Who has experience with a Chiappa Spencer?

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NorthBorder

NorthBorder

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I stopped by the LGS today and saw it on the shelf for consignment; the first one I have ever seen and it was nice. I decided not to hold it or I might immediately get into hock. A Spencer carbine has been on my wish list for a few years.
This Spencer is in .45LC and the asking price is $1900, a bit high I think. The wood looked very nice and the metal was color case hardened. I am not familiar with Chiappa at all. I was looking at a lens for my camera that costs half that price, so maybe I should put off buying the lens?
I would like to hear from those that have experience with this Spencer, and Chiappa in general.
Thank in advance.
 
Chiappa is an Italian company known for price point firearms. Not familiar w that model, but the ones I've seen weren't very well made. They use die castings & plastic in places they should not.
 
I’ve never seen one but as Bcwitt said above, a lot of their other offerings are way down the totem pole of materials and workmanship. To be blunt a lot of their low end firearms are complete crap. That’s not to say everything they make is bad, maybe their high end stuff is great, but I would certainly be looking over anything carrying the chiappa name very carefully before spending my money on it.
 
I like Chiappa. I've had a lot of fun with their rhino handgun and it is fitted quite well. They do make budget guns of budget quality, but they make good stuff as well.

Never heard about their CS though.
 
I have had several Chiappa firearms, including a Rhino and an 1892 lever action in 45colt. All have been excellent in fit and finish and operation.
IMG_5201.jpg
Chiappa 1892 and an Uberti SAA.
While I kinda take it easy on the lever action I beat the crap out of the revolver.
 
That is a rifle I would love to own! I shoot a lot of 45 Colt and I am just intrigued by the action and the historical significance.
 
I've got the rifle in 56-50.
Here's a picture of it along my Shiloh .54
sharps4.jpg

It;s a great gun for the money IMO.
Can't speak for other Chiappa guns but I do like the Spencer (and shoot it much more then the .54).

Feeding is flawless on mine if the action is worked smartly.
Only plastic part on it is the magazine follower.

That price does seem a bit high, however you are able to inspect it.

JT
 
Bcwitt said:
…the ones I've seen weren't very well made. They use die castings & plastic in places they should not.
Click to expand...

someguy2800 said:
… a lot of their other offerings are way down the totem pole of materials and workmanship. To be blunt a lot of their low end firearms are complete crap…
Click to expand...

Keep buying those used Marlins and Winchesters in 45 Colt with the 1:38 twist. And when I’m shooting next to you, keep wondering why my Chiappa groups are so much better than yours, LOL

Anyone that’s owned a recent new Chiappa can attest to their quality.
 
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I have a Chiappa Spencer carbine in .56-50. It seems well made, although I haven't actually fired it.

Chiappa (aka Armi Sport) has a mixed record. Over time, their products have been improving. Their M1861 Springfield musket isn't very good (too heavy and too thick in dimensions), but their M1842 is so good it's hard to tell apart from an original, even when they are placed side by side.
 
When I was a kid a family I knew had an original one brought back from “The War” by a Corn Fed Irate ancestor.

the boys and I played with it when we could get away with it.

they had a few rounds for it but I never saw it fired

made me wonder why great to the nth grand fathers did not come home from “The War” in 1864 with their tails between their legs.

I thoroughly understood Carter’s disgust with having his regiment re armed with 1873 Trap door Springfields and to this day wonder if Greasy Grass might have ended without the loss of most of the Seventh Cav if those Spencer’s had still been the issue carbines

-kBob
 
AlexanderA said:
I have a Chiappa Spencer carbine in .56-50. It seems well made, although I haven't actually fired it.

Chiappa (aka Armi Sport) has a mixed record. Over time, their products have been improving. Their M1861 Springfield musket isn't very good (too heavy and too thick in dimensions), but their M1842 is so good it's hard to tell apart from an original, even when they are placed side by side.
Click to expand...

What is the bore diameter for 56-50? Does it have a destructive device exemption?
 
NorthBorder said:
It is a 45LC. I haven't heard of a destructive device exemption. What is that?
Click to expand...

From what I understand elephant cartridges like .577 Tyrannosaur and the .600 and 700 Nitro Express are exempt from the destructive device registration.

For that matter rifled shotguns (besides .410) are as well. It is considered a sporting purpose exemption.
 
Chiappa in general are very good quality. My wife has a Cimarron 92 made by them. I don't know what the other poster is referring to with plastic parts because the Chiappa's I've seen in Winchester designs are much closer to being made just like an original Winchester 92 etc. than others like Rossi and such. I don't' think there is one single plastic part in my wifes 92 anywhere that I can remember. It's made just like Winchester made them. Unfortunately I can't tell you regarding the Spencer model itself.
 
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