This carbine is the focus of the article "Discovered: A Spencer Sporting Carbine" by R. Stephen Dorsey found in the included copy of the July 2002 issue of "The Gun Report" in which the author notes that this carbine was the first proof of a Spencer sporting carbine and discusses some of the differences between it and a standard Civil War or Model 1865 carbine. Another included letter indicates at least one other sporting carbine is known with the same sling stud and a traditional casehardened receiver and trigger plate. These may have been prototypes of potential production models considered by Spencer, actual production arms, or rifles sent back to the factory or to another gunsmith for alteration to carbines. Dorsey clearly strongly feels they were factory made. It has traditional military style sights, "PC" under the barrel band on the barrel, the address and patent marking on top of the receiver without "NM" or "M1865," taps for a peep sight at the breech, the Spencer cut-off, a Winchester style saddle ring fitted to the left side of the receiver at the rear, blued magazine tube, and sling swivels on the barrel band and buttstock. The assembly number "824" is marked on the lever and breechblock sections, the lock, the receiver under the lock, the trigger plate inlet, butt of the stock, and underside of the buttplate. "II" is marked on the inside of the forearm and in the trigger plate inlet. The trigger plate and buttplate also have larger "1" marks. The underside of the barrel has a crossed out military series serial number and has an added "1158" that matches the serial number that is offset to the left on the receiver.

Very good. There are original case colors on the inside/back sides of some of the blued components indicating they were originally casehardened. Traces of original case colors remain on the breech components. 30% of the fading period retailer applied blue finish remains. There is some light oxidation and areas of light and moderate pitting. The wood is fine and has some chipping at the junction with the receiver, dark oiled finish, light scratches and marks, and a slightly higher quality grain than is usually found on the standard carbines. Mechanically fine.