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LOT 1189
Documented Early Production Serial Number 14 Civil War U.S. Whitney Model 1861 Navy Percussion Rifle with Rare Fighting Knife Bayonet - Serial no. 14, 69 cal., 34 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. The Plymouth Rifle was manufactured on the recommendation of Navy
ordnance officer John A. Dahlgren and
was based on the French Model 1849
“Chasseurs de Vincennes” percussion rifle. Offered here is serial number 14, and it was one of the first 100 production rifles delivered on February 5, 1863. It features a .69 caliber rifled barrel with bayonet lug on the right side, long range leaf sight graduated to 1,000 yards, trigger guard with spur finger grip and ramrod with large cylindrical tip pierced with a small hole. The 1862 dated lock is decorated with a large eagle/shield ahead of the hammer and is marked “U.S./WHITNEY-VILLE”. The barrel tang is marked with the low serial number “14”. The buttplate tang is correctly unmarked as the first 100 rifles delivered lack the “US” marking. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a leather sling and fighting knife type bayonet. The bayonet has a 12 inch steel blade marked “AMES MFG Co/CHICOPEE” and “USN/DR/1864” along with an anchor, “P” and “GG”. The walnut grip has finger grooves, and the pommel has the inspector mark
“DR.” The leather scabbard is attached to a leather belt with a “US” buckle. Dahlgren ordered only 375 of these fighting knife bayonets from Ames Manufacturing Co. The first 75 bayonets were for the trial rifles, and the remaining 300 bayonets were delivered in late October 1861. These Plymouth rifles are described in depth on pages 507-513 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”, with this exact rifle photographed on the top of page 510.
CONDITION: Very good showing a silver-gray appearance mixed with pitting. The stock is also very good with a few splice repairs and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Bayonet is fine overall with casting flaw on upper left. Blade is mostly bright polish. Leather is fine.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
Model 1855 Percussion Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch
round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. One of only an estimated 350 manufactured by Whitney Arms circa
1861 using Model 1855 Maynard Tape Primed locks which are normally dated 1858, like this example. The barrel is fitted with a Type I or Whitney variant Model 1855 long-range rear sight that uses a 2 5/16 inch base and folding leaf graduated from 500 to 800 yards on the left branch with slide. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a “US” marked socket bayonet and brown leather sling. This exact rifle-musket is pictured on pages 487- 488 and the model is discussed in detail on pages 486-490 in George Moller’s “American Military Shoulder Arms, Vol. III”. These rifles are known to have been issued to the 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, who fought bravely in Burnside’s
IX Corps on the Union left flank at the Battle of Antietam, advancing further than any other regiment, and the last to be driven back. They suffered 34 killed, 139 wounded, and 21 missing of the 400 men deployed at the start of the day. CONDITION: Very fine. The metal surfaces have an overall light silver-gray patina with numerous dings on and around the barrel bands and typical bayonet wear at the muzzle. The stock is excellent with a barely noticeable hairline stress crack at the lock plate, small patch of paint towards the toe (right side) and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 1190
Exceptional, Documented U.S. Civil War Whitney
Collector’s Fact
This early U.S. Whitney Model 1861 Navy Rifle was one of the
first one hundred delivered to the U.S. Government on Feb. 5, 1863. The exceptionally rare bayonet is one of only 375 produced by Ames Manufacturing Co.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY
SHOULDER ARMS VOLUME III BY MOLLER
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS VOLUME III BY MOLLER
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