Spencer/Winchester Rifle - MORE INFO
Guys - A friend picked this up a couple of weeks ago at a yard sale. It has a Winchester 28 1/4" Oct Barrel that is stamped .38 WCF on the bottom under the forearm. The receiver is a Spencer marked 1863. There is a round hole in the butt. The ears on the butt look like they were "blacksmithed". The external hammer doesn't appear to do anything other than assist in cocking. There was a tang sight that has been removed. S/N is 56509 and from a web page appears to have been issued to the 6th IL Vol Cav Co E in July of 1865. Is this a rebarrel or something that was made for target shooting after Winchester acquired Spencer ? Thanks -Don
.
When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
.
When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
0
-
The 38 WCF Cartridge, ( 38-40 ) was first sold commercially in 1874. This was years after Winchester had purchased and terminated Spencer.
My 2? is that somebody reworked a Civil War Spencer into a off-hand target rifle. Those "ears" were very commonly found on off-hand target rifles used during the late 19th Century.
The Civil War Spencer was a RIMFIRE 50 caliber repeater with a (7) shot magazine in the butt. Both the hammer and trigger guard had to manually operated for each shot.
Your friend has a very interesting rifle. Many years ago, somebody put a lot of time and effort into converting it into a target rifle. I would like to know what cartridge it's been chambered for, and how the repeating rimfire breech block has been altered?0 -
Hello Don...
My guess is that the barrel was originally on a Model 1885 Single Shot rifle, but it could also be a Model 1873, or an early Model 1892. If you can tell me exactly how the Winchester address is stamped on the barrel, I can tell you which one it is.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I will get with the owner tonite & see if we can get more info. Stay tuned [:)] -Don When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.0 -
Bert H. The barrel is marked as follows:
Top Flat
Manufactured by the
WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A
Bottom Flat
38 WCF
The receiver is marked as follows:
Spencer ????????????
Rifle Co. Boston Mass
Pat_d March 6, 1860
We will try to get some pic of the inside showing the conversion soon. - DonWhen they pry it from my cold dead fingers.0 -
Hello Don,
Is there a long dash that precedes and follows each line of text? The barrel marking is very strongly pointing to it being a Model 1885 barrel.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Bert H. - According to the owner there is a dash that precedes and follows the Winchester name. -Don When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.0 -
quote:Originally posted by deputydon
Bert H. - According to the owner there is a dash that precedes and follows the Winchester name. -DonWhen they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
OK... that confirms that it is a Model 1885 barrel.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
7 comments