M-134.
"Whats that necked rimfire cartridge in the top-center row of the one picture"?
A GOOD QUESTION.----with not a simple answer.
I am not sure if this helps?

Probably a Spencer cartridge....there are different variations in that photo.

Spencer cartridges.

A good reference book on American rimfire cartridges ---third edition 1986.

I sure am not which cartridge that you were questioning....this is from the book shown above.

Some more info regarding Spencer cartridges from the book.



Loading the Model 1860 Spencer carbine. ( Seven cartridges.)




The serial number on this Spencer (53,299) is close to the end of the serial number range (62,000) for these CW Model 1860 Spencer carbines.


A Model 1860 Spencer carbine that did double duty.
First during the Civil War…and then during the Indian War period.
After the Civil War the Spencer carbine was one of the guns that were chosen for alteration by the Springfield Armory between 1867-1874.
Over 11,000 carbines were altered to accommodate the 50-caliber copper cased rimfire (56-52 and 56-50 interchangeable) cartridge.
A small swivel device known as the “Stabler cut-off “was added forward of the trigger to allow for use as a single shot (it keeps the breech from opening completely).

The modified carbines bear an “ESA” inspectors mark in an oval cartouche on the left side of the stock.
The usual markings on top of the frame “SPENCER REPEATING/ RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS/ PAT’D MARCH 6 1860”, have long since worn off this gun. (Only slight traces left)
This seven shot repeater was fed through a tubular magazine in the butt and into the receiver. Lowering the operating lever and opening the breech automatically feeds a copper rimfire cartridge into the chamber. The hammer is then cocked and the arm is fired. Dropping the lever after firing then ejects the spent cartridge and brings the next round into position for the next firing.
The Model 1860 Spencer carbine was widely used during the Civil War, and also saw substantial duty during the Indian Wars until the arrival of the Model 1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 caliber carbine.
The Spencer and the Sharps carbines were two of the principal Civil War carbines that ended up doing double duty throughout the Civil War and post war period.
Model 1860 Spencer carbine.
Serial number- 53299.
This gun was converted in 1867 after the Civil War by Springfield Armory to fire the 56-52 or 56-50 cartridge instead of the original 56-56 cartridge which was 52 caliber. A “Stabler cut-off” was also added at that time. The barrel was sleeved for the smaller 50 caliber cartridge with three groove rifling.
From Roy Marcot's book.

Three faint cartouches on the left wrist one oval and two rectangular.
The guns that were converted have an oval cartouche with ESA inspector’s marking. (Erskine S. Allin)
Other inspectors included;
Lucian C. Allin - LCA,
Thomas J. Shepard -TJS
E.C. Wheeler - ECW.

From Roy Marcot's Spencer book (Revised edition 1990)

David
"Whats that necked rimfire cartridge in the top-center row of the one picture"?
A GOOD QUESTION.----with not a simple answer.
I am not sure if this helps?

Probably a Spencer cartridge....there are different variations in that photo.

Spencer cartridges.

A good reference book on American rimfire cartridges ---third edition 1986.

I sure am not which cartridge that you were questioning....this is from the book shown above.

Some more info regarding Spencer cartridges from the book.



Loading the Model 1860 Spencer carbine. ( Seven cartridges.)




The serial number on this Spencer (53,299) is close to the end of the serial number range (62,000) for these CW Model 1860 Spencer carbines.


A Model 1860 Spencer carbine that did double duty.
First during the Civil War…and then during the Indian War period.
After the Civil War the Spencer carbine was one of the guns that were chosen for alteration by the Springfield Armory between 1867-1874.
Over 11,000 carbines were altered to accommodate the 50-caliber copper cased rimfire (56-52 and 56-50 interchangeable) cartridge.
A small swivel device known as the “Stabler cut-off “was added forward of the trigger to allow for use as a single shot (it keeps the breech from opening completely).

The modified carbines bear an “ESA” inspectors mark in an oval cartouche on the left side of the stock.
The usual markings on top of the frame “SPENCER REPEATING/ RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS/ PAT’D MARCH 6 1860”, have long since worn off this gun. (Only slight traces left)
This seven shot repeater was fed through a tubular magazine in the butt and into the receiver. Lowering the operating lever and opening the breech automatically feeds a copper rimfire cartridge into the chamber. The hammer is then cocked and the arm is fired. Dropping the lever after firing then ejects the spent cartridge and brings the next round into position for the next firing.
The Model 1860 Spencer carbine was widely used during the Civil War, and also saw substantial duty during the Indian Wars until the arrival of the Model 1873 Springfield Trapdoor 45-70 caliber carbine.
The Spencer and the Sharps carbines were two of the principal Civil War carbines that ended up doing double duty throughout the Civil War and post war period.
Model 1860 Spencer carbine.
Serial number- 53299.
This gun was converted in 1867 after the Civil War by Springfield Armory to fire the 56-52 or 56-50 cartridge instead of the original 56-56 cartridge which was 52 caliber. A “Stabler cut-off” was also added at that time. The barrel was sleeved for the smaller 50 caliber cartridge with three groove rifling.
From Roy Marcot's book.

Three faint cartouches on the left wrist one oval and two rectangular.
The guns that were converted have an oval cartouche with ESA inspector’s marking. (Erskine S. Allin)
Other inspectors included;
Lucian C. Allin - LCA,
Thomas J. Shepard -TJS
E.C. Wheeler - ECW.

From Roy Marcot's Spencer book (Revised edition 1990)

David
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