Or should I leave it rest
This old shooter currently resides by my dad's fireplace, I have no info on it other than it was given to him over 50 years ago. All parties that would have any knowledge are long since deceased and dad has had a stroke.
It is stamped on the right side in front of the hammer E. WHITNEY. There are no other markings that I can find and I have looked everywhere, including taking it apart as far as I trust myself, without doing damage. I have very little knowledge of period black powder firearms.
It looks to be military, bayonet lug on the right front muzzle, and yes it is in rough condition.
Any help on the history of this piece would be appreciated, also is this gun worth trying to get back in working condition. I have mentioned it to several re-enacters at my gun club and they are certain it is worth the effort.
Or should I leave it rest
It is stamped on the right side in front of the hammer E. WHITNEY. There are no other markings that I can find and I have looked everywhere, including taking it apart as far as I trust myself, without doing damage. I have very little knowledge of period black powder firearms.
It looks to be military, bayonet lug on the right front muzzle, and yes it is in rough condition.
Any help on the history of this piece would be appreciated, also is this gun worth trying to get back in working condition. I have mentioned it to several re-enacters at my gun club and they are certain it is worth the effort.
Or should I leave it rest
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Seems to me the Whitney was a Civil War musket/rilfe although I don't recall which side used it. It may have some value but with collector guns condition is everything and the condition on this example is not great and I suspect refurbishing it would ruin any value or not be cost effective.
Maybe someone with more knowledge will reply with better info.0 -
Let it rest as is, a testimony to days long gone. Restoring it undoes the patina of the years that it has already endured. Not everything that is old, rusted or neglected needs to be made new - just cherished for what it is. 0 -
Not everything that is old, rusted or neglected needs to be made new - just cherished for what it is.
That is what I tell my wife on her birthday every year [}:)].0 -
At the least, get that broken screw out of the tumbler and replace it before the hammer gets lost. Springfield screws should fit.
The gun looks complete otherwise and not so bad.
I'd have that shooting in no time.
The US bought 15,001 Whitneys during the Civil War.0 -
Did a little googleing and this is what I came up. Hope this is what you have. This is a Question annd Answer section from http://oldguns.net/
Here is a link to this Q&Ahttp://oldguns.net/q&a11_03.htm
# 6274 - M1841 Mississippi Rifle Sights
11/1/2003
Jim, Hatboro, PA
E. Whitney - M1841 U.S. Rifle - .54 - 33 - Other -
I have a M1841 ''Mississippi'' rifle, made in 1851 by Eli Whitney Jr. that is a bit unusual in its configuration. It is in the original .54 caliber, but has a long-range rear sight of the folding-ladder type, very similar to what I see on P1853 Enfield rifle-muskets. The front sight also is similar to an Enfield's and not the simple blade that I see on most Mississippis. I know these rifles were frequently modified during the Civil War to add long-range sights, but in all the examples I've previously seen, they were re-bored to .58 to fit the standard cartridges used in rifle-muskets of the time. And most of the Mississippi's I've seen with long-range sights have the three-leaf rear sight, not the folding-ladder Enfield type. Any idea on whether this alteration is really unusual, or if it indicates whether the gun saw Union or Confederate use? Thanks.
Answer:
Jim- The "as built" Mississippi rifles are all very uniform and consistent in their configuration with a fixed rear sight, .54 caliber bore, and no provisions for any type of bayonet. However, the alterations and upgrades are found in an amazing variety and almost defy analysis. The problem is that by 1861 most had been issued to various states as part of the allocations under the Militia Act of 1808, placing them beyond reach of the Ordnance Department (especially those in the Confederate States!) There were two or three "federal" conversion models done at arsenals or under contract between 1855 and 1861 which had some degree of consistency. Besides those, large numbers were converted by states, or perhaps even units, which had the arms in their possession. Alterations usually consisted of one or more of the following: provisions to take a socket or sword bayonet; adjustable sights; and possible conversion from .54 to .58 caliber. Federal alterations began as early as 1855 when the .58 caliber family of arms was adopted (pistol-carbine, rifle, and rifle musket). An order on July 4, 1855 directed that the Model 1841 rifles were to be increased in caliber (to.58), fitted with sword bayonets and long range rear sights.
About 1,646 "Snell" type bayonets were produced at Harpers Ferry in 1855 that used a rotating thumbscrew type lock that required two small cuts on the side of the barrel to engage. Between 1855 and 1857 Harpers Ferry produced 10,286 sword bayonets to be used with a more conventional side mounted lug, but these required that the M1841 rifle stocks be cut back slightly and a shortened upper band fitted. Later, a third type of bayonet was produced under contract (and perhaps by Harpers Ferry), with about 6,000 made and these required no alteration to the rifle, only the addition of a bayonet lug that clamped in place, similar to a ring used for mounting scopes today. In each case, it is assumed that a comparable number of rifles were altered for the bayonets. Robert M. Reilly's U.S. Military Shoulder Arms 1816-1865 (one of my "essential books for gun collectors") has extensive details on the bayonets and the various sights.
Reilly identifies the first type adjustable sight used as the leaf type graduated to 900 yards, similar to the Enfield or M1842 rifled and sighted types. The second type is a folding leaf with a screw type adjustment. Besides experimental types, the two leaf sight similar to the Model 1861 musket sight was widely used on rifles altered after 1859, as well as replacement sights on unaltered rifles. Reilly goes into some detail on the alterations by Colt for sale to various units or states. He also states that between 1855 and 1860 8,879 rifles were altered in the National Armories (Springfield and Harpers Ferry) but in the context of enlarging the caliber, so it seems that bayonets, sights and caliber were not altered in the same numbers. I have no detailed information on alterations at the state or local level, other than references I found in my research on South Carolina militia arms that imply that various men were performing alterations to (presumably Mississippi) rifles to add sword bayonets.
There are several advanced collectors who specialize in the M1841 rifles, and I keep hoping that one of them will write the definitive history on these. One of the most impressive arms displays I have ever seen was at a Company of Military Historians meeting about 20 years ago that featured one or two wooden arms chests for Mississippi rifles, and examples of nearly every variation of sights or bayonets known. Unfortunately that exhibitor is deceased, and I have no idea what happened to his collection or notes. John Spangler0 -
Eli Whitney Jr. being the son of the inventor of the cotton gin I guess, huh? 0 -
I'd stop the active rust and then hang it up. 0 -
A perfect wall hanger to pass on to your kids. You've got a head start on history here. I wouldn't mess it up. [:)][:)]
crims400
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