Relatively few sporting rifles were made by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company; while over 144,000 military guns were produced during the Civil War (107,372 purchased by the U.S. government), educated estimates place the sporting arms total production from 1864-1868 at around only 1,807. The action first went into production in 1860 and as soon as the Civil War started, all of the machinery and man power were devoted almost entirely to turning out rifles and carbines for the Union forces. The serial number was properly offset to the left of the tang mounted peep sight which was common practice beginning on the 1865 production rifles. The matching serial number is also stamped on the bottom of the barrel and rear of the forearm. ".313" is marked on the front of the receiver. The rifle is chambered for the 56-46 Spencer cartridge. The receiver is marked "SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS./PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860." The barrel has a block mounted front sight and notch and folding ladder rear sight, and the action has a plain trigger, breechblock mounted "tooth" extractor, the Spencer cut-off, and the adjustable peep sight. The forearm has a pewter cap. This rifle is just two serial numbers after the Lt. Phillip Reade rifle.

Excellent overall with 95% plus dark original blue and 80% vibrant casehardened finishes, some light oxidation mainly on the lever and lower tang, most of the original varnish on the excellent stock and forearm, light aging of the pewter, some minor marks and scratches, a thin crack in the receiver by the hammer, distinct markings, and general minor wear. Mechanically excellent.