Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 60

Lot 60:Historic Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Sporting Rifle

May 14th, 2021|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 60

Lot 60:Historic Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Sporting Rifle

May 14th, 2021|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$3,500 - $5,500
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Historic Spencer Repeating Rifle Company Sporting Rifle with Inscribed Forend Cap

This Spencer sporting rifle was likely manufactured just after the end of the Civil War and is chambered for the 56-46 Spencer cartridge (.44 rimfire) commonly used in the Spencer sporting guns. It has an inscription on the pewter forend cap. "Presented to," "by," and "Genl" are legible, but the recipient and presenter names are partially faded making positive identification of the names difficult (see the close-up photo provided). The presenter might be a General Wallace. While an estimated 144,500 military carbines and rifles were produced by Spencer during the Civil War, only an estimated 1,807 of these sporting rifles were manufactured between 1864 and 1868, and only a scarce few have presentation inscriptions. Other known presentation pieces were given to Frank Cheney of Spencer Repeating Rifle Company, Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria, and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles. The assembly number "27" is stamped on the forearm, barrel, front of the action, and various action components, and "517" is stamped on the action partially obscured by the peep sight mounting screws. The first and possible last digits of the serial number were obliterated when the receiver was tapped. For this reason, during the post-war years, Spencer marked most of the sporting rifle serial numbers to the left of the screws. It has an octagon barrel fitted with blade and notch sights. The action has the Spencer cut-off and single set trigger as pictured on page 113 of "Spencer Repeating Firearms" by Marcot. Like the Civil War Spencers, the sporting versions were fed by a tubular magazine in the buttstock. Relatively few Spencer sporting rifles were produced before the company closed in 1868 after the firearms market broadly took a significant hit as government contracts ground to a halt with the end of the war and commercial sales were hampered by the glut of surplus arms. Provenance: The John Fox Collection

Rating definitionGood with an attractive "frontier issued" look. The rifle has a dark brown patina with some spots of oxidation and pitting common on western used firearms. The wood is very good with some slight chipping and hairline cracks and overall minor pressure marks and scratches consistent with use. Some parts are absent, and the lock will not hold full cock. The markings are mostly clear. This rifle definitely look likes it saw some real use in the West and would add interest to any antique American arms collection, especially a collection of frontier firearms.
Details
ManufacturerSpencer
ModelRepeating
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Barrel26 inch octagon
Finishblue/casehardened
Stockwalnut
Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views3496
Catalog page60
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 50Civil War Era Spencer Repeating Military Rifle
View Lot
Lot 595U.S. Spencer Model 1865 Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine
View Lot
Lot 40Inscribed U.S. Remington New Model Army Percussion Revolver
View Lot
Lot 597Inscribed Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver
View Lot
Show More