1860 Spencer Carbine

This firearm is on exhibit at the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, NM.

Designed by Christopher Spencer, the 1860 Spencer carbine was a repeating 7-shot carbine that utilized a tubular magazine housed in the stock and operated by a lever. This .52 caliber carbine was immensely popular during the American War and was utilized by both Union and Confederate forces. Chambered for the .56-.56 Spencer rimfire cartridge the carbine was actually a .52 caliber firearm. After the War many of the carbines were modified by relining the barrels to .50 caliber and installing the Stabler cutoff. This version was known as the1865 Spencer. This carbine was manufactured in 1865 with the Stabler cutoff but retained its original .52 caliber chambering and been determined to be in un-fired, un-issued condition. From the Alex Black Collection.