The Spencer was one of the most widely used and popular Civil War firearms and also most advanced. These carbines were manufactured from 1863 until the introduction of the Model 1865. It has a blade front sight and folding rear sight graduated to 800 yards. The top of the barrel is period inscribed "Geo. W. McCree. Co. I 10th MO. V.C. ENL. OCT. 9th. 18[??]".The top of the receiver is marked "SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS./PAT'D MARCH 6, 1860," and the serial number is marked on top of the receiver. A saddle ring and bar are mounted on the left. The stock has a three letter inspector mark by the heel and outline of an inspector cartouche on the left. Included with the carbine are copies of information about George W. McCree. He is listed as a private in Company E of the 9th Missouri Cavalry from the 15th of August to the 20th of October in 1862. The 9th is well-known for its anti-guerrilla efforts in Missouri. He then served in Company I of the 10th Missouri Cavalry until July 25, 1865. This unit was part of the XVII Corps in Grant's Army of the Tennessee and fought in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. One of their commanders was Frederick Benteen who famously later commanded Companies D, H, and K of 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. McCree was then briefly in Company H of the 2nd Missouri Cavalry before mustering out on September 19, 1865. He enlisted as a sergeant in Company B. of the 31st U.S. Infantry in March of 1866, and his company became part of the 31st Infantry that July. He was court-martialed and found guilty of burglary and dishonorably discharged on March 1, 1869. He appears to have first married Millicent Gear on August 28, 1873. She died on October 12, 1884. He remarried to Julia Belle Gipson on April 6, 1896. His occupation is listed as a cooper. He was living at the National Veterans Home at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas when he died on October 9, 1918. Provenance: The Donald Bates Collection

Good with a mix of plum brown toned finish and dark patina on the barrel, patterns of silvered out case colors visible on the sides of the breechblock, mottled gray and brown patina on the rest of the action and furniture, and moderate overall wear. The stock and forearm have period applied protective finish, moderate dents and scratches, some small chips, and light markings. Mechanically fine.