Spencer Army Model rifle manufactured c. 1864. The rifle has a blued barrel and color case-hardened barrel bands, receiver, breechblock, hammer, loading lever, trigger guard and buttplate. The stock and forearm are oil-finished black walnut. The barrel has a block-mounted front sight that serves as the base for a socket bayonet and folding leaf rear sight with 800 yard center notch. The stock has a seven-round tube magazine. Sling swivels are mounted on the stock and middle barrel band. The rifle is in the original Civil War configuration and does not have the Stabler magazine cut-off retro-fitted to many Spencer rifles and carbines after the Civil War. The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "SPENCER REPEATING-/RIFLE Co. BOSTON MASS./PAT'D MARCH 6. 1860." in three lines. The serial number "5164" is stamped on the rear of the receiver behind the hammer. An "H" sub-inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with two identical Ordnance inspection marks which consist of the script initials "DAP" in rectangles with rounded ends. First issued to Federal cavalry and mounted infantry units in 1863, the Spencer Army Model rifle was an immediate success and paved the way for the subsequent adoption of the Spencer Model 1860 carbine as the standard weapon for the Federal cavalry regiments by the end of the Civil War.

Excellent plus. The rifle retains 97% of the original blue and 90% plus vivid casehardened finish with only limited storage wear. The receiver markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with raised feathered wood grain, one deep four inch long scratch present on the right side of the forward portion of forearm. The Ordnance inspection marks on the left side of the stock wrist are both excellent. This is the finest, original example of a Civil War Spencer Army Model rifle that we have ever offered at auction! This is the mate to the martially inspected Henry Rifle also offered in this auction.