Muzzleldrs HELP! Eli Whitney Rifled Musket?

[Jlitchford]

Hi friends! New to this site. My father gave me a rifled musket for Christmas. I cannot figure out a date or any provenance. Does anyone have more information or let me know where I might look? I think it's a mid 1860's Eli Whitney .58 caliber but apart from that I have no idea.
Thanks!
J

 

[Jlitchford]

Hi friends! New to this site. My father gave me musket for Christmas. I cannot figure out a date or any provenance. Does anyone have more information or let me know where I might look? I think it's a Whitney .58 caliber but apart from that I have no idea.
Thanks!
J

 

[johan_steele]

I'm working from my phone so I can't see details very well. From what I can see you have a "good and serviceable" Whitney. These were made up to late 1861 or so. They were typically made up from a hodgepodge of parts from a variety of sources. They were not typically accepted into US service but often found their way into militia and state forces as well as the surplus market. Please disregard as UCVrelics gave you a more accurate explanation.

 

[UCVRelics]

What you have is a VERY nice Whitney Enfield pattern musket. These muskets were made from parts that started out intended for British Enfields but were modified significantly. Whitney was never able to get any of these weapons qualified for Federal contracts, most were supplied to whoever would buy them. Manufactured by Whitney Arms, New Haven Connecticut, good & serviceable muskets. Marks: Lockplate bears only E WHITNEY and was never dated. Whitney was never able to get any of these weapons qualified for Federal contracts. Model features: Made from various parts bought from bankrupt estates or otherwise modified, parts started out intended for British Enfields but were modified significantly and include the unique upward projection between the bolster and the stock, flush fitted lockplate bears only E WHITNEY and was never dated.

 

[johan_steele]

It should also be noted that these are sometimes highly sought after by collectors. They're rather rare with only a few hundred manufactured. The long range rear sight being the least common.

 

[Jlitchford]

Any idea on the production date? I assumed, given it had no production site listed above "E. WHITNEY", it's early. But that was just a guess.

 

[Jlitchford]

What you have is a VERY nice Whitney Enfield pattern musket. These muskets were made from parts that started out intended for British Enfields but were modified significantly. Whitney was never able to get any of these weapons qualified for Federal contracts, most were supplied to whoever would buy them. Manufactured by Whitney Arms, New Haven Connecticut, good & serviceable muskets. Marks: Lockplate bears only E WHITNEY and was never dated. Whitney was never able to get any of these weapons qualified for Federal contracts. Model features: Made from various parts bought from bankrupt estates or otherwise modified, parts started out intended for British Enfields but were modified significantly and include the unique upward projection between the bolster and the stock, flush fitted lockplate bears only E WHITNEY and was never dated.

Thank you for the input. It's a fabulous piece. I'm thrilled you have it. Wish I had some provenance on it.

 

[UCVRelics]

This should help answer your questions.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thank you for the input. It's a fabulous piece. I'm thrilled you have it. Wish I had some provenance on it.

Look at the stock and on the barrel near the breach and see if you see any markings.

 

[Jlitchford]

Look at the stock and on the barrel near the breach and see if you see any markings.

I can't find any marks. But it's so great to have some history behind it, much appreciated!

 

[johan_steele]

This should help answer your questions.
View attachment 341332

Thank you for this; there were clearly more manufactured than I realized. I always though there were only a few hundred.

 

[hawknknife]

I have one of these that cn be puchased at a bargain. I just sold one of the first model Whitney two band rifles Enfield Varient, the one with the iron oval patch box, less than 150 mfg. These are highly collectable guns of which most went South.

 

[Jlitchford]

Thank you for this; there were clearly more manufactured than I realized. I always though there were only a few hundred.

Curious on how many were long range rear sights though.

 

[hawknknife]

The 3 band models such as this one all had the Whitney long range rears.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Very nice Whitney Enfield. Welcome to the forum.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice piece and welcome to the forum from South Florida and the Reenactors Forum

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. Wonderful Christmas present

 

[Stone in the wall]

Welcome from"inside of Mosby's Confederacy" and it seems you were very high up on Santa's nice list

 

[Banjo Pete]

Wow, sweet ! Looks, in the pic of the muzzle that it came with an original British brass and cork tompion (muzzle plug). A collectible item in itself.

 

[22ndGa]

Nice piece, welcome to the forum. My wife gave me a Spencer Carbine one Christmas, really special! I still have it.