This rifle was manufactured c. 1883 based on the I prefix and has special order casehardened frame, forearm cap, and buttplate. Maxwell recorded only 1 rifle with casehardened finish on the frame and furniture in "Lever Action Magazine Rifles Derived from the Patents of Andrew Burgess" and that rifle was .38 caliber. He only recorded 58 .45-60 special order rifles total out of 751 special ordered rifles identified. The rifle is listed in Dale Olson's spreadsheet at EliWhitney.org in this configuration including noting the casehardened receiver and nose cap. All special order Whitney-Kennedy rifles are very scarce in part because the company actually discouraged special orders. The rifle also features a nickel-silver "Rocky Mountain" blade front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight, standard markings, and standard oil-finished forearm and stock with empty compartment.

Very good with half of the period refurbished brown finish on the barrel, lighter brown on the magazine tube, traces of original case colors and case color patterns on the frame and furniture, mottled silver-gray patina, minor pitting, scattered marks and scratches on the metal and wood, and some small chips at the edges of the stock and forearm. Mechanically fine.