3253 RARE CIVIL WAR ERA WHITNEY “DERIVATIVE” RIFLE.

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 14 @ 14:15UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD

Cal. 60. NSN. Howard Madaus wrote excellent in-depth monograph on these rare & exotic guns in 1988 Journal of The Winchester Arms Museum “The Percussion Martial Longarms of Eli Whitney, Jr.” Here he gives examples of these rarely seen variants made with surplus parts from US military contracts. South Carolina, Mississippi & Georgia were among militias who purchased hundreds of these guns in the late 1850s up till 1861. Differences between the standard production Model 1841 Mississippi rifle include solid stock with no toolbox, steel trigger plate with brass trigger guard bow, convex instead of flat headed screws throughout, Sharps ladder type rear sight, unsurcharged buttplate has inset cut for toolbox lid, devoid of proofs or dates, lock only marked “E. WHITNEY” & “N. HAVEN” and double struck. Derivative guns generally did Not have provision for bayonet. this example has an angular bayonet stud on bottom side of barrel numbered “A38”, Confederate type 1841 ramrod. This exact rifle is pictured George Moller’s “American Military Shoulder Arms, vol. 3, pages 464 & 465. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: ARMAX w/ associated article on this rifle. CONDITION: good to very good overall, appears complete and original, mottled iron and brass patinas, solid stock. mechanically fine with smooth clear bore. PROVENANCE: Ex-George Moller collection, Fred Novy collection. (01-23108/JS). ANTIQUE. $2,000-3,000.