This is an exceptional example of an experimental Whitney-Kennedy heavy frame .45-60 lever-action rifle with breech-loading single shot .22 RF caliber barrel with pivoting breechblock mounted in front of the half-magazine. A steel plate attached by screws to the left side of the rifle frame is engraved: "COMPOUND DIFFERENTIAL RIFLE/P.W. STRONG'S PATENT, SEPT. 8th 1885." A copy of the U.S. Patent Office application filed on July 11, 1885, describes the invention designed to provide: "an additional or supplemental barrel of smaller caliber, said smaller barrel being so arranged that it will not interfere in any way with the magazine or its operating mechanism". The patent application describes the 14-inch, single shot breech-loading .22 caliber barrel, modified forearm cap, receiver and breechblock. This rifle was apparently designed to display the .22 barrel and pivoting breechblock but is not fitted with the special plate and firing mechanism on the left side of the receiver to fire the under-barrel illustrated and described in the patent application. The large frame Whitney-Kennedy Lever-Action Sporting Rifle has a blue finish with casehardened lever. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish. The rifle has a 26 inch round barrel with half-magazine. The barrel has a dovetail mounted front sight with colored insert and a sporting style buckhorn rear sight. The upper receviver tang is drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. The crescent steel buttplate lacks the a butt-trap. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "WHITNEYVILLE ARMORY CT. U.S.A." in a single line ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation, "45-60" is stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver. The upper tang is marked: "PAT-D JANY.&-73/1, (2) MAY 13. & AUG. 12. 1879". The serial number "I795" is stamped on the lower tang behind the trigger. The partial serial number, "795", is stamped on the left side of the lever linkage. This is an an extremely rare, one-of-a-kind rifle.

Very fine as experimentally finished. The rifle retains 90% of the period applied blue finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the .45-60 upper barrel and lower .22 caliber barrel. The blue finish on the modified forearm cap has faded to a brown patina. The receiver has 90% of the blue finish with minor high-point and edge wear. The inscription on the plate attached to the left side of the receiver is crisp and the plate retains nearly all of the blue finish. The upper and lower tang and contact points on the bottom of the lever show handling wear and have a brown patina. The crescent steel buttplate has a silver-gray patina with about 30% of the blue finish. The factory markings on the barrel and patent markings on the receiver plate are sharp. The patent dates on the upper tang show handling wear and part of the marking was damaged when the upper receiver was drilled and tapped. The front sight is missing the colored bead. The walnut stock and forearm are both fine with handling wear. The varnish finish is crazed with light "spiderweb" style lines. This is both a rare and unique example of a one-of-a-kind Whitney-Kennedy Heavy Frame Rifle with P.W. Strong Compound Differential Patent Modifications.