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Authentic Original Rifles, Muskets Firearms |
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Very Scarce Whitney "Good & Serviceable" US Model 1855 Type Rifle Musket
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In my 35+ years in the business, this is the first one of these that I have been able to offer. It is the very rare Whitney Arms Company made "Good & Serviceable" US Model 1855 Type Rifle Musket. These very rare examples of "Good & Serviceable" Whitney arms were produced using condemned Maynard tape priming locks that Whitney purchased from Harpers Ferry. Whitney had initially tried to obtain 1,000 M1855 pattern locks from Springfield in 1860, but as the M1855 was still in production, locks were not available to for. The Ordnance Department subsequently authorized the sale of as many as 1,000 M1855 pattern locks that were "damaged or otherwise unsuitable for public service" to be sold to Whitney, and in the end he obtained 350 of those locks from Harpers Ferry. He apparently obtained some other parts, primarily furniture, that was likely condemned as well. He assembled the M1855 pattern arms using the Harpers Ferry locks, other arsenal pattern parts like barrel bands, triggerguard and buttplates, and with parts acquired at the Robbins & Lawrence auction that had been intended for use in their Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket contract. The Enfield pattern parts included things like the band springs, lock screw escutcheons and front sights. Barrels were either finished Robbins & Lawrence barrels that Whitney had obtained in an unfinished state, those that he made, or some surplus US Arsenal barrels. Only 350 were produced and all were sold to the state of Connecticut. Photographic evidence suggests that nearly all of those subsequently saw use with the 8th Connecticut Infantry. It is made with the full-length .58 caliber 40 inch barrel secured by three flat, spring retained barrel bands. It has the serial number of "D74". These guns were finished with a bright finish, iron furniture, brass lock screw escutcheons, and a pewter forend cap on the 1-piece walnut wood stock. The lockplates are easily distinguished because of the Maynard tape priming lock design. This one is fully functional with all of the internal parts. At the breech of the barrel, it has the Whitney "mid-range" folding leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug. Inside the barrel, the bore is moderately oxidized with some scattered pitting and good Whitney seven groove rifling. On the underside of the gun, it has both of the sling swivels and a correct style straight shank tulip head ramrod. The lock is clearly marked on the lower front in two lines "E. WHITNEY/N. HAVEN" and dated "1858" at the tail. On tape primer magazine door it has the spread-winged Union Eagle. Someone along the line stamped "CSA" on the left angled breech flat but that stamping is NOT old. The Whitney alphanumeric serial number D/74 is stamped on the barrel, behind the rear sight. As with most of these guns, the buttplate without "US" mark. This is a very good looking example of a scarce Whitney rifle!
Item #: C8283 Shipping Weight:
17 lbs
Your Price:$3,950.00 USD
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