3069

Very Rare Belgian Spencer Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Very Rare Belgian Spencer Carbine
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The Spencer Repeating rifles and carbines were popular with French Troops during 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. When Spencer stopped making firearms in 1868 and these repeaters were a combination of left over stock and U.S. government surplus that was purchased at auction. Shipping records show that thousands of Spencer firearms and millions of rounds of ammunition were shipped to Europe. The Spencer was so popular that the private manufacturer Falisse & Trappman of Liege, Belgium manufactured copies in 1873. The company produced less than 1,000 carbines in 1873 and very few a known to have made it back to the U.S. It is unknown whether the carbines were produced for military use or private sales. This is one such Belgium made copy and features a fixed front and folding ladder rear sights, saddle ring and bar on the left side of the stock wrist and is mounted with a smooth forearm secured by a single barrel band and straight grip stock with a sling swivel. The left rear side of the barrel is marked with Liege proof and the left side of the receiver is marked with a "crown/circled A" proofmark, the saddle ring bar plate with a "crown/circled "B" and the right side of the stock with a "crown/circled "I". The top of the receiver is marked "UNION ARMORIERE BELGE / LIEGE". The left side of the upper and lower breech block are correctly marked with the matching serial number, (receivers on these Belgium copies were not numbered). The right side of the stock is stamped with the makers double circle mark "FALISSE & TRAPPMAN / LIEGE" and "1873" in the center. The forearm directly ahead of the receiver is stamped "121" and the barrel band is marked "2272".
BBL: 20 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 2272
Condition: Very good. The barrel has a smooth brownish gray patina with a small area of minor pitting ahead of the forearm on the right side. The receiver and lever have a smooth dark patina with some minor spotting on the lever, and the lock and hammer have a smooth mottled gray patina. There is some minor pitting on the outer edge of the buttplate. The wood is fair with numerous minor gouges and dents. The markings are clear. Mechanically excellent. A solid example of a seldom encountered Belgium Spencer carbine.