This is an excellent example of a British proofed Whitney-Kennedy light frame lever action sporting rifle with the distinctive S-lever. The rifle has a blue barrel, forearm cap and receiver with casehardened hammer, s-shaped loading lever and crescent buttplate. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The rifle has a round barrel with nickel-silver front sight blade and sporting style rear sight and full length magazine. The receiver has the 1 1/4 inch long loading gate found on light frame rifles. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "WHITNEYVILLE ARMORY Ct. U.S.A." in a single line followed by "KENNED" (Kennedy) just ahead of the rear sight. "44 CAL" is stamped on the top of the barrel in front of the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped with two-line patent dates. The serial number, "D256" (9256) is stamped on the lower receiver tang. The left side of the barrel is stamped with a variety of British nitro proof and inspection marks just ahead of the receiver. Single British "Crown/BMP" proofmarks are stamped on the top of the receiver and the bolt.

Excellent. The rifle retains 95% of the original blue finish present on the barrel and magazine and 90% of the original high polish blue remaining on the bolt and receiver. The receiver and bolt have light handling marks and scattered high point wear. The blue finish on the forearm cap shows moderate handling wear that has faded to a silver-gray patina. Nearly 90% of the casehardened finish is present on the hammer and 75% blue on the loading lever. The case colors on the buttplate have faded to a pleasant brown patina. The stock and forearm retain nearly all of the original varnish and are in very fine to excellent condition with light-moderate handling wear. The barrel markings and British proofs on the barrel and receiver are crisp. This is an excellent original example of a Whitney-Kennedy S-Lever light frame sporting rifle.