OK 7 months later, I have one. This one is in 45 Colt. It looks and works great. All the good things you said about this carbine are true. Thank you for all the great videos and articles.
I always wondered in my two Civil War games how the Spencer reloaded. I was always under the impression that the magazine tube actually HELD the cartridges inside it and they were fed into the barrel, rather than the tube being used to push the individual cartridges into the barrel to be fired. Thanks for this video Mike, and keep up the good shooting! ^_^
I looked in to this a few years ago... Nearly $2k, your FFL orders one... then... you hope... it may show up someday... :( I would still like one of these, though, it would fill the hole in my "military arms" collection I have. :)
@@harryhuynh1 I would too, I prefer hunting with older firearms there’s just something different using a firearm that’s old or a reproduction of an old gun for hunting great feeling
Mike, for a carbine with a 20lb trigger pull that is some seriously impressive shooting! I also loved the saddle and arrow "cover" display - in addition to just being flat-out amusing, it highlights some of the trickiness of getting a consistent ejection when you don't have as much space of lever travel as you might like - an important and easily overlookable historical characteristic. Still loving your videos, keep it up!
I had the opportunity to meet the boss, Rino Chiappa, it is him and Alchemista, aka Alessandro Pietta who made us our first internship of ROI in 2008, a charming and very friendly boy, Master Rino for the CAS.
I am so glad there are companies producing guns that keep the 19th century alive. I shoot black powder loads in my Cimarron model p and I am just scratching the surface. keep it up.
During the Modoc Indian War (1872-1873) in the Lava Beds surrounding Captain Jack's Stronghold, the U.S. Army employed Warm Springs Indian scouts. This at south end of Tule Lake in Northeastern California which straddles the Siskiyou/Modoc County Line. These Indian scouts carried Spencer carbines. The regular U.S. Army, including Oregon and Calfornia Volunteer Infantry, carried two weapons chambered in .50-70 Springfield: the Model 1868 "Trapdoor" single shot Springfield: Third Allin Conversion, and the Model 1868 Sharp's carbine, conversion of the Civil War (1861-1865) Models 1859, 1863, and 1865 .52 caliber "percussion" Sharp's carbine. Of course, by the time of the Modoc Indian War (1872-1873) the Spencer was very much obsolete. Bear in mind too we were in a severe economic depression in 1873. This is perhaps why Civil War surplus equipment and clothing such as the Coehorn mortar, 1840 Pack Howitzer, Hardee Hat, blue wool Union Uniforms, and even hardtack was still being standard U.S. Army issue. 1873 is also the year the .45-70 Springfield (Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield), .44-40 Winchester in the Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle, and the .45 Colt chambered in the Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver became standard. The early settlers and pioneers who settled this region were probably poor economically. Many of them would still be utilizing single shot muzzle loading rifles and percussion shotguns: both single and double-barrel. The classic Civil War "cap and ball" revolvers: Colt's Model 1853 .36 Navy, Colt's Model 1860 .44 Army, and Remington's Model 1861 and later 1863 .44 Army revolver, would have been present. Soldiers and civilians survived these hardships anyway they could. It was a hard arduous life for both. Jim Farmer Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County)
This Spencer, and lots of other guns in videos are on loan to me by the companies that make or import them. It is called T&E (Test & Evaluate) for magazine articles. After I write about them, photograph and video them, I return them.
Such an interesting firearm. Whenever I watch World War One history stuff I can't help but notice I'd much rather have something like this or an 1886 lever gun than any of those super long five shot bolt guns. The Spencer looks like an excellent trench gun. And the mag tubes look light for a long march.
Mike, when I first saw this video a few years ago, you made me want to have this pretty little rifle, a piece of US history. Today, I finally have one. As we say here, everything comes at the right time to wait...
I'm glad to see some Spencer replicas finally being made. Unfortunately $1600 is a bit out of my price range so I'll have to wait till either they get cheaper, or I find a decent used one. But still, it's a good sign that the Italians are starting to bring out replicas of these neat old firearms.
I just recieved one of these last week in 45 Schofield of all things. Which is perfectly fine by me and I've got 3 uberti conversions and army open tops chambered in that as well.
The top brass had their heads up their ass. The head of the Ordnance board even admitted in writing that the troops in the field preferred the Spencer. He disallowed it from the 1873 competition because it couldn't chamber the 50-70 and then the .45-70 cartridge. But the eventual 1873 Trapdoor carbine load was a 405-grain bullet over 55-grains of musket grade black powder. The Spencer had a civillian cartridge that used a .44 caliber 375-grain bullet over .45 grains of powder
I just subscribed to your channel because I love the history on old guns and want to learn more. I didn't know the spencer offered 3 different calibers, you learn something new every day. I didn't know the 44-40 was a rim fired cartridge. Thanks for the knowledge my friend!
Not certain if you know about this fix for a lighter trigger pull on Sharps and Spencers. Take the butt stock off the gun and separate the mainspring from the firing mechanism and carefully remove metal from the spring to thin the spring down. I used a Dremel Tool with a sanding drum to do this and dipped it in water to cool it off as I took metal off to prevent losing the temper. I also dried off the spring, reinstalled it in the firing mechanism to check the trigger pull. When I got it where I wanted it, I put it back together and tried to pop a cap to insure I still had enough powder to set off a primer. Now I have something that will shoot well.
Mike, you're right. The trigger pu;; is horrendous. I have one and took the main spring out and ground it down lengthwise until the trigger pull was about 4 pounds and would set off a CCI large rifle primer in an empty casing. Now I can shoot it without straining. Mine's in .56/.50 CF.
I read about them in J T Edson's Western series. One of his heroes, Red Blaze, carried a Spencer carbine long after they became obsolete. It looks quite effective, although the separate hammer cocking means it wouldn't match the firing rate of the Henry/Winchester. It was probably a bit more robust though.
That is a sweet rifle. I knew you weren't using the old rare rim fire rounds of the original. 45 Colt seems a better choice if you have to pay for a box. Great Video.
Mike I always enjoy your reviews on weapons. This one, the sharps carbine, has a special place in my heart. My great great grandfather,Bob Pitts, rode with McNelly for several years,from 1875 to 1879?. I am going to get one along with the colt revolver that he carried. I don't know what model the colt was, but I will find out. Keep up the fine work
An incredible rifle for it's time. The tube was far more weather resitant than the Henry tubular system of the time. Compared to the muzzel loaders of the time, it was state of the art way in the future. Add the already magazines already loaded in the extra tubes carried in the box demonstrated here and "Wow"!
I saw one in a shop today, looks perfect, chambered in .45 Schofield. I just happen to have a box of that, I pick up stuff like that when it appears. I put my name on it, I'll go back in a few days with some trades and get it.
Thank you Mike. Great video, no BS. One question I would have is the cleaning technique for this beautiful weapon. I am going to subscribe to your channel right now.
The original Spencers were .52 caliber. They fired 375 grn. bullets with 45 grs. black powder. If I bought one, mine would be the .50 cal. that they are now making. It's closer to the original caliber. I have several guns of the old west, and I like them in the original caliber. I also load them with my own black powder hand loads duplicating the original load as closely as possible. In my opinion, that's the whole point of owning these replicas. To get as close to experiencing the old guns just as they were. I know the replicas are centerfire, but at least the .50 cal. is closer to the original bore size. If I could afford to shell out the bucks for one, spending a little more for dies & brass wouldn't be a problem. I already own a 44-40 (win.'73) so mine would be a .50 cal. But that's just me. Nothing wrong with yours. Nice video!
Offhand, with a 20 pound trigger pull. I'd rate your shooting as excellent! Because the Spencer does not hold 10 rounds we don't see them often in CAS matches so your video was a treat.
Hi, Friends, I'm french, but I speak Italian too, and when you have : "ch" at the biginning of a word, you must say : K ( iappa ) e cosi !!!! ciao Tutti !!!
The first gun to be referred to by that name was the Nambu Test Type I submachine gun, a field-tested prototype with an experimental grip magazine and predecessor of the more well-known Type 100. Supposedly, one was captured by American forces in the Marianas, leading one serviceman to comment that such a thing had to be "as rare as bull's pups."
I had to come back to this video as I just watched the "3:10 to Yuma" remake and "The Unforgiven" back to back....If those two movies and this video don't light your fire for a Spencer carbine nothin' will.
I noticed your front sight is high. I have an Uberti that is the same way.i have to hold with the top half of the front sight sticking above the rear notch. Mine also had an atrocious trigger pull, the likes of which I’ve never seen on any other gun I’ve ever fired. The gunsmith worked on the trigger pull, and got it down to acceptable pounds. Don’t know what to do about the front sight.
Mike, I always thought it would be cool (and period correct) to use a Spencer In Cowboy Action Shooting. However, for CAS main match, you need a ten-shot rifle. I guess you could use a Spencer, but your times would suffer. Are those reload tubes currently available?
It looks to be a fun time shooting! Curious as to what size modern shell is comparable to the .44-40. It looks to be a .44Spl size. Always a fan of the 'Evil Roy' view...I am glad though, that the camera 'guy' comes out unscathed...lol
I've got one in .45 Schofield. I really like it, but there is an issue: if I load 3 or more rounds in the magazine, the weapon will not cycle-at all unless I depress the loadgate spring manually. 1 or 2 work fine. I've tried two different types of ammo and replaced the magazine spring and follower- same issue. Is there something I'm missing before I send it to Taylor?
I also bought the .44-40 for the same reason you did. Like you said the trigger pull makes accurancy very difficult.. I was also very disappointed to find that .429 as cast bullets that shoot with amazing accurancy in all my Uberti lever guns, would not chamber in my Spencer. I had to size them to .427, so I cannot use cartridges interchangeably, which is why I bought the Spencer in the first place. I had to send it back to Taylors for repair due to jamming. I wish Uberti had manufactured and marketed this carbine and rifle to their high quality standards of functionality instead of Armi-Sport. It has become a safe queen for me due to it's inferiority of function. I wish I had bought an original and converted it to centerfire.
I'm late to the video. But I have an original 1865 Spencer that was found in a wall with a cavalry officer sword and I honestly am just getting into knowledge of these and want to know what caliber and about how much it is it worth. Any information is appreciated
Buffalo Bore produces a 45 Colt round with 325grn charge. Is that too much for this weapon? Typical Cowboy loads appear to be 200 to 250. In you opinion, what is a max load for the Spencer Carbine chambered for 45 Long Colt?
I have the full length rifle version of the Chiappa Spencer. They are a Honey to shoot. And the Blakesley box isnt too hard to cobble togther with a small olive oil time and hollow alluminium tubes.
I really enjoyed that Mike! I was hoping that you would be using a .56-50, but the video was still very nice. After a quick internet search for centerfire .56-50 ammo, and seeing they get $3 a round for it, I understand reviewing one in .44-40!
I know you did this video 10+ years ago. But I just today received one of the Spencer carbines in Colt's 45 center fire caliber. I'm wondering if you're weapon had difficulty when new.
I had no idea Spencers used Sharps compatible parts. I've wanted a Spencer ever since I watched Unforgiven. Too bad about the trigger pull. Any plans to rectify that?
More excellent information. Back in the 1870's what would you say the maximum effective range of this weapon would be against human targets in the hands of a natural marksman who often performs long range shots with a custom sharps? Also, could this weapon be fitted with a telescopic sight? Thanks.
Wow!.... That sure does look like a heck of a lot of fun!.... I only own one firearm chambered in 44-40, and it is an Origional Model 1878 Double Action Colt... What I don't like is those bottle necked 44 Winchester Cases are in my opinion a son of a b*tch to reload as far seating the bullet and getting that daggone crimp correct..... Makes me CRAZY!.... I tend to shy away from anything "44-40" anymore, which stinks because it's a fantastic cartridge.... GREAT VIDEO!
Has there ever been a documented case of setting off a round accidentally when loading the Spencer rifle? It makes me kind of nervous to see rounds just dropped into the tube nose first where the point can make contact with the primer of the previous round.
I read a report of a Winchester that had a round like this blow but the guy was in the habit of shooting a round and replacing it so the rounds in the gun had been banging against the rounds in front for yrs or even decades and eventually may have reshaped enough to set off a primer. If you are worried I'd say use hollow points or FMJs. I'd also suggest you empty the tube occasionally.
Many distributors will warn you about using round-nosed bullets and will make the claim that using such WILL set off a chain-fire. I'm a Civil War re-enactor, and I have several friends who use their Spencer carbines for both the "battlefield" and hunting. Interestingly enough, neither has ever had a chain-fire. THAT SAID, it is NOT wise to simply DROP the rounds into the buttstock in any case. To PROPERLY load the Spencer, you need to hold the rifle as close to level as humanly possible and slide the rounds in, then insert the follower. S&S Firearms carries nose-recessed followers for the Spencer, as well as modern centerfire blocks. Using both will make your Spencer leaps and bounds safer than any original.
Why did the Henry Rile thereafter Winchester, then Browning repeater do so much better than the Spenser? When was it actually patented? Was it that you had to cock the rifle? Or was it the limited and very expensive loading system that you had to have with it? What was the cost of that leather part?
There are a several reasons. I think the Henry/Winchester was considered easier to load and shoot, but, more important was the huge number of Spencers sold on the surplus arms market after the war. The Spencer company unable to sell many guns when they were so plentiful and cheap on the surplus market. Ultimately that forced them to sell the company to Oliver Winchester.
Thank you very much for that information. I did not know the Company was sold to Winchester either. Always wanted a "Winchester 1866" with the forearm grip and breach loading gate, but something tells me I should buy a John Browning version like the 1892, but my target shooting days are long over so I sold all my modern rifles AK-47, AR-15 and plan to sell the Kimber .40 and a single action Ruger Revolver 22 - but will keep the tiny Bauer .25 because it's so beautiful with it's pearl grips and miniature size. Retired lawyer interested in history - I will never understand though why the learned Generals at the time did not realize the accuracy of a rifled long arm and change their smoothbore tactics once they saw the carnage? No historian explains it really that I've found.
Hi Mike, why did the US Cavalry switch to the single shot Trapdoor Carbine rather than continuing to use the Spencer repeating carbines? Seems like rapid fire would have been preferable during the later years of the Indian wars. Did the Army prefer the higher powered 45-70 round? Or was rapid fire considered wasteful as I have read?
They wanted more power instead of a repeating rifle. Well battle of Little Bighorn Custer had a 45-70 and the Indians had a repeating rifles and we all know what happened there…
Weird how maker didn't see obvious load lever do cocking to as in Winchester/Henry ,seems so obvious add lever to do hammer cocking to retracting breech.
Thanks for the info! I was watching the remake of "3:10 to Yuma" and I liked the fact that Dan Evans had a Spencer, and I thought to myself if I had to pick between a 1873 Winchester and a Spencer, based just on stopping power, which one I'd carry. Great videos I enjoy them!
been thinking about buying one, not sure if i should get the chiappa or the cimmarron. i keep reading that the cimmarron is good for about 20-50 rounds and then the hammer isnt any good any more. anyone have any input?
@@drunkenirishmstr I am not aware of any hammer problems. I had a carbine and a rifle for test and evaluation. I shot several hundred rounds through each of them, and I experienced no problems with the hammer.
@@duelist1954 good to know. I’m trying to decide wether or not to buy the rifled or carbine version of the Spencer weapon system. I am trying to get into civil war reenacting, I would like to join the 6th Michigan cavalry and partake in the east cavalry field engagements at the battle of Gettysburg (the 6th carried the Spencer rifle). I am aware that the carbine version was not fully deployed by the cavalry units until later on in the war. The only units that did carry the Spencer carbine early on were the cavalry troopers that escorted Lincoln around DC, as well as the Pinkerton guard. I do know that the 7th cavalry carried the Spencer beyond the civil war and into the early 1870’s. But was later phased out and replaced with the Springfield trapdoor carbine (Marcus Reno and General Terry believed that the trapdoor would force the troopers to not waste ammunition ). The Springfield trapdoor carbine is also another weapon I may purchase and use for when I do a ride with the 7th
Tom Smestead no, just the centerfire version. however you can buy a new falling block that's will forever the centerfire ones in a original spencer, but you need to either load or buy black powder cartridges
Mr. Beliveau, I really like this carbine. I have ordered two, from separate distributors. Each had the same fault, the rear sight is canted toward the left. They were both returned. Is this something you have seen on these replicas?
duelist1954 Thanks for the reply. The second gun isn't as bad as the first, had to look close to see it. After the first one we did look close. It may not make any difference as long as the flip up sight isn't used. I thought the second rifle had been returned but found out my FFL is still waiting on a call back from the distributor. This is really a nice looking rifle.
Is it possible to work the lever without cocking it? If I wanted to be combat ready, I certainly don't want to walk or ride around with a cocked hammer.
Not officially, no. But intrinsically, yes, I'd agree that it could be considered the first " bullpup"., High power, long range, ease of reloading/repeating. And rather short, simple and to-the-point. Sounds like the bullpup definition to me!? And I'm thinking of copying many of the parts and building one as a .25cal nitro piston gas ram pellet gun. Say, about 870FPS? Shrouded barrel from the Benji Trail NPXL725?
OK 7 months later, I have one. This one is in 45 Colt. It looks and works great. All the good things you said about this carbine are true. Thank you for all the great videos and articles.
Hi
Black Power version ??
Regards
Artur
Poland
All the new reproductions are safe for smokeless powder.Although the 45 colts could be loaded with black powder if you wish. @@arturk2021
I always wondered in my two Civil War games how the Spencer reloaded. I was always under the impression that the magazine tube actually HELD the cartridges inside it and they were fed into the barrel, rather than the tube being used to push the individual cartridges into the barrel to be fired.
Thanks for this video Mike, and keep up the good shooting! ^_^
can't believe I never knew there were modern reproduction of these. always wanted one!
Right? I want one so bad.
I can use this for the hunting season
only bad news they are $1750
I looked in to this a few years ago... Nearly $2k, your FFL orders one... then... you hope... it may show up someday... :( I would still like one of these, though, it would fill the hole in my "military arms" collection I have. :)
@@harryhuynh1 I would too, I prefer hunting with older firearms there’s just something different using a firearm that’s old or a reproduction of an old gun for hunting great feeling
Mike, for a carbine with a 20lb trigger pull that is some seriously impressive shooting! I also loved the saddle and arrow "cover" display - in addition to just being flat-out amusing, it highlights some of the trickiness of getting a consistent ejection when you don't have as much space of lever travel as you might like - an important and easily overlookable historical characteristic. Still loving your videos, keep it up!
I don't know what to say, but I meet with the Italians ever year at the SHOT Show, and the pronounce it "Key' appa"
Chi is Kee in Italian. Think Charisma. Or Chianti.
@@ravendon or tedeschi Italian word for German said tedeski,
I had the opportunity to meet the boss, Rino Chiappa, it is him and Alchemista, aka Alessandro Pietta who made us our first internship of ROI in 2008, a charming and very friendly boy, Master Rino for the CAS.
I am so glad there are companies producing guns that keep the 19th century alive. I shoot black powder loads in my Cimarron model p and I am just scratching the surface. keep it up.
During the Modoc Indian War (1872-1873) in the Lava Beds surrounding Captain Jack's Stronghold, the U.S. Army employed
Warm Springs Indian scouts. This at south end of Tule Lake in Northeastern California which straddles the Siskiyou/Modoc
County Line. These Indian scouts carried Spencer carbines. The regular U.S. Army, including Oregon and Calfornia Volunteer Infantry, carried two weapons chambered in .50-70 Springfield: the Model 1868 "Trapdoor" single shot Springfield: Third Allin Conversion, and the Model 1868 Sharp's carbine, conversion of the Civil War (1861-1865) Models 1859, 1863, and 1865 .52 caliber "percussion" Sharp's carbine. Of course, by the time of the Modoc Indian War (1872-1873) the Spencer was very much obsolete. Bear in mind too we were in a severe economic depression in 1873. This is perhaps why Civil War surplus
equipment and clothing such as the Coehorn mortar, 1840 Pack Howitzer, Hardee Hat, blue wool Union Uniforms, and even hardtack was still being standard U.S. Army issue. 1873 is also the year the .45-70 Springfield (Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield), .44-40 Winchester in the Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle, and the .45 Colt chambered in the Model 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver became standard. The early settlers and pioneers who settled this region were probably poor economically. Many of them would still be utilizing single shot muzzle loading rifles and percussion shotguns: both single
and double-barrel. The classic Civil War "cap and ball" revolvers: Colt's Model 1853 .36 Navy, Colt's Model 1860 .44 Army,
and Remington's Model 1861 and later 1863 .44 Army revolver, would have been present. Soldiers and civilians survived
these hardships anyway they could. It was a hard arduous life for both.
Jim Farmer
Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County)
I really like the Spencer carbine. Hopefully I'll be able to add one to my lever collection. Thank you Mike. Great video.
Always a joy to watch your series Mike, a big thank you from Australia.
Wow! Excellent video. I'm glad I have never been on the receiving end of a Spencer rifle.
Thanks MB. Loved the "over the saddle" section. Glad you kept your scalp :)
Great Video, Mike...
This Spencer, and lots of other guns in videos are on loan to me by the companies that make or import them. It is called T&E (Test & Evaluate) for magazine articles. After I write about them, photograph and video them, I return them.
Such an interesting firearm. Whenever I watch World War One history stuff I can't help but notice I'd much rather have something like this or an 1886 lever gun than any of those super long five shot bolt guns. The Spencer looks like an excellent trench gun. And the mag tubes look light for a long march.
Mike, when I first saw this video a few years ago, you made me want to have this pretty little rifle, a piece of US history. Today, I finally have one. As we say here, everything comes at the right time to wait...
Incredible technology for it's time and a darn good rifle even today. Keeps ammunition protected from dust, mud, dirt, ice, rain, snow.🙂🙂👍👍👍
Wonderful video!
And..great carbine.
Greetings from Italy.
Andrea
Hi Mike, great video thank you for your time and effort doing these videos. Best regards!Fred
I'm glad to see some Spencer replicas finally being made. Unfortunately $1600 is a bit out of my price range so I'll have to wait till either they get cheaper, or I find a decent used one. But still, it's a good sign that the Italians are starting to bring out replicas of these neat old firearms.
Didn't know much about the Spencer rifle. Thanks for the interesting video.
I just recieved one of these last week in 45 Schofield of all things. Which is perfectly fine by me and I've got 3 uberti conversions and army open tops chambered in that as well.
I don't know why but I find this rifle to be extremely attractive.
They are that. Also quite heavy for its size.
The top brass had their heads up their ass. The head of the Ordnance board even admitted in writing that the troops in the field preferred the Spencer. He disallowed it from the 1873 competition because it couldn't chamber the 50-70 and then the .45-70 cartridge. But the eventual 1873 Trapdoor carbine load was a 405-grain bullet over 55-grains of musket grade black powder. The Spencer had a civillian cartridge that used a .44 caliber 375-grain bullet over .45 grains of powder
I just subscribed to your channel because I love the history on old guns and want to learn more. I didn't know the spencer offered 3 different calibers, you learn something new every day. I didn't know the 44-40 was a rim fired cartridge. Thanks for the knowledge my friend!
.44-40 is centerfire. The original cartridge for the Spencer was rimfire.
Not certain if you know about this fix for a lighter trigger pull on Sharps and Spencers. Take the butt stock off the gun and separate the mainspring from the firing mechanism and carefully remove metal from the spring to thin the spring down. I used a Dremel Tool with a sanding drum to do this and dipped it in water to cool it off as I took metal off to prevent losing the temper. I also dried off the spring, reinstalled it in the firing mechanism to check the trigger pull. When I got it where I wanted it, I put it back together and tried to pop a cap to insure I still had enough powder to set off a primer. Now I have something that will shoot well.
At 8:50 my favorite part !.
The stress factor is wel portrayed al is missing are the attacking natives screams !.
Very cool Mike. Gotta get me one of those.
Thank you...
Mike, you're right. The trigger pu;; is horrendous. I have one and took the main spring out and ground it down lengthwise until the trigger pull was about 4 pounds and would set off a CCI large rifle primer in an empty casing. Now I can shoot it without straining. Mine's in .56/.50 CF.
Thanks Mike, I've learned a lot from you videos.
Cool. Great shooting. Beautiful rifle.
I read about them in J T Edson's Western series. One of his heroes, Red Blaze, carried a Spencer carbine long after they became obsolete.
It looks quite effective, although the separate hammer cocking means it wouldn't match the firing rate of the Henry/Winchester. It was probably a bit more robust though.
Hundreds of years from now, archaeologists excavating the duelist den would surmise that a major battle took place there.
That is a sweet rifle. I knew you weren't using the old rare rim fire rounds of the original.
45 Colt seems a better choice if you have to pay for a box. Great Video.
“Here they come!” LOL. That’s fun playing. And it hanged up on you a little while you were “under fire” and worked smooth when practicing.
Nice review of a classic.
Always a good show... thanx!
extraordinario. Es la primera vez que veo disparar uno autèntico!
Mike I always enjoy your reviews on weapons. This one, the sharps carbine, has a special place in my heart. My great great grandfather,Bob Pitts, rode with McNelly for several years,from 1875 to 1879?. I am going to get one along with the colt revolver that he carried. I don't know what model the colt was, but I will find out. Keep up the fine work
My understanding is that most of McNelly’s crew had Zcolt Navy revolvers.
Another great video Mike. Keep um coming.
An incredible rifle for it's time. The tube was far more weather resitant than the Henry tubular system of the time. Compared to the muzzel loaders of the time, it was state of the art way in the future. Add the already magazines already loaded in the extra tubes carried in the box demonstrated here and "Wow"!
Always good to hear the N-SSA mentioned...
I saw one in a shop today, looks perfect, chambered in .45 Schofield. I just happen to have a box of that, I pick up stuff like that when it appears. I put my name on it, I'll go back in a few days with some trades and get it.
A 10 pound trigger sounds pretty heavy let alone 20 pound.
Hi
Thank you Mike. Great video, no BS. One question I would have is the cleaning technique for this beautiful weapon. I am going to subscribe to your channel right now.
Mike, your Armi Sports Spencer works much better than the, other Spencer's repos that I have seen.
I bet that was one cool looking carbine back in the day. It still is.
The original Spencers were .52 caliber. They fired 375 grn. bullets with 45 grs. black powder. If I bought one, mine would be the .50 cal. that they are now making. It's closer to the original caliber. I have several guns of the old west, and I like them in the original caliber. I also load them with my own black powder hand loads duplicating the original load as closely as possible. In my opinion, that's the whole point of owning these replicas. To get as close to experiencing the old guns just as they were. I know the replicas are centerfire, but at least the .50 cal. is closer to the original bore size. If I could afford to shell out the bucks for one, spending a little more for dies & brass wouldn't be a problem. I already own a 44-40 (win.'73) so mine would be a .50 cal. But that's just me. Nothing wrong with yours. Nice video!
I read a journal of a guy who said somebody in his Company was seriously injured when the magazine of his Spencer exploded.
Offhand, with a 20 pound trigger pull. I'd rate your shooting as excellent! Because the Spencer does not hold 10 rounds we don't see them often in CAS matches so your video was a treat.
The blakesly reload box also came with a 9 and 13 tube box ...fully loaded the 13 tube box out weight the big spence . .
Always educational and fun. Thanks Mike.
Hi, Friends, I'm french, but I speak Italian too, and when you have : "ch" at the biginning of
a word, you must say : K ( iappa )
e cosi !!!! ciao Tutti !!!
We speak ENGLISH here in the states.
@@swampfox5329 and there are still correct ways to pronounce words from other languages, dumbass.
hey ciao lol
Would the Spencer be known as the first bullpup?
No it's not only the ammunition is behind the trigger.
The first gun to be referred to by that name was the Nambu Test Type I submachine gun, a field-tested prototype with an experimental grip magazine and predecessor of the more well-known Type 100. Supposedly, one was captured by American forces in the Marianas, leading one serviceman to comment that such a thing had to be "as rare as bull's pups."
No. The action would have to be behind the trigger.
Excellent review Mike!
Outstanding .
I had to come back to this video as I just watched the "3:10 to Yuma" remake and "The Unforgiven" back to back....If those two movies and this video don't light your fire for a Spencer carbine nothin' will.
I noticed your front sight is high. I have an Uberti that is the same way.i have to hold with the top half of the front sight sticking above the rear notch. Mine also had an atrocious trigger pull, the likes of which I’ve never seen on any other gun I’ve ever fired. The gunsmith worked on the trigger pull, and got it down to acceptable pounds. Don’t know what to do about the front sight.
Mike, I always thought it would be cool (and period correct) to use a Spencer In Cowboy Action Shooting. However, for CAS main match, you need a ten-shot rifle. I guess you could use a Spencer, but your times would suffer. Are those reload tubes currently available?
They should be. Check with Taylor's
Is it possible to work the lever, then the hammer?
Is there any kind of safety, or half cock notch?
Is the 56-50 version exempt from the NFA?
It looks to be a fun time shooting! Curious as to what size modern shell is comparable to the .44-40. It looks to be a .44Spl size. Always a fan of the 'Evil Roy' view...I am glad though, that the camera 'guy' comes out unscathed...lol
Do you find this to be as accurate as the Winchester ‘73? Proposing same barrel lengths and approximate trigger pulls. Thanks.
Pretty much the same
Thank- you
Arma muito bacana. Legal. Gostei. Quantos tiros?
I've got one in .45 Schofield. I really like it, but there is an issue: if I load 3 or more rounds in the magazine, the weapon will not cycle-at all unless I depress the loadgate spring manually. 1 or 2 work fine. I've tried two different types of ammo and replaced the magazine spring and follower- same issue. Is there something I'm missing before I send it to Taylor?
I also bought the .44-40 for the same reason you did. Like you said the trigger pull makes accurancy very difficult.. I was also very disappointed to find that .429 as cast bullets that shoot with amazing accurancy in all my Uberti lever guns, would not chamber in my Spencer. I had to size them to .427, so I cannot use cartridges interchangeably, which is why I bought the Spencer in the first place. I had to send it back to Taylors for repair due to jamming. I wish Uberti had manufactured and marketed this carbine and rifle to their high quality standards of functionality instead of Armi-Sport. It has become a safe queen for me due to it's inferiority of function. I wish I had bought an original and converted it to centerfire.
I'm late to the video. But I have an original 1865 Spencer that was found in a wall with a cavalry officer sword and I honestly am just getting into knowledge of these and want to know what caliber and about how much it is it worth. Any information is appreciated
Nice. An old gun and a old car in one video, Pierce-Arrow!
Buffalo Bore produces a 45 Colt round with 325grn charge. Is that too much for this weapon? Typical Cowboy loads appear to be 200 to 250. In you opinion, what is a max load for the Spencer Carbine chambered for 45 Long Colt?
I have the full length rifle version of the Chiappa Spencer.
They are a Honey to shoot.
And the Blakesley box isnt too hard to cobble togther with a small olive oil time and hollow alluminium tubes.
I really like that Spencer. I have some original rimfire cartridges for the Spencer.
I really enjoyed that Mike! I was hoping that you would be using a .56-50, but the video was still very nice. After a quick internet search for centerfire .56-50 ammo, and seeing they get $3 a round for it, I understand reviewing one in .44-40!
Really neat. You said they carry tubes to refill the removable magazine, right? It would make more sense to carry extra pre-loaded magazines.
PRICE ???
What was the trouble with ejection near the end of the video?
I love the 1870 Spencer. Did it have an elevation sight for long range snipers? What was the farthest shot capability?
It is easy to notice that your latter shot was lower and to the left, was that the shooter or the fact of black powder fouling the bore?
I know you did this video 10+ years ago. But I just today received one of the Spencer carbines in Colt's 45 center fire caliber. I'm wondering if you're weapon had difficulty when new.
It was fine.
I had no idea Spencers used Sharps compatible parts. I've wanted a Spencer ever since I watched Unforgiven. Too bad about the trigger pull. Any plans to rectify that?
It is possible to load Spencer carbine by one cartridge directly into the chamber?
More excellent information. Back in the 1870's what would you say the maximum effective range of this weapon would be against human targets in the hands of a natural marksman who often performs long range shots with a custom sharps? Also, could this weapon be fitted with a telescopic sight? Thanks.
I'd say no more than 300 yards. It might be possible to put a barrel mounted sight on it. But it is a fairly light barrel.
Thanks so much for the information. You've been very helpful on my project.
Wow!.... That sure does look like a heck of a lot of fun!.... I only own one firearm chambered in 44-40, and it is an Origional Model 1878 Double Action Colt...
What I don't like is those bottle necked 44 Winchester Cases are in my opinion a son of a b*tch to reload as far seating the bullet and getting that daggone crimp correct..... Makes me CRAZY!....
I tend to shy away from anything "44-40" anymore, which stinks because it's a fantastic cartridge.... GREAT VIDEO!
Mr. Beliveau. Could a Spencer chambered for .45 Long Colt also fire .45 Shofield like the revolvers can. Thank you.
I haven't tried it, so I don't know if the larger rims on the Scho will fit on the carrier.
Has there ever been a documented case of setting off a round accidentally when loading the Spencer rifle? It makes me kind of nervous to see rounds just dropped into the tube nose first where the point can make contact with the primer of the previous round.
I read a report of a Winchester that had a round like this blow but the guy was in the habit of shooting a round and replacing it so the rounds in the gun had been banging against the rounds in front for yrs or even decades and eventually may have reshaped enough to set off a primer. If you are worried I'd say use hollow points or FMJs. I'd also suggest you empty the tube occasionally.
Many distributors will warn you about using round-nosed bullets and will make the claim that using such WILL set off a chain-fire. I'm a Civil War re-enactor, and I have several friends who use their Spencer carbines for both the "battlefield" and hunting. Interestingly enough, neither has ever had a chain-fire.
THAT SAID, it is NOT wise to simply DROP the rounds into the buttstock in any case. To PROPERLY load the Spencer, you need to hold the rifle as close to level as humanly possible and slide the rounds in, then insert the follower. S&S Firearms carries nose-recessed followers for the Spencer, as well as modern centerfire blocks. Using both will make your Spencer leaps and bounds safer than any original.
Why did the Henry Rile thereafter Winchester, then Browning repeater do so much better than the Spenser? When was it actually patented? Was it that you had to cock the rifle? Or was it the limited and very expensive loading system that you had to have with it? What was the cost of that leather part?
There are a several reasons. I think the Henry/Winchester was considered easier to load and shoot, but, more important was the huge number of Spencers sold on the surplus arms market after the war. The Spencer company unable to sell many guns when they were so plentiful and cheap on the surplus market. Ultimately that forced them to sell the company to Oliver Winchester.
Thank you very much for that information. I did not know the Company was sold to Winchester either. Always wanted a "Winchester 1866" with the forearm grip and breach loading gate, but something tells me I should buy a John Browning version like the 1892, but my target shooting days are long over so I sold all my modern rifles AK-47, AR-15 and plan to sell the Kimber .40 and a single action Ruger Revolver 22 - but will keep the tiny Bauer .25 because it's so beautiful with it's pearl grips and miniature size. Retired lawyer interested in history - I will never understand though why the learned Generals at the time did not realize the accuracy of a rifled long arm and change their smoothbore tactics once they saw the carnage? No historian explains it really that I've found.
Another great video!
Hi Mike, why did the US Cavalry switch to the single shot Trapdoor Carbine rather than continuing to use the Spencer repeating carbines? Seems like rapid fire would have been preferable during the later years of the Indian wars. Did the Army prefer the higher powered 45-70 round? Or was rapid fire considered wasteful as I have read?
They wanted more power instead of a repeating rifle. Well battle of Little Bighorn Custer had a 45-70 and the Indians had a repeating rifles and we all know what happened there…
It was considered wasteful, and I'm sure cost factored in as well.
Weird how maker didn't see obvious load lever do cocking to as in Winchester/Henry ,seems so obvious add lever to do hammer cocking to retracting breech.
great vid!
Stupid question, which had more stopping power? the .56 Spencer or the .44-40 out of a Winchester 1873?
THe Spencer round. It fired a 350-grain Bullet at 1,200 feet per wecond. The .44-40 shoots a 200 grain bullet at about the same velocity.
Thanks for the info! I was watching the remake of "3:10 to Yuma" and I liked the fact that Dan Evans had a Spencer, and I thought to myself if I had to pick between a 1873 Winchester and a Spencer, based just on stopping power, which one I'd carry. Great videos I enjoy them!
My mistake. I never considered that dies were still available for the .44-40...duh...
Thanks for clearing that up!
Could watch that Spencer shoot all day.
been thinking about buying one, not sure if i should get the chiappa or the cimmarron. i keep reading that the cimmarron is good for about 20-50 rounds and then the hammer isnt any good any more. anyone have any input?
They are all made by Armi Sport, which is Chiappa
@@duelist1954 so they all will have that hammer problem? I hope the parts can be easily replaced. Thank you for the reply
@@drunkenirishmstr I am not aware of any hammer problems. I had a carbine and a rifle for test and evaluation. I shot several hundred rounds through each of them, and I experienced no problems with the hammer.
@@duelist1954 good to know. I’m trying to decide wether or not to buy the rifled or carbine version of the Spencer weapon system. I am trying to get into civil war reenacting, I would like to join the 6th Michigan cavalry and partake in the east cavalry field engagements at the battle of Gettysburg (the 6th carried the Spencer rifle). I am aware that the carbine version was not fully deployed by the cavalry units until later on in the war. The only units that did carry the Spencer carbine early on were the cavalry troopers that escorted Lincoln around DC, as well as the Pinkerton guard. I do know that the 7th cavalry carried the Spencer beyond the civil war and into the early 1870’s. But was later phased out and replaced with the Springfield trapdoor carbine (Marcus Reno and General Terry believed that the trapdoor would force the troopers to not waste ammunition ). The Springfield trapdoor carbine is also another weapon I may purchase and use for when I do a ride with the 7th
was the rimfire loading used in the original firearms) out there on the market?
Tom Smestead no, just the centerfire version. however you can buy a new falling block that's will forever the centerfire ones in a original spencer, but you need to either load or buy black powder cartridges
can this be loaded one round at a time through the breach ?
Shooting like a Boss.
One question: Is 56/5O caliber factory ammunition (which I believe
Great video! But I wish you had ended with a summary of your impressions of the Spencer repo.
Mr. Beliveau, I really like this carbine. I have ordered two, from separate distributors. Each had the same fault, the rear sight is canted toward the left. They were both returned. Is this something you have seen on these replicas?
Rodney Cooper Never seen it. Over the years I've had three of the Armi Sport guns on T&E, never saw a canted rear sight
duelist1954 Thanks for the reply. The second gun isn't as bad as the first, had to look close to see it. After the first one we did look close. It may not make any difference as long as the flip up sight isn't used. I thought the second rifle had been returned but found out my FFL is still waiting on a call back from the distributor. This is really a nice looking rifle.
Is it possible to work the lever without cocking it? If I wanted to be combat ready, I certainly don't want to walk or ride around with a cocked hammer.
There is a extra power full caliber spencer like 454 or 500 magnum ?
Sorry, but no.
@@duelist1954 where i find the schematichs diagrams gunsmithguides all is needed to build mine ?
Not officially, no. But intrinsically, yes, I'd agree that it could be considered the first " bullpup"., High power, long range, ease of reloading/repeating. And rather short, simple and to-the-point. Sounds like the bullpup definition to me!? And I'm thinking of copying many of the parts and building one as a .25cal nitro piston gas ram pellet gun. Say, about 870FPS? Shrouded barrel from the Benji Trail NPXL725?