Guns International #: 100853783
Seller's Inventory #: 21846

Category - Civil War Revolvers - Whitney Revolvers

Category
Civil War Revolvers
Whitney Revolvers

Rare NAVY MARKED Civil War Whitney Navy Revolver

Description:

Rare NAVY MARKED Civil War Whitney Navy Revolver

Marked with US Navy Anchor

Here we present an antique Whitney Navy Revolver, made circa 1861 in New Haven, Connecticut. Eli Whitney established his Whitneyville Armory 1798, and produced firearms by contract for the young U.S. government among other things. Just prior to this, in 1793, Whitney invented the mechanical cotton gin, which dramatically changed the economic landscape in the U.S., namely in the South. While his invention was a labor saving device, making the processing of harvested cotton extremely efficient and requiring fewer laborers, his machine caused the market for cotton to explode and more laborers were needed to plant, grow and harvest the crop. This resulted in a corresponding boom in the Southern slave trade. Great fortunes were created and the population of the South became such that one in three Southerners were slaves. All this provided the fuel that would become the raze that was the American Civil War.

Eli Whitney died in 1825, and his son, Eli Whitney Jr., began running the family business in 1841. Whitney Jr. seized the opportunity in 1847 to manufacture 1,000 of Samuel Colt’s latest revolver the Colt Walker revolver. Production of this revolver helped both parties immensely as it kept Colt in business and it allowed Whitney Jr. to tool up and gain experience making revolvers. With the expiration of Colt’s patents in 1857, Whitney began production of percussion revolvers based on Colt’s patents, some of them very closely copied.

The Whitney Navy Revolver came about when Fordyce Beals—of later Remington-Beal fame—came to work for the company. He was the primary designer, which was indeed why the Remington-Beals Navy and Army Revolvers came to look so much like the Whitney. The Whitney has the distinction of being one of the first successful solid framed revolvers. As their production began before the war in about 1857, both the Union and the Confederacy utilized them in the American Civil War. One very notable character known to have used the Whitney Navy was Confederate Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart. His was serial number 3110.

This specimen features rare U.S. government inspector and Navy acceptance marks, “US”, an anchor, and inspector initials on the cylinder. What is more, this revolver’s life was extended after the war with a very well-done conversion to metallic cartridge. The serial number on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and grips is "19767". The serial number on the two-piece loading lever is "19508". The number "49" appears on the barrel, trigger guard, both pieces of the loading lever, and on the face of the cylinder. The letter "S" is on the barrel and both pieces of the loading lever. "MK" appears on the trigger guard, frame and grips. The right side of the grip frame has a "5". My theory is that this gun, numbered "19767" was issued during the American Civil War, during which the loading lever was switched with another (numbered "19508") while cleaning, or perhaps more intentionally to replace a broken one. This stands to reason since the guns are very close in number, making it very possible to have been issued to the same ship or outfit. "S" and "MK" may be government sub-inspector marks. I believe that the number "49" may be a conversion number, since it is found on parts with both serial numbers, as well as being in a larger font.

The overall condition is very good. The iron has taken a brown patina over the last 150 years. Much of the original silver plate remains on the brass trigger guard. The barrel address markings are clear and visible, as are the US government markings. The grips are in very good condition. The bore is fine. The action is excellent.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 7-3/4 inches in length.

Caliber: .36 percussion

The bore is fine and the action is excellent.

Overall condition as seen in photos. 
    
Here is a rare opportunity to own a US Navy marked Whitney revolver from the American Civil War!

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ancestryguns

$1550

#21846

SOLD

Antique: Yes