JOHNNY WACKO

After i reread the thred it sounded gay so i pulled it befors anyone made jokes

Bountyhunter

Johnny, I think the best plan you can make, is to plan on not making anymore plans.

Et2ss

Missed this one totally.

Johnny, you thinking on a Spencer repro?

JOHNNY WACKO

My doctor has 1 he inherited from a great great grand dad.And needed some loading info.But i would love to have one...

Machinist

Johnny,
I think the original Spencers were rimfire. There are conversions and/or reproductions for centerfire cartridges now.

JOHNNY WACKO

I thought that 2 but it has the built in priner star thingy that feeds ??? Priners is my guess..Thats why i need to get help..Maybe some were black powder Mac??

Machinist

They were all black powder but I never heard of a primer feed. Was it a tape primer or cups. Sounds interesting. The Maynard was a lever opening breech loader and used cartridges with a separate primer feed. It was a single shot. Is he sure it's a Spencer?

I'm out of my field here.

Machinist

I find nothing on Spencers but rimfire and later centerfire conversions.

The Maynard used cartridges with a hole in the back and the primer flame from the tape feed (I think) was guided through the hole. Gunrunner is very knowledgeable about these if that is what he has. I am thinking it is not a Spencer. I think a few Sharpe's rifles may have used a tape primer as well. Before they used centerfire metal cartridges they used a paper cartridge. The back was sheared off by the rising breech block exposing the powder and a percussion cap was used for ignition. I seem to recall reading of a tape primer used on some but I am not sure.

Have you seen it, Johnny?

JOHNNY WACKO

on wild west tec they had a Spencer with the priner feed over a star gear set up.Would that be for the bullet + powder rapped in paper???I have seen those loads in pictures mac.

Machinist

Johnny,
I have never heard of a Spencer using paper cartridges and I don't see how they would cycle through the tubular magazine and action. If it was for a Spencer I would think it might be for flash hole cartridge cases like the Maynard's rather than paper cartridges. The Spencer was designed from the outset for rimfire metallic cartridges. I'm not saying it was not done but I have never read anything like it.

The South captured some Spencer rifles and ammo but they could not make rimfire ammo for them. Perhaps they adapted the Maynard system to some? Just guessing at possibilities.

Machinist

Paper cartridges had to be opened to expose the powder. These were used for muzzleloaders and for the Sharp falling block that cut open the back. I don't know what others.

JOHNNY WACKO

Ive read everything i could on G/B and only see R/F also?????????

Et2ss

I have one that belonged to my Wife's Great, Great Grandfather. It is an 1860 carbine chambered in 56-56 rimfire. I know the cf conversion breach blocks are available but why mess with an antique like that

JOHNNY WACKO

I agree ET that is a beauty..Thanks for the picture...

Bountyhunter

If that gun could talk! Beautiful piece of American history.

Machinist

It would probably shout, "Get away from me with that damned hacksaw!!"

JOHNNY WACKO

44s Rock

Damn Johnny, I was going to have you call my son, he speakes Spencer quite well. In fact he translates for me quite a bit since his Spencer is only 4 years old, then you brought up the guns and I know absolutely nothing about those.

Et2ss

Forgot I had researched this before. This carbine was issued in late 1864 to Company E of the 19th NY Volunteer Cavalry. So it saw service in the War of Northern Aggression. How it ended up in the family is still a mystery. Maybe surplussed post CW?

44s Rock

Always interesting to know the history!