Guns International #: 102899087
Seller's Inventory #: 244327

Category - Whitney Rifles - Civil War Rifles

Category
Whitney Rifles
Civil War Rifles

VERY SCARCE Antique “MANTON” ELI WHITNEY Variant M1861 Rifle-MUSKET 1862 One of only 1,070 “Manton” Muskets Manufactured

Description:
VERY SCARCE Antique “MANTON” ELI WHITNEY Variant M1861 Rifle-MUSKET 1862  

One of only 1,070 “Manton” Muskets Manufactured

Here we present a Scarce Antique Manton Marked Eli Whitney Variant Model 1861 percussion rifle-musket made in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1862. Eli Whitney Jr. and his family legacy, Whitneyville Armory, played a large role in providing small arms to the Union during the American Civil War. Many of his muskets were part of his “Good and Serviceable Arms” line, which was focused on providing arms to state militias, though he did have contracts with the federal government as well. The Good and Serviceable Arms were made of large lots of parts which he purchased from the federal armories and other contractors to assemble into rifle-muskets good enough for service with the states who, unlike the federal government, had lesser standards and did not use gauges during their inspections. He wasn’t shy about this either. These arms were good enough, better to be sure than many of the muskets being bought and shipped back from Europe, and they were less expensive than had they been built from the ground up with all the gauging that went into federal contracts.

This scarce variant Model 1861 rifle-musket with a “Manton” marked lock was manufactured by Eli Whitney Jr. using surplus European barrels and marked with the British gunmaker’s name: “Manton” as a cover since Whitney did not want to put his name on these due to quality concerns. These “Manton” Whitney variant rifle-muskets are described in depth on pager 495-498 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III” in which the picture caption on pages 495 states, “Available information indicates 1,070 Whitney “Manton” rifle-muskets were delivered by merchants Fitch & Waldo to the state of New York during the summer of 1863. One hundred and nine of them failed inspection.” The same page of the book has a quote from a letter written by Whitney to a sales agent in which he states, “I can not promise more than 1,000 of the “Manton” muskets and these only to be subject to State inspection as good and serviceable work being as a general thing as the sample and if any are rejected it will lessen the number so much (from 1,000). My object is putting the “Manton” on the lock was to avoid selling the muskets as mine.”

The overall condition is good. Patina throughout. The action is strong. The nipple shows much use and is down to a nub. The clean out screw is chipped. The bore is dim with rifling still visible. The stock shows two dents forward of the lock as well as a short, stable split of about an inch at the trial of the lock. Otherwise shows normal use and handling throughout and remains solid.

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

Barrel is 40 inches.

Caliber: .58 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2600

#244327
 

Price: $2,600.00                     Buy Now

Antique: Yes