Guns International #: 101532143

Category - Whitney Rifles - Antique Rifles - Cartridge

Category
Whitney Rifles
Antique Rifles - Cartridge

DELUXE WHITNEY-KENNEDY .45-60, 28" OCT. BARREL, CHECKERED FANCY WALNUT, AND CASE COLORED RECEIVER

Description:
ONE OF THE MORE INCREDIBLE RIFLES I'VE OFFERED IS THIS DELUXE WHITNEY-KENNEDY LARGE CALIBER SPORTING RIFLE, .45-60, 28" OCT. BARREL WITH CHECKERED FANCY WALNUT, AND CASE COLORED RECEIVER! The whole Whitney-Kennedy line was amazingly well made with superb fit and finishing. This model was made  from 1879-1886 in small frame version (.32-20 -.44-40) and large frame in which the excellent and powerful .45-60 was the standard caliber. The rifle was so excellent that Winchester bought them out and discontinued the entire line in a move to kill competition! According to Sam Maxwell's excellent book, Whitney discouraged any special orders, but would make them. Their catalogue states "As any departure from our regular list involves a large outlay for hand labor, all orders which require deviations from our regular calibers, lengths, weights and finish, will be subject to extra charges proportioned to the amount of labor required, and additional time will be required to fill them." Maxwell also lists rarity tables for this model and shows the case colored receiver as "very rare" and "checkering" also very rare. No mention in the rarity table involves fancy walnut, but one can assume it is seldom encountered. This example with serial number F1XX is also listed by serial number in the book on Whitney rifles by Dale Olson indicating it was checkered and had a case colored receiver. The open "S" lever matches the condition and patina of the rifle but has the number G4XX. It is possibly a period replacement or perhaps a factory error. Either way, it is minor and the lever blends perfectly and has obviously been with this rifle for the last 120 years or more! The receiver shows a nice mottled naturally aged  brownish finish with very faint color, the barrel is a fine deep aged blue mixing plum with excellent markings, original buckhorn sight with Rocky Mountain blade front sight. The mag tube is similar with more of a brown hue. The fancy walnut and forend show a nice fiddleback grain with fine checkering on the wrist and good, but more worn checkering on the forend (mostly on the bottom) but all clearly visible and good. The butt stock has the correct trap in the butt plate for cleaning rod and the original 4-piece rod in intact and included. There is only one small crack in the wood in the lower left corner where the receiver and lower tang join which is less than an inch long and of little consequence. The action is tight and displays the amazingly smooth qualities that Winchester was so fearful of! The bore is fairly bright with fine deep rifling all the way through and any roughness is minor and surface that might brush out better. Maxwell was able to note about 1/3 of all the Whitney-Kennedy records held at the Yale University Archives. In this survey he noted only 58 .45-60 Large Frame Models with special features. He noted only one (1) with casehardened frame and none checkered! This is a really attractive and rare big caliber deluxe hunting rifle of the frontier period.

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Whitney
Model: Whitney-Kennedy
Serial Number: F1XX
Barrel Length: 28" OCTAGON
Condition: FINE