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Identifing indian wars rifle

billomike
I need assistance identifing a rifle dug up on private property after a western Military camp was returned to the public domain by the grand father of an 85 year old friend. The Camp was established in 1867 and abandonded within a decade of its existance.

There is no wood and no numbers as the metal is badly rusted. What I do know follows; The exterior receiver configuration is that of a Spencer. There is a 7/8" "V" thread opening at the rear of the receiver with a smaller dismeter opening into the rifles breech area. The lock, hammer and trigger group are missing, but the receiver cutaway on the right rear as well suggests Spencer. The front and rear barrel sights are 3/8 dovetail but the remains of the rear do not appear to be of military configeration. Next the problem begins; the barrel is 30" octagon measuring approximately .440. The barrel measures 1" at the muzzle and 1 1/8" at the receiver. (Sorry, I cannot tell if the barrel is 3 or 6 grooves). I do not find reference to any octagon, .44 cal., 30" barreled Spencers.

I have no hands on Spencer experience and limited knowledge of western Indian war period weapons. Hopefully some with more knowledge on same can help shed some light.
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    The Spencer's became surplus as far as the military was concerned in the 1870's. They were sold on the surplus/civilian market then as many other ex military arms were. No telling at this late date who got their hands on one and what they did or didn't do to make it into a sporter.

    Any time you have a firearm that in "Relic" condition it makes it quite difficult to discern it's history. The best you can do would be to get a notarized document giving the previous military history of the land where it was found. This might make it more interesting to one of the folks who collect relic firearms.
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  • USN_Airdale
    a question i have pondered on for quite some time, why does a firearm or any relic have to be "dug up" after 150-200 years ? shouldn't it be laying on the surface ? i can understand digging up fossils etc. that are millions of years old, but a "recently" dropped item from 150 - 200 years should be nearly visible on the surface with weeds growing around it.

    i'll continue to ponder !
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  • nmyers
    Most relics are found on farm land, where it would be easy to plow under anything on the surface. No one bothers looking for things of value when you are working hard to get a field done.

    Credit the metal detector for many "finds". You can get Minie balls at any antique shop in the vicinity of a Civil War battlefield, with brass buttons & belt buckles that survive burial for centuries.

    Neal
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  • Herschel
    USN Airdale, Having grown up in a small town and having spent lots of time around old home places in the country, I can say that small metal objects get covered over with dirt in just a few years. Something like a truck axle will be visible for years, maybe 50 years but a small wrench, pocket knife, etc. will have weeds and grass grow around it, leaves week stems, etc. will fall over it and it will be out of sight fairly quickly.
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  • billomike
    Howdy all, Thanks for the responce. The rifle turns out to be a "Buffalo Spencer"; ie, a Civil War Spencer "sporterized" by a western gunsmith after the close if that conflict. I note one recently sold on GunBroker.com identicl to that dug up.

    Best regards all
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  • Fatstrat
    How about pic, just for fun. I love seeing old relics!
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