Liege Armory Spencer Carbine, centerfire .50 cal

superrc243@cableone.net

I have recently acquired an odd variant of Spencer Carbine. It is stamped Union Armoriere Belge Liege on the receiver just forward of the breech, and there is a stamp on the butt that reads Fal/SSE & Trapmann 1873 Liege. There are various armory stamps all over the rifle on the metal and wood, and all serial numbers match. I think without checking that it is 1607. The rifle appears set up for a .50 caliber centerfire cartridge and is in very good condition. There is no corrosion, all lettering and numbering is clear and unabraided, and all parts are there. I was not aware that Spencer manufactured a belgian carbine in centerfire, and have no indication of the history on it. Any information as to history and value would be appreciated.

Anthony S. Dull

Iroquois Scout

What you have is a Belgian knock off of the Model 1865 Spencer carbine. In the 1800's Belgian gun factories made copies of nearly all the successful designs,not only American. I know of Belgian copies of Colts,Smith & Wessons,Remingtons and Winchesters,but this is the first Spencer that I have heard of. Trapmann was a well known maker in the 1870's-1880's. Some of these Belgian guns are junk and others are of excellent quality. Your carbine may or may not be originally a centerfire. The original Spencer was a rimfire,but conversion breech blocks have been around for at least 30 years. In fact I have one in one of my Spencers. 56-50 Spencer cartridges can be made by cutting off .50-70 brass to 1.156 inches and reduceing the rim to .639 inch and use a bullet of .512 inch diameter. As to value I really don't know what to say. Your carbine would be of intrust to collectors of Indian War weapons,however,the value would be less then that of an original Spencer. I know that this doesn't answer all of your questions,but hope that it is of some help. Scout