Spencer Reliability

S

Sharps '74

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I'm reading on the CasCity forum that repro Spencers (regardless of whose name is on them) made by Chiappa have feeding and other quality control issues. For example, if you can see the small screw on the lever with the action closed, that means the breechblock is not fully engaged in the receiver. That requires bending of the lever to correct!

Others have had to have Loctite applied to the barrel threads to prevent it from turning in the receiver.

Anybody with a repro Spencer willing to comment?
 
I ve wanted a chiappa spencer for a long time but what I ve read is that quality control is a roll of the dice from soft metal parts to barrels you can turn off by hand.Not easy taking a chance for that kind of money.If I was going to buy one I would do it in person instead of ordering it online so I could give it the once over before I bought it
 
I gun I can't or won't shoot is an expensive wall hanger I can't justify.

Romano Spencers are works of art but he won't make any more before he retires. They go for up to $5000 USD, more than some originals. Well used models command ridiculous prices. Shootable originals require fitting of a CF breechblock.

Buying one in person works IF you don't have to leave the province to examine it. I recently returned a pair of Cimarron .44 Open Tops to the dealer that I would have rejected had I examined them at their shop. Now I'm out $50 in shipping costs and have a 'credit balance'.
 
sail32 said:
In shooting a friends Spence replica, you have to work the action like you mean it.
Click to expand...

What calibre and whose name is on it? Where did he get it? It is my understanding that they are all made by Chiappa, a company known for 'hit & miss' quality control.
 
I have shot an original but since the shell is a rimfire, the primer is off-center and I only load it single shot. What is important is that the extractor moves both up and down as well as for and aft. If the back edge of the extracter is at all rough, it quickly wears through the rim of the shell

cheers mooncoon
 
That is not a problem on the repros from what I have learned from the 'sperts.

They have their own issues as I mentioned in my first post on the topic.
 
You didn't answer my questions ......

I correspond with "Two Flints" regularly. He is the "go to" man re: all things Spencer, repro and original on CasCity. He told me what to expect and what to do to make a repro Spencer function reliably.

There is a myth that if you send the extra bucks on a Cimarron or Taylor's product, you will get a serviceable, well fitted product. He sent me pics of a rifle (ready for shipment) he inspected at one of these firms that have several flaws and faults. They listen to him but don't take corrective action.

If you have a warranty concern, they refer you directly to Chiappa, the original maker.
 
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