His idea for a lever-activated, rotating-block, seven-shot repeater loaded via a spring-powered magazine tube in the buttstock was granted a patent on March 6, 1860, the eve of the Civil War. Light pitting throughout the bore. The 56-56 spencer was a folded head rimfire, and though pushed a 350-grain bullet at about 1,200 fps the .550-inch diameter bullets was still a relatively short-range cartridge and limited to about 150 yards maybe 200 yards maximum. The Spencer Repeating Rifle Company declared bankruptcy in 1868, which also contributed to the weapon’s eventual decline. Spencer Repeating Rifle. The Spencer was the world's first military metallic cartridge repeating rifle, and over 200,000 examples were manufactured in the United States by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Co. and Burnside Rifle Co. between 1860 and 1869. Its buttstock contained a magazine carrying seven cartridges that could be fired in about 18 seconds. For Spencer, the timing could not have been better. Christopher Miner Spencer was the inventor of the Spencer Repeating Rifle. Design work on the rifle began in the late 1850s, development culminating in 1859. In December 1868, the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company was sold to the Fogarty Repeating Rifle … The Spencer has always appeared to lurk beneath the shadow of the better known and publicised Henry rifle. But it is for Spencer's concept of a repeating rifle that he is remembered today. It is in good condition with 60% original finish. .56-56 Spencer Rimfire. At the Battle of Hoover’s Gap, Colonel John T. Wilder and his so-called Lightning Brigade made use of the Spencer rifle, proving its effectiveness on horseback. Nevertheless, Spencer paved the way for repeating rifles by establishing a significant precedent in firearms development. The Spencer repeating rifles and carbines were early American lever-action firearms invented by Christopher Spencer. 4/5 Bore. This volume goes a long way to redress the balance and position the Spencer where it belongs, at the forefront of the development of repeating firearms. Another repeater that would achieve fame in the American Civil War was the Henry rifle.Patented in 1860 by Benjamin Tyler Henry, the rifle’s 16-shot ammunition capacity and greater stopping power made it superior to the Spencer.. Spencer Repeating Rifle, possibly a Sporting Rifle; It is difficult to pinpoint exactly which model it is as it shares commonalities with the Spencer 1860, Spencer 1865, Spencer New Model, and Spencer Sporting Rifle. The Henry was chambered for the reliable .44 caliber rimfire cartridge, which was also designed by Henry himself. The Spencer Rifle proved one of the earlier successful forms of a repeating rifle anywhere in the world, solidifying Christopher Spencer's piece in the annals of firearms history. Spencer carbine, any of a family of rim-fire repeating arms—both carbines and rifles—that were widely used in the American Civil War.The carbine was invented by Christopher M. Spencer of Connecticut and was patented in 1860. Produced during the same historical period, the Spencer repeating rifle was popular with cavalry units in the Union Army. 4/5 Stock. A lot of writers extol the virtues of the Spencer repeating rifle. https://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/collection/object.asp?ID=117 He learned his arms making skills while working at Samuel Colt’s factory in Hartford Connecticut. The Henry Rifle. He also invented a steam powered horseless carriage and the first fully automatic turret lathe. 1850S, development culminating in 1859 in the late 1850s, development culminating in 1859 lever-action firearms invented by Spencer. That could be fired in about 18 seconds repeating rifles and carbines were early American lever-action firearms invented by Spencer. 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