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09-24-2021, 04:10 PM
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"Barn" Find...Part 2, Civil War Spencer, FN Herstal, & bayonets
As you may know from reading my "barn finds" thread of yesterday, I'm trying to help a non-gun best bud friend of my older son in identifying, assessing condition mechanically and cosmetically of some old guns left to him when his father passed away many years ago. The young man had just stashed everything in his attic and just now got around to thinking he should a: know something about them and b: try to get a reasonable estimate of their value.
So...last night he found more in the attic and snapped a couple cell phone pics so I could get started on research.
1. Civil War Spencer Carbine. Has a low serial number (15082) and seems to be part of the original government contract of July 13, 1863 where the government ordered some 90,000, of which 65000 came from the Boston Mass factory where this one is stamped. Patent date on carbine is March 6, 1860. Should be caliber .52 but I'll have to wait to have it in person before much more details.
2. FN Herstal "battle rifle". can't glean much from the pic sent to me but serial number is 5765. I don't know which of the many variants this one is and like above will need to research in person with bbl length, sights, cartouche(s) etc.
3. Some appear German bayonets w/scabbards. Other than one marked Waffenfabrik Neuhausen no details yet.
Anyway.........as said in other post....I will greatly appreciate any comments, knowledge, research recommendations any of you can make.
With this latest guns and stuff along with those from yesterday's post, this young man may be sitting on some respectable dollars if he will wish to sell (probably not..they were his dad's) and I'd like to be able to advise him properly.
So...sit back...enjoy some old treasure eye candy, and I've already asked him to check his garage to see if he just might have a 1964 Shelby Cobra in either 289, or 427....I'm not particular....I'll take either.
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SWCA#3083, SWHF#570
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09-24-2021, 04:23 PM
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The FN "battle rifle" appears to be what I recall as the model 49/1949. They were made in .30-06, 8 x 57 mm and possibly/probably other calibers. It was a bridge item until the creation of the FN-FAL and was quite popular at one time. I still regret not buying the one I tested back in the late 1960s.
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09-24-2021, 04:57 PM
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The Spencer looks very good. One in my museum is not nearly as good.
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Heavily armed old man.
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09-24-2021, 05:18 PM
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A buddy of mine had Spencer that was his Dads. Unfortunately he fell on hard times and sold it off without telling me.
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09-24-2021, 05:29 PM
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Very interesting to see what others have collected over time.
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09-24-2021, 05:43 PM
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I think we should all go hide some stuff in the attic for our grandchillen to find in 50 years. A great thread.
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09-24-2021, 05:51 PM
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I was just looking at some of those FNs on the big site the ther day and they’re $1500 and on up, way up.
That Spenser is really nice. I would love a civil war gun like that.
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09-24-2021, 06:18 PM
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Your top bayonet is the bayonet for the FN49.
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09-24-2021, 09:40 PM
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One of my grail guns is a FH49 in 7 x 57.
Ivan
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09-24-2021, 11:08 PM
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I'd venture that the FN-49 is a Belgian or Luxembourg rifle in 30-06 based on the crossbolt in the stock. AFAIK the 7mm and 8mm Mauser variants did not use a crossbolt. My Egyptian definitely does not have one. The NRA did a short piece on these rifles.
FN-49: The Last Old-School Battle Rifle | An Official Journal Of The NRA
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09-25-2021, 10:32 AM
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I've always thought the Spencer was a neat gun. I remember as a teen working downtown I'd stop in the "Richmond Gun Shop" (I think that was the name.) on Main street, right in the middle of the business district and just stare at the rack. I was always afraid to speak up or ask a question.
One time there right in the middle of the rack was a Spencer Carbine. It was like seeing something I knew didn't really exist. OH MAN! A REAL Civil War gun. I'd dug a few (never a Spencer) out of the ground around home, but they were just hunks of rust that sort of looked like a gun. But here was one in the flesh. I think it was for sale, but I didn't dare ask.
That old gun shop is long gone of course, but back then it was not at all unusual to see a man in a business suit, carrying a shotgun or rifle up main street to drop it off for repair or having picked one up and heading home.
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09-25-2021, 10:47 AM
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Great finds!!! You are so lucky!!
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09-25-2021, 10:51 AM
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Spencer = drool, drool, drool..... someday, maybe?
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09-25-2021, 01:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shark Bait
Spencer = drool, drool, drool..... someday, maybe?
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During the Darnell collection sell-off, there was a Spencer that got two major collectors very excited and a big bidding war broke out. The rest of us amateurs sat back and watched the entertainment. IIRC it made about $4k.
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09-25-2021, 02:12 PM
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Many years ago I had an FN 49 in 7X57 MM. Easy shooting rifle in 7 MM, liked it a lot.
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09-25-2021, 02:22 PM
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I suspect your friend's son will sell them, so mention to him early on that you can help him with that before he does something cringe worthy.
Given he didn't know the father had them and just found them, the father knew the kid wasn't into guns. He'll sell, so get in front of it.
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09-25-2021, 02:40 PM
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An well advertised auction site (probably in Pa.) for the Spencer?
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09-25-2021, 03:35 PM
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This one was found in a garage being torn down, but that was a thousand dollars ago.
photo (180).JPG
photo (186).JPG
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09-25-2021, 04:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis g
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Things are where you find them. This was found in a basement on Long Island. Colt SAA .45 1890
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09-25-2021, 06:59 PM
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I can't tell from the picture but hopefully your FN49 is the model without the selector switch.
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09-25-2021, 09:50 PM
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What crest is on the FN-49. I was at a gun shop today and someone brought in a FN-49 in 7mm with a scope and mount and bayonet. I believe thay were manufactured in 7.65 Argentine, 06, 7mm , 8 mm and some were converted to 7.62 nato by Argentina
Last edited by bummer; 09-25-2021 at 10:01 PM.
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