US Cavalry Burnside Contract Model 1865 Spencer Carbine 20″ 56-50 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,080.00
LSB# LSB251208RC012
Make: Burnside Rifle Company
Model: Model 1865 Spencer Carbine
Serial Number: 20873
Year of Manufacture: Circa late 1860s
Caliber: 56-50 Spencer Rimfire
Action Type: Lever Operated Rotating Breechblock Repeating Carbine with Tubular Magazine Loaded Through the Buttstock. There is a Stabler cutoff in the front of the trigger guard.
Markings: The top of the receiver at the chamber is marked “SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860 / MANUF’D AT PROV, R.I. / BY BURNSIDE RIFLE Co” and “MODEL / 1865”. The top of the receiver behind the breech-block and the bottom of the barrel under the forend are each marked “20873”. Someone has carved “HD” into the left side of the buttstock.
Barrel Length: 20″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a barley corn blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder sight dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut. The forend is secured by a barrel band and a screw. The buttstock has a straight wrist, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate. There is a sling bar with ring in the left of the wrist and a sling plate in the belly. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are heavy scratches and compression dents throughout. There are numerous chips and gouges most notably on the wrist and forend. There is oil darkening in areas near metal. There are a few areas of weathered wood loss. There is a small crack in the forend. Overall this stock is in Good condition for an antique military carbine.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is well defined. There is scattered erosion and some pitting in the bore. There is a bulge and squib ring at about the 14″ point from the breech. This has caused a barrel crack at this point. Do Not Attempt to shoot this rifle! In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 1 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains virtually none of its original finish. The rifle has worn to a brown patina. There is extensive corrosion staining. There are nicks, scratches and toolmarks throughout but most notably near the lever pivot screw. There is peening on the receiver from the hammer. The magazine tube is free and looks to be in good condition. This rifle would make a great historical display piece but is not safe to fire as is.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: none
Our Assessment: The Burnside Rifle Company Model 1865 Spencer Carbine represents the final evolution of one of the most influential repeating arms of the American Civil War. Originally designed by Christopher Spencer and adopted in large numbers by Union cavalry, the Spencer’s lever operated rotating breechblock and buttstock loaded tubular magazine gave mounted troops a decisive increase in firepower. This example, marked with Burnside Rifle Company manufacture in Providence, Rhode Island and dated to the late 1860s, reflects postwar production and likely cavalry service. The receiver retains proper Spencer patent markings and matching serial numbers on the receiver and barrel. The rifle has worn to an even brown patina with virtually none of its original blue or case color remaining, and shows corrosion staining, peening on the receiver from the hammer, and scattered tool marks, placing it overall as a well worn but historically intact antique.
Chambered in 56-50 Spencer rimfire, one of the early self contained metallic cartridges adopted for military service, the Model 1865 was a transitional arm bridging muzzleloading cavalry carbines and the metallic cartridge frontier era. The bore is gray with defined rifling but shows scattered erosion and pitting. There is a bulge and squib ring approximately 14 inches from the breech that has resulted in a barrel crack at that location. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 1 out of 10. This rifle should be regarded strictly as a display piece and not as a firing arm in its current condition.
The two piece walnut stock retains its sling bar and ring on the left wrist and sling plate on the belly, consistent with cavalry configuration. The wood shows heavy scratches, compression dents, numerous chips and gouges, oil darkening near metal contact points, and areas of weathered wood loss, along with a small crack in the forend. The carved initials “HD” on the left side of the buttstock add to its period character. Despite the hard service wear, the stock rates in Good condition for an antique military carbine of this age. The action functions, and the magazine tube is free. This Burnside Contract Model 1865 Spencer stands as a compelling historical artifact of post Civil War cavalry arms, best suited for display due to its barrel condition. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! MF