CARBINE. Cal. 52 (56-52), S# 60046. Standard configuration, 22" barrel, marked on receiver top flat "SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS / PAT'D MARCH 6 1860". This is a nice honest compete survivor of the most popular Civil War used carbine. Over 90,000 were purchased by the government. The Spencer was the first repeater rugged enough for military service. So formidable was its rapid fire that it was named the "horizontal shot tower" by the Confederates. The heavy casualties at Chickamauga inflicted by the Spencer rifles of Wilder's brigade proved the value of the repeater in war. The many battlefield captured Spencer's by Confederates could only be used until captured cartridges ran out. Copper was scarce in the South & 100 percussion caps could be made from the metal required for one Spencer cartridge. Cavalry units from Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio & Massachusetts were equipped with Spencer carbines. CONDITION: very good overall, complete & matching. Makers mark is likely struck. Metal is overall gray/plum w/ scattered areas of staining & pitting. Stocks are sound & fit well. Mechanically fine, crisp rifled bore. (01-25211/JS). $2,000-3,000.