This is a highly desirable example of a San Francisco gunsmith's custom modified Civil War Spencer Carbine to a heavy barrel hunting rifle. The top of the barrel is stamped with the gun-maker's name and address: "A. J. PLATE SAN FRANCISCO CAL". The rifle has a heavy full-octagon barrel with dovetailed brass blade front sight and sporting style rear sight. The barrel has a brown finish and an iron ramrod thimble that supports a wooden cleaning rod with brass tip. The key-fastened walnut forearm has oval nickel-silver escutcheons and a pewter tip. The rifle has a straight grip stock with sling bar base. The receiver, hammer, loading lever and buttplate were casehardened. The top of the receiver is marked "MODEL / 1865" and "SPENCER REPEATING RIFLE / PAT'D MARCH 6 1860 / MANUF'D AT PROV. R.I. / BY BURNSIDE RIFLE Co.". The serial number is located on the receiver tang. Double set triggers. Several western gunsmiths converted surplus Spencer rifles and carbines to civilian sporting arms. An A.J. Plate heavy barrel Spencer Carbine conversion is illustrated on page 149 of "SPENCER REPEATING FIREARMS" by Roy M. Marcot.

Good. The barrel has a smooth plum brown patina and the remaining metal surfaces have a dark patina with some scattered minor pitting. The wood is good overall as freshened with several moderate gouges on the forearm, a couple of minor cracks on the left side of the stock, a few minor gouges on the bottom and scattered minor dings and dents. The sling swivel has been removed and wood pieced in. The hammer does not hold a cock position. The markings are legible. A solid A.J. Plate conversion of a Spencer Civil War Carbine to a heavy barrel sporting rifle.