3242

J. Miller Period Custom Spencer Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:2,250.00 - 3,500.00 USD
J. Miller Period Custom Spencer Rifle
This is an example of a J. Miller marked custom Spencer rifle that was made in the years following the Civil War. The rifle has a heavy octagon barrel with under-lug and two ramrod pipes. The barrel is fitted with a nickel-silver front sight blade in a dovetail at the muzzle and a fixed, buckhorn rear sight in a dovetail five inches in front of the receiver. The barrel has a brown finish and is stamped: "J. MILLER" diagonally between the rear sight and the receiver. The carbine sling bar and ring have been removed from the left side of the receiver. The rifle is fitted with double set-triggers. The rifle has a wedge-fastened forearm with a nickel-silver tip and nickel-silver wedge escutcheons. The original carbine stock has the original sling swivel removed and a "B" carved in the left side. Both the stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The rifle is fitted with a hickory cleaning rod with an iron tip. The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS./PAT'D. MARCH 6. 1860.". The serial number, "4132" is located on the top of the frame.
BBL: 31 1/2 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 52 Spencer
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 4132


Very good. The rifle retains traces of the blue and casehardened finish. The octagon barrel has a dark patina with scattered pitting; the barrel edges are sharp and the maker's marking is clear. The bore is in good condition. The receiver, hammer and other casehardened components have a sliver-brown patina with scattered pitting. The varnish finish on the stock and forearm has crazed and cracked; the overall condition of the stock and forearms is good. This is an attractive example of a custom gunsmith made Spencer heavy octagon barrel rifle from the Old West.