Spencer/Winchester Rifle - MORE INFO

deputydon

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





















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When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

rufe-snow

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?

Bert H.

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!

deputydon

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.

deputydon

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. - Don



When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.

Bert H.

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!

deputydon

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.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by deputydon
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.




OK... that confirms that it is a Model 1885 barrel.

Bert H.

Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!