Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Triggers

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:48 pm

I just picked up this original Whitney Kennedy last week. I am anticipating shooting it soon...

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:50 pm

That's a beaut!
Don't see many of the 'other' makes anymore!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 12:55 pm

I can't remember seeing one of those....Congrats

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:03 pm

It is an extremely early gun with "S" lever, sling swivels and double set triggers. There weren't that many Whitney Kennedy rifles made to begin with, let alone these features. I already have 3 other Whitney rifles, a 44-40 rifle, 44-40 SRC, and a 45-60 SRC.

geobru · Post by **geobru** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 3:48 pm

That is in fine shape!
Glad it found a good home where it will be used again!

Tanks for posting.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 6:08 pm

That's a gorgeous WK, and beyond it's superb condition, it's a rare variation too! Great find!!!

Daisyman · Post by **Daisyman** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 6:36 pm

That is a beaut!! Not knowing much about them, how do those rifles take a 44-40 and a 45-60 in the same action or is there a small frame version? Very nice gun!!

Irv

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:23 pm

Daisyman wrote:That is a beaut!! Not knowing much about them, how do those rifles take a 44-40 and a 45-60 in the same action or is there a small frame version? Very nice gun!!

Irv

Same action, although some people call the larger caliber guns "Large Frame" even though they are the same.

Here are the 2 SRC top in 44-40, bottom in 45-60

44-40 SRC...

45-60 SRC...

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:41 pm

Wow, those are really nice Shrapnel. Rare rifle in a rare configuration. Their condition is not to be believed. Congrats.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 9:49 pm

Very nice! I don't know anything about 'em... from the looks, I take they're a top-eject like the Winchester?

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Dec 24, 2016 11:53 am

The Whitney Kennedy shares a lot of design similarities with the 1881 Marlin, and Colt Burgess. A lot of Burgess patent influences in all three gun models. All are top eject.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:32 pm

What a beautiful addition to your collection! The condition of that rifle is amazing. I might have missed where you mentioned it, but what year do you think it was made? I am very impressed with the fact that it is in 45-60 caliber. If it is the same as the Winchester 45-60, it would put a 300 grain slug out the barrel at just over 1,300 fps .... a lot more punch than the 44-40.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Sat Dec 24, 2016 5:26 pm

KirkD wrote:What a beautiful addition to your collection! The condition of that rifle is amazing. I might have missed where you mentioned it, but what year do you think it was made? I am very impressed with the fact that it is in 45-60 caliber. If it is the same as the Winchester 45-60, it would put a 300 grain slug out the barrel at just over 1,300 fps .... a lot more punch than the 44-40.

This rifle also has a unique rear sight with integrated elevation ladder. It is a very early "experimental" model has a serial number under 300, with no letter prefix and a C.F. mark on the barrel after the caliber stamp. it must be made in the early 1880's. I have another 45-60 in a SRC but it is later and has a loop lever.

hfcable · Post by **hfcable** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 10:58 pm

that is a real beauty..... i have one in 44 but never got one in a rifle caliber like 45/60, though i have tried !

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Sun Dec 25, 2016 11:13 pm

marlinman93 wrote:The Whitney Kennedy shares a lot of design similarities with the 1881 Marlin, and Colt Burgess.

What are the quirks of the Whitney Kennedy? For instance, I've read feeding from magazine to chamber wasn't the most reliable on the early 1881 models.

That's a very nice looking example, Shrapnel.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:06 am

KWK wrote:
marlinman93 wrote:The Whitney Kennedy shares a lot of design similarities with the 1881 Marlin, and Colt Burgess.
What are the quirks of the Whitney Kennedy? For instance, I've read feeding from magazine to chamber wasn't the most reliable on the early 1881 models.

That's a very nice looking example, Shrapnel.

I haven't had any feeding problems with mine, but I haven't shot them near as much as my Winchesters. They are extremely smooth, but the lever throw is very long and that could create a problem.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:34 am

I've only owned two Whitney Kennedys. One in .44-40 and another in .40-60. I didn't have ay issues with cycling in either gun. I was collecting pre WWI Marlin rifles at the time, and stumbled across the two Whitneys at different times. I always thought they were a really nice gun, and very significant part of firearms history. I still own a Whitney, but the one I have is a Whitney-Laidley split breech in .45-70. A huge improvement on the Remington Rolling Block designed rifle.

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 3:26 pm

Shrapnel wrote:They are extremely smooth, but the lever throw is very long and that could create a problem.

The smooth part sounds familiar. Somewhere on my shelves is a book covering only the Burgess patent rifles. I should go find it and read up on the Kennedy. Congratulations again on a great find.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:23 pm

marlinman93 wrote:I've only owned two Whitney Kennedys. One in .44-40 and another in .40-60. I didn't have ay issues with cycling in either gun. I was collecting pre WWI Marlin rifles at the time, and stumbled across the two Whitneys at different times. I always thought they were a really nice gun, and very significant part of firearms history. I still own a Whitney, but the one I have is a Whitney-Laidley split breech in .45-70. A huge improvement on the Remington Rolling Block designed rifle.

Here are a couple Whitney Phoenix rifles. Simple, yet functional. I can't find any definite connection to Burgess on this design, but still a useable design for a single shot...

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:46 pm

Over on YouTube, a search for Whitney Kennedy leads one to a few videos on the Kennedy rifle. From mannyCA is a nice video on taking it apart, which shows all the internals. The video from Forgotten Weapons gives some of the history behind them, and they also have a video on Whitney's Scharf lever action.

Maybe Uberti will have a go at these some day.

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:01 am

What a find! Beautiful piece of rare history.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Thu Dec 29, 2016 12:16 pm

I don't believe the Phoenix had any Burgess patents used? I think (not sure) that Whitney totally designed the Phoenix on their own. It was a pretty simple design, and a low cost gun to buy. They were made at the same time Whitney built Rolling Block style singles, but I see far more Phoenix than Whitney Rolling Blocks, so guess they sold better.
This is my Whitney Laidley in .45-70:

Mine was missing the tang sight, so a friend built this one for me:

Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Triggers

Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Triggers

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge

Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge