConnecticut ammunition makers Crittenden & Tibbals for themanufacture of a .56 caliber rimfire metallic cartridge for use inhis rifle. In its final form, the Spencer rifle employed aspring-loaded seven-shot tubular magazine which was located in thebuttstock, and a lever-action which, when operated, ejected a spentcartridge and chambered a fresh one. Manual cocking of the hammerthen readied the rifle for firing.
The stage was now set for Spencer's rise to fame. Through thepatronage of Secretary Welles, Spencer's rifle was successfullytested by the Navy, resulting in the purchase of 1,000 guns. Armytrials followed in the spring of 1862, and this resulted in thesale of an additional 10,000 guns. In addition, President AbrahamLincoln also took part in a demonstration of the Spencer, firingseven shots at a target forty yards away. This demonstration tookplace on the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, andresulted in Lincoln's personal endorsement of the arm. Spencer nowhad contracts but no manufacturing facilities. Once again, theCheney family would prove to be indispensable to Spencer, asCharles Cheney rented a portion of a piano factory in Boston forproduction of Spencer firearms.
After several delays, the first shipment of Spencer carbines wasdelivered on December 31, 1862. Both Army and Navy placedadditional orders during the summer of 1863, and many other Spencerarms were purchased privately. By the end of the war, more than144,000 Spencer rifles and carbines had been manufactured; overtwo-thirds were purchased by the U.S. government. To keep up withdemand, Spencer subcontracted some production to the Burnside RifleCo. of Providence, Rhode Island.
Spencer rifles and carbines met with high praise from those whowere equipped with them, and with respect from those who faced themin battle. In its first combat test, Spencer-armed Union troopsunder the command of Colonel John Wilder earned the nickname'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated a numerically superiorConfederate force at the Battle of Hoover's Gap, Tennessee on June24, 1863. One week later, Spencer rifles again saw action in thehands of troopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of GeneralGeorge Armstrong Custer's Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.Wilder's troops were called on again at the Battle of Chickamaugain September, 1863, when they fought to hold the Union center inthe face of determined attacks by General James Longstreet'sConfederates.
Spencer rifles and carbines also saw service with several otherUnion infantry and cavalry regiments. Although the South lacked thecapacity to manufacture metallic cartridges used by the Spencer,captured arms and ammunition saw service with troops under thecommand of Colonel John Mosby, the famed 'Gray Ghost of theConfederacy,' as well as with other units andindividuals.
The effectiveness of the Spencer was greatly increased by two otherinventions, the Blakeslee cartridge box, and the Stabler cut-offdevice. The Blakeslee cartridge box was invented by Unioncavalryman Erastus Blakeslee and consisted of a leather-coveredwood box containing six to ten tubes, each of which held sevenSpencer cartridges. Troops equipped with these boxes could quicklyreload the gun that, in the words of one awed Confederate, could be'loaded on Sunday and fired all week.'
Later Spencers, beginning with the Model 1865, were equipped with acut-off mechanism invented by Edward Stabler which, when engaged,prevented the breechblock from moving far enough to chamber acartridge from the buttstock magazine. This device permitted theSpencer to be used as a single-shot arm, with a full magazine heldin reserve. Spencer carbines continued to serve on the frontierafter the Civil War, but the firm's prodigious wartime outputcontributed to a large post-war surplus.
Declining sales forced the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. intoinsolvency, and in October, 1868, all of the company's assets weresold to the Fogerty Rifle Co. of Boston. Within a year, Fogerty'sassets were in turn purchased by Oliver Winchester, and ChristianSpencer agreed to assign all future repeating rifle designs orimprovements to Winchester. Spencer later returned to the firearmsindustry with the formation of the Spencer Arms Co., whichmanufactured his design for the first practical pump-actionshotgun. This firm was later sold to noted arms dealer FrancisBannerman. Christian Spencer died on January 14, 1922.
In late 1850, Spencer returned to the employ of the Cheneys as amachinist. During this period, he perfected several experimentalmachine designs, and in the process, he developed what would be alifelong relationship with the Cheneys. At the advice of FrankCheney, Spencer worked as a toolmaker in Rochester, New York, thenas a machinist in the locomotive repair shops of the New YorkCentral Railroad. He also worked briefly for the N. P. Ames Companyof Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, where he received his firstformal experience with the manufacture of firearms. His next stopwas at the factory of Samuel Colt, where he helped to design manyof the specialized machines used in the production of Coltrevolvers.
Christian renewed his employment with the Cheney family in 1854when, at the age of 22, he became superintendent of hisbenefactor's new silk ribbon manufactory in Hartford. During thisperiod, Spencer designed and patented a machine to attach labels tospools, thus allowing one shop girl to do the work of three. TheCheneys paid Spencer a $25 royalty on every machine he produced.Although working 11 hour days six days per week, Spencer began toexperiment with an idea for a breech-loading repeating firearm. By1859, with the encouragement of both his father and the Cheneys, hehad perfected a lever-action rolling block rifle design, and onMarch 6, 1860, he was awarded a U.S. patent for his work. Withfinancial backing from his father, Ogden Spencer, a prosperous woolmerchant, Christian was able to secure the services of LukeWheelock, an experienced gunsmith, for the production of prototypefirearms. Spencer also befriended Richard S. Lawrence, thensuperintendent of the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, and thisassociation most likely influenced certain aspects of Spencer'sdesign.
By the spring of 1861, civil war had come to America, and theCheney family entered into a contract with Spencer in which allrights and patents for Spencer's rifle design would be assigned tothem. In return, Spencer would receive a royalty of $1 for everyrifle produced. This was later lowered to 50 cents for eachmilitary arm produced. The Cheneys had long been friends of GideonWelles, Secretary of the Navy in Abraham Lincoln's administration,and this gave them, and Spencer's rifle, access to governmentofficials in Washington. At this time, Spencer also contracted withConnecticut ammunition makers Crittenden & Tibbals for themanufacture of a .56 caliber rimfire metallic cartridge for use inhis rifle. In its final form, the Spencer rifle employed aspring-loaded seven-shot tubular magazine which was located in thebuttstock, and a lever-action which, when operated, ejected a spentcartridge and chambered a fresh one. Manual cocking of the hammerthen readied the rifle for firing.
The stage was now set for Spencer's rise to fame. Through thepatronage of Secretary Welles, Spencer's rifle was successfullytested by the Navy, resulting in the purchase of 1,000 guns. Armytrials followed in the spring of 1862, and this resulted in thesale of an additional 10,000 guns. In addition, President AbrahamLincoln also took part in a demonstration of the Spencer, firingseven shots at a target forty yards away. This demonstration tookplace on the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, andresulted in Lincoln's personal endorsement of the arm. Spencer nowhad contracts but no manufacturing facilities. Once again, theCheney family would prove to be indispensable to Spencer, asCharles Cheney rented a portion of a piano factory in Boston forproduction of Spencer firearms.
After several delays, the first shipment of Spencer carbines wasdelivered on December 31, 1862. Both Army and Navy placedadditional orders during the summer of 1863, and many other Spencerarms were purchased privately. By the end of the war, more than144,000 Spencer rifles and carbines had been manufactured; overtwo-thirds were purchased by the U.S. government. To keep up withdemand, Spencer subcontracted some production to the Burnside RifleCo. of Providence, Rhode Island.
Spencer rifles and carbines met with high praise from those whowere equipped with them, and with respect from those who faced themin battle. In its first combat test, Spencer-armed Union troopsunder the command of Colonel John Wilder earned the nickname'Lightning Brigade' when they defeated a numerically superiorConfederate force at the Battle of Hoover's Gap, Tennessee on June24, 1863. One week later, Spencer rifles again saw action in thehands of troopers of the 5th Michigan Cavalry Regiment of GeneralGeorge Armstrong Custer's Brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg.Wilder's troops were called on again at the Battle of Chickamaugain September, 1863, when they fought to hold the Union center inthe face of determined attacks by General James Longstreet'sConfederates.
Spencer rifles and carbines also saw service with several otherUnion infantry and cavalry regiments. Although the South lacked thecapacity to manufacture metallic cartridges used by the Spencer,captured arms and ammunition saw service with troops under thecommand of Colonel John Mosby, the famed 'Gray Ghost of theConfederacy,' as well as with other units andindividuals.
The effectiveness of the Spencer was greatly increased by two otherinventions, the Blakeslee cartridge box, and the Stabler cut-offdevice. The Blakeslee cartridge box was invented by Unioncavalryman Erastus Blakeslee and consisted of a leather-coveredwood box containing six to ten tubes, each of which held sevenSpencer cartridges. Troops equipped with these boxes could quicklyreload the gun that, in the words of one awed Confederate, could be'loaded on Sunday and fired all week.'
Later Spencers, beginning with the Model 1865, were equipped with acut-off mechanism invented by Edward Stabler which, when engaged,prevented the breechblock from moving far enough to chamber acartridge from the buttstock magazine. This device permitted theSpencer to be used as a single-shot arm, with a full magazine heldin reserve. Spencer carbines continued to serve on the frontierafter the Civil War, but the firm's prodigious wartime outputcontributed to a large post-war surplus.
Declining sales forced the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. intoinsolvency, and in October, 1868, all of the company's assets weresold to the Fogerty Rifle Co. of Boston. Within a year, Fogerty'sassets were in turn purchased by Oliver Winchester, and ChristianSpencer agreed to assign all future repeating rifle designs orimprovements to Winchester. Spencer later returned to the firearmsindustry with the formation of the Spencer Arms Co., whichmanufactured his design for the first practical pump-actionshotgun. This firm was later sold to noted arms dealer FrancisBannerman. Christian Spencer died on January 14, 1922.