Spencer carbines were among the three most widely used carbines of the Civil War. This carbine is one of over 11,000 altered by Springfield Armory in 1867-1874 by fitting it with a three-groove liner and the Stabler cut-off. It does not have the "ESA" cartouche on the left; it only has a "TJS" cartouche. Otherwise, it has the standard Spencer markings and features. After the war, many Spencers like this one continued to be used until the adoption of the trapdoor. Many were also used by allied Indian scouts as well as hostile tribes. Ironically, Custer was among the first men issued a Spencer rifle during the war, and several Spencers were used by his adversaries during the Battle of Little Bighorn.