This rifle was part of a contract of 10,000 rifles manufactured by Whitney for the U.S. Navy. The contract was completed in 1864. These "Plymouth" rifles were designed under the recommendation of Captain John A Dahlgren and were tested on the U.S.S. Plymouth in in the mid-to late 1850s. As with many early U.S. martial arms, the inspiration for this pattern came from a prior French design, in this case, the "Carabine a Tige." It features a short blade front sight and long range adjustable (up to 1,000 yards) ladder rear sight. The barrel tang is stamped with the serial number, and the left side of the barrel is stamped "F.C.W" below the "V/P/eagle head" proofs. The lock is marked "eagle/U.S." and "WHITNEY-VILLE" and is dated "1864" vertically behind the hammer. It has a straight grip stock with standard U.S. military style buttplate and sling swivels mounted below the buttstock and on rear barrel band. The tang of the buttplate is marked "U.S." "R. F." is hand marked on the right side of the butt. It comes with a bowie knife style bayonet designed by Dahlgren with an 11 inch nickel plated blade, "1861" on the ricasso, walnut grip, brass guard, and a scabbard. The maker's mark is unclear on the other side of the ricasso, but the bayonet was likely manufactured by Ames.

Very good. The metal surfaces have a mottled gray-brown patina with some areas of light to mild pitting. The wood is very good with some chips and numerous light scrapes. The action is excellent, and the markings are generally clear. The bayonet is very good with most of the period replated finish remaining on the blade, some overall light spotting, an aged patina on the brass, and small pressure marks in the handle. The scabbard has some dents in the brass which has an aged patina and some cracking and scratches on the leather.