Whitney Kennedy Rifle

T

triggerman42

CGN Regular
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I stumbled across a nice find this winter. It's a Whitney rifle. This one's marked " Whitneyville Armory Ct USA , Kennedy " and "44 CAL" . It's a carbine with 24" octagon barrel. It's in nice shootable condition , and I have 100 rounds of low pressure , plinking , 44/40 ammo , on it's way to me from a very helpful member of CGNs. This one I believe was made in 1885 , as it has the "R" prefix in front of the 3 digit serial number. It's a real sweetie ! Anybody else on here have one of these fine old rifles ?
 
If your gun looks something like this, then I also have one. They have a great "old west" look. The for end wood on mine is very worn, spent a lot of years rattling in a bucket maybe. I think it's still quite shootable.
 
Yours has the "s" lever , mine has the loop lever. Mine was missing the rear sight also , but it had been replaced before I bought it.
I have an octagon barrel , with a steel nose cap on the for end. Nice rifle you have there ! Thanks for posting it.
 
Yep , they are hefty. Mine , with the 24" barrel weighs 9 lbs. But just seems heavier than that , and they have a very long lever throw. Neat old rifles !
 
According to Dale Olson's book -- The Burgess Long Range Repeating Rifle - The "B" prefix indicates a manufacture date between December of 1881 to March 1882.

Mine is an "E" prefix. January to March 1883. They are very cool - just don't leave them cocked. Mainsprings are very not replaceable.

EDIT: Sorry, my brain read a "B" not "R". Dale has no mention of R in his manufacture dates, but the interim of "Q and "S" is July 1885.

PM me if you would like to contact him. I think he'd be interested in hearing about your rifle.
 
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here we go
S prefix serial number
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SAM_5987_zpsdzz7jyey.jpg
 
That is a great looking rifle right there ! Mine looks to be the same as this one , with 24" octagon barrel, and metal nose cap on fore end wood, with the loop lever. Just a different caliber. Mine is not blue anymore though. LOL. It's a plumb color . Thanks for posting these pictures !
 
That took a while , but I finally got the picture adding figured out . My stock has some white paint on it. What do you think? Try some turpentine on a rag? I think the previous owner painted a closet and didn't even bother to remove the gun ! LOL
 
The prefix letters ended at "s" in 1886. That is why I figured mine to probably be around 1885 with an "R" prefix. Getting near the end of the run. I contacted Dale already .
 
Yours is in nice condition! If I'm not mistaken, the receivers were originally colour case hardened, not blued. Or, maybe it was just the lever, hopefully, someone with a bit more knowledge can let us know. Mine was refinished long before I got it. 28" barrel with a decent bore, and weighs over ten pounds
 
Well , it seems there aren't too many of these around. You other three may as well sell me yours , and then I will have all of them. LOL

Seriously though , keep them coming guys. It would be nice to see different variations like half length magazines , tang sights , etc. I know they'r out there !
 
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