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.