This is an exceptional original example of a U.S. contract Model 1841 rifle that was manufactured by Eli Whitney at the Whitneyville Armory in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1852. The rifle is in the original .54 caliber round ball configuration and has none of the alterations performed on most Model 1841 rifles prior to or during the Civil War. The rifle has a color casehardened lock plate and hammer with browned barrel. The trigger, screw heads, and band springs have a fiery niter blue finish. The buttplate, patchbox, trigger guard, side plate and barrel bands are brass. The rifle has the distinctive over-sized brass patchbox. The barrel has a half-moon shaped brass blade front sight and a fixed notch rear sight. The iron ramrod has a flared brass tip. The lock plate is roll-stamped "N. HAVEN/1851" in two vertical lines behind the hammer and "E. WHITNEY/US" in two lines ahead of the hammer. "US" stamped on top of the buttplate. The barrel tang has a partly visible "18xx" date. The top of the barrel is stamped with the proof and inspection marks "US/JH/V P". The left stock flat is stamped with two cartouches including a boxed script "JCB" inspection cartouche and oval script "WAT" (William A. Thornton) inspection cartouche. Includes an extra percussion nipple in the patchbox. The Model 1841 rifle gained fame during the Mexican War when the 1st Mississippi Rifles commanded by Colonel Jefferson Davis and armed with Model 1841 rifles played a key role in the U.S. victory at Buena Vista. Initially issued to light infantry and the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, Model 1841 rifles saw wide use with both the Federal and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Most Model 1841 rifles were altered to .58 caliber, to accept bayonets, and/or fitted with long range sights prior to and during the Civil War. Unaltered Model 1841 Rifles in their original configuration are scarce, let alone in high condition like this example.