Spencer patented his rifle on March 6, 1860. Featuring a rotating block and tubular magazine in the butt, the gun was a snap to use. The shooter simply dropped a number of cartridges, nose-first ...

52-cal. M1860 Spencer carbine was the most advanced carbine in service during the American Civil War. United States Patent No. 27,393, dated March 6, 1860, was granted to Christopher M.

An offshoot of earlier prototypes, the Henry and Spencer lever-actions were the first successful, widely produced repeater rifles — and were used by some U.S. Army units as early as 1860.