Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Triggers
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Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Triggers
I just picked up this original Whitney Kennedy last week. I am anticipating shooting it soon...
- GunnyMack
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
That's a beaut!
Don't see many of the 'other' makes anymore!
Don't see many of the 'other' makes anymore!
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
I can't remember seeing one of those....Congrats
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
That is in fine shape!
Glad it found a good home where it will be used again!
Tanks for posting.
Glad it found a good home where it will be used again!
Tanks for posting.
- marlinman93
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
That's a gorgeous WK, and beyond it's superb condition, it's a rare variation too! Great find!!!
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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
Irv
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
Same action, although some people call the larger caliber guns "Large Frame" even though they are the same.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
Here are the 2 SRC top in 44-40, bottom in 45-60
44-40 SRC...
45-60 SRC...
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
Wow, those are really nice Shrapnel. Rare rifle in a rare configuration. Their condition is not to be believed. Congrats.
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
Very nice! I don't know anything about 'em... from the looks, I take they're a top-eject like the Winchester?
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- marlinman93
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.
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cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.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.
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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 !
cable
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.marlinman93 wrote:The Whitney Kennedy shares a lot of design similarities with the 1881 Marlin, and Colt Burgess.
That's a very nice looking example, Shrapnel.
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
KWK wrote: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.marlinman93 wrote:The Whitney Kennedy shares a lot of design similarities with the 1881 Marlin, and Colt Burgess.
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
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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 wrote:They are extremely smooth, but the lever throw is very long and that could create a problem.
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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...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.
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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.
Maybe Uberti will have a go at these some day.
Last edited by KWK on Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
What a find! Beautiful piece of rare history.
Have you hugged your rifle today?
- marlinman93
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Re: Rare Early Whitney Kennedy 45-60 Rifle Double Set Trigge
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:
This is my Whitney Laidley in .45-70:
Mine was missing the tang sight, so a friend built this one for me:
Pre WWI Marlins and Singleshot rifles!
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/
http://members.tripod.com/~OregonArmsCollectors/