310 to Yuma Rifle - What Is It?

[BowVista]

While I'm on my gun ID kick, I have a question for the guru's.
What kind of rifle is it that Dan Evans (Christian Bale) carries on 310 to Yuma.

This one....

[Solocam]

Spencer 1860 carbine

[Cajun Blake]

Spencer 1860 carbine

good eye solocam


that would be a Spencer 1860 carbine , likely chambered in a 56-56

they can still be found today and purchased thru various collectors and gun sites. They usually bring $3000 to $5000 depending upon cond.

here is some history:

1860 - Spencer repeating carbine patented. Introduced at the start of the Civil War, Spencer repeating guns were technically advanced, used cartridges (a recent development), and could fire 7 shots in 15 seconds. But the Army didn't want a repeating gun, fearing that soldiers would fire more often, constantly need fresh ammunition, and overtax the supply system. But in 1863, President Lincoln test-fired a Spencer. His approval led to the purchase of 107,372 Spencer repeating carbines and rifles (of 144,500 made), and the Spencer became the principal repeating gun of the Civil War.

Spencer rifles contributed substantially to the ultimate success of the Union. The weapon used an all metallic cartridge with a built in primer, by itself a great advancement. Additionally, the magazine on the Spencers allowed soldiers rapid fire by means of moving a lever and cocking the trigger. This allowed Northern troops to fire about 14 rounds per minute to the 3 rounds per minute allowed by a muzzle-loader. The South was unable to use any captured Spencers due to the lack of available ammunition. About 200,000 Spencer rifles and carbines were sold to the Federals during the course of the war but a large quantity of those never saw service (Burnsides and Model 1865 Spencers, roughly 60,000 of which were produced in 1865 and never saw action.) There were two types of Spencer Rifles, Model Spencer Carbine1860 Navy (about 1000 produced in 1862 and the Model 1860 Army (1862-1864).

[BowVista]

Freakin' awesome!!! Thanks guys.

There's actually one for sale on gunbroker that has tally marks on the barrel. How stinking cool is that?

[sailor]

Thanks for the info.
The braintrust strikes again

[Raleigh]

Great thread and follow up info thanks

[Chad C]

Wow, that is awesome guys good eye! That would deffinatly be an awesome addition to any collection!

[Russ81]

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/Spencer.htm#

reproductions here

the one I want in .45 LC (instead of college ring )

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/RepeatingRifles/Henry.htm

[Bonesplitter]

Wow thats pretty neat. Makes you really wonder about the marks and if one could only speak