The "U.S./COL. TER" branded into the left of the buttstock indicates this carbine is one of just 500 Spencer Carbines transferred by the U.S. Ordnance Department to the Colorado Territory on October 16, 1868. See page 129 of "Spencer Repeating Firearms" by Roy Marcot for a similar example. Most of the Model 1865 Spencer carbines were manufactured in 1865 and 1866 after the end of the Civil War. Many were used during Reconstruction and in the Indian Wars before the Springfield Trapdoors were widely issued, with many seeing continued use by Native American groups and Western settlers into the late 19th century. Features blade front (currently detached, included separately) and folding ladder rear sights and the Stabler cutoff. Matching serial number "22544" marked underneath the barrel and on top of the frame. Small single letter inspection initials marked on various components, "J.L.C" (Joseph L. Cottle) inspection initials on the left of the barrel at the breech, boxed script "HEV" (Henry E. Valentine) and "GC" (George Curtis) inspection cartouches on the left of the stock. Provenance: The Donald Bates Collection

Very good, exhibiting a smooth gray and brown patina overall indicative of genuine period use with a few scattered patches of light pitting. Wood is also very good with scattered scratches, dents, chips, lightly visible cartouches, and period branded letters as mentioned above. Mechanically fine.