Reportedly, 11,471 of these innovative rifles were manufactured by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Boston, Massachusetts, with known deliveries to the U.S Ordnance Department between December 31, 1862 through 1863, with serial numbers of Spencer 1860 rifles commencing at 1000, and the serial number 2942 of this rifle indicating it would have been included as part of the third shipment of 1,200, reportedly delivered to the Ordnance Department on February 23, 1863, according to related information on pages 48 and 50 of the book "Spencer Repeating Firearms" (1983) by Roy Marcot. The rifle features a 30-inch round barrel, seven-shot magazine tube in the stock, a blade front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug, an 800 yard folding ladder rear sight, six-groove rifling chambered for use with 56-52 "52 Spencer" rimfire, three barrel bands, and the three-line Spencer address and patent marking on top of the breech. The matching serial number "2942" is roll-stamped on the top of the receiver and on the bottom of the barrel.

Good as Civil War used, with characteristic mottled brown and gray patina on the exposed iron surfaces, strong traces of vivid original case colors concentrated in protected areas of the breech block and frame, a few areas of applied brown, scattered light oxidation/pitting and wear. Wood is also good with numerous scattered scratches, dents, scuffs, a few minor hairline cracks, and general wear from period use. A period bent pin is in place of a screw on the sling swivel retainer of the middle barrel band. Mechanically fine.