bedbugbilly
New member
My g-g-grandfather carried a Spencer carbine and a Remington revolver during the Civil War from what records I can find (11th Mich. Cavalry). Many years ago, I had the opportunity to examine a original Spencer carbine as well as a Blakeslee" cartridge box which held the tubular magazines. But, as I say, it's been many MANY years ago and I don't know if I ever understood what I'm going to ask about.
I know that originally, they were chambered in.56-.56 rimfire and that the magazine held 7 cartridges when loaded fully. The magazine could be removed from the butt stock when empty and reloaded - the Blakeslee cartridge box allowed the individual to carry a quantity of loaded magazine tubes for a quick change out.
So, my question is this . . . . if I remember correctly, the tubular magazine is spring loaded - much like a modern .22 tube magazine. Obviously, the cartridges were loaded in the tube with the slug pointing up towards the opening - my question is "What held them in the tube?". In other words, the spring would compress as the cartridges were loaded in so there would be pressure on them to advance as rounds were fired - but if the tube was loaded manually or if spares were preloaded and carried in the Blakeslee, how did it work so that the cartridges just wouldn't "zing" out of the tube? Was there something at the opening of the tubular magazine that retained the cartridges in the tube until loaded in the carbine/rifle that would then be pushed aside to allow the cartridges to advance?
Or, do I have a misunderstanding on how this magazine tube worked /functioned?
Many thanks - just got to thinking about that today and I wasn't able to come up with an answer. I'm hoping someone with experience/knowledge of original Spencers can answer this.
I know that originally, they were chambered in.56-.56 rimfire and that the magazine held 7 cartridges when loaded fully. The magazine could be removed from the butt stock when empty and reloaded - the Blakeslee cartridge box allowed the individual to carry a quantity of loaded magazine tubes for a quick change out.
So, my question is this . . . . if I remember correctly, the tubular magazine is spring loaded - much like a modern .22 tube magazine. Obviously, the cartridges were loaded in the tube with the slug pointing up towards the opening - my question is "What held them in the tube?". In other words, the spring would compress as the cartridges were loaded in so there would be pressure on them to advance as rounds were fired - but if the tube was loaded manually or if spares were preloaded and carried in the Blakeslee, how did it work so that the cartridges just wouldn't "zing" out of the tube? Was there something at the opening of the tubular magazine that retained the cartridges in the tube until loaded in the carbine/rifle that would then be pushed aside to allow the cartridges to advance?
Or, do I have a misunderstanding on how this magazine tube worked /functioned?
Many thanks - just got to thinking about that today and I wasn't able to come up with an answer. I'm hoping someone with experience/knowledge of original Spencers can answer this.