The Spencer was the primary repeating carbine and rifle of the Civil War. Most were issued in carbine form for the cavalry although rifles were also made for the infantry. Of the 144,500 Spencers made, 107,372 were acquired by the Federal Government during the war. It became the most popular of the carbines for cavalry use by the Union Army,and was widely used in the west after the Civil War. The Spencer is a seven shot repeater loaded through the stockat the back end. Operating the Spencer required both working the lever to load a fresh cartridge and separatelycocking the hammer. An experienced man could shoot all seven shots in about fifteen seconds. The Confederates couldnot use captured Spencers after the supply of captured cartridge ammunition was used up, as it could not be loadedand fired with separate powder, percussion cap, and bullet.

The Spencer Carbine was the most advanced shoulder fired longarm of its day. In action, the firepower could be devastating. But only so long as there was more ammunition close at hand. The gunsmoke from firing blackpowder in the single shot muzzle loaders was a serious problem in battle. The dense cloud of smoke could make the enemy impossible to shoot at accurately, or even to see what they were doing. A line of Spencers in rapid fire was far worse. View our catalog of collectible firearms and antique guns.