M1841 Whitney - A keeper?

[johan_steele]

Attached are some pics of what the M1841 originally looked like with the proper accouterments. The bottom pic shows mine with a period wrist repair and the wrong ramrod. Repro ramrods of the proper pattern are readily available via Lodgewood or other dealers for around $65-70. An original is quite a bit more.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The patch box shown with the lid open is a Harper's Ferry stock.
J.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

[QUOTE="Jobe Holiday, "The patch box shown with the lid open is a Harper's Ferry stock.

Indeed it is, And, if I might add, the hammer screw is replaced.

 

[Bill S]

Attached are some pics of what the M1841 originally looked like with the proper accouterments. The bottom pic shows mine with a period wrist repair and the wrong ramrod. Repro ramrods of the proper pattern are readily available via Lodgewood or other dealers for around $65-70. An original is quite a bit more.
View attachment 185000 View attachment 185001 View attachment 185002 View attachment 185003 View attachment 185004 View attachment 185005 View attachment 185006

It's good to see the gear that was issued and used with the M1841. I'll bet most of these items are difficult or impossible to find in decent condition today. I do have, packed away, a Batty peace flask.

Your rifle looks unaltered and is the first pre trapdoor I've seen with a wrist repair. With their long thin wrist a large number were probably broken.

 

[Bill S]

I've replaced the subject Whitney with two M 1841s. I already received the first which is an 1853 Remington in .54. This, new to me, Remington is certainly nothing special as a collector's gun because the stock was well sanded so no cartouches remain and someone agressively took the entire mild steel barrel back to white. The only visible barrel mark is "SM". No marks on the tang! The price was okay for the condition and I've decided to hotblue the barrel and use the gun for???

 

[johan_steele]

Nice all original Remington. I wouldn't worry about blueing her, take her out and give her a good spin. If the rifling is still intact and the barrel solid send a few .54 round balls down range and see what she can do.

 

[Bill S]

Nice all original Remington. I wouldn't worry about blueing her, take her out and give her a good spin. If the rifling is still intact and the barrel solid send a few .54 round balls down range and see what she can do.

I thought about shooting this one. The barrel might be OK, I see rifling down to about 2" then I see caked on "crud". I'll clean it soon as I get the time then give it a workout if it looks okay.

The hot blue is something I'd like to do, it's on my bucket list.

 

[redbob]

Be very suspicious of anything marked CSA.

 

[Bill S]

Be very suspicious of anything marked CSA.

Will be careful!

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Considering that the barrel on your M-1841 Rifle was never blued originally, why would you want to put a modern finish on it now?
J.

 

[Bill S]

Considering that the barrel on your M-1841 Rifle was never blued originally, why would you want to put a modern finish on it now?
J.

Based on everything I've read, all of the M1841s were browned, including the contract rifles. Please tell me how you know they were not browned, I'm certainly not an expert. Thanks!

 

[Jobe Holiday]

My statement is not about Browning. It is directly related to your comment of "...I've decided to hotblue the barrel...". There is a big difference between "Hot Bluing" and "Browning". Yes, the Model 1841 Rifle was Browned, as is explained in the Ordnance Manual of 1862, wherein is included the complete formula for the Browning Process.
J.

 

[Bill S]

More precisely I will "rust blue"the appropriate parts using a "browning solution".

Thanks for pointing out the error. Like a said, not being an expert, I don't know it all yet.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Not a problem, we're all on the same page now! How about showing us the finished product when you are done with it?
J.

 

[Bill S]

Not a problem, we're all on the same page now! How about showing us the finished product when you are done with it?
J.

Great, I don't like to do inferior or inappropriate work, I was hoping rust bluing was acceptable. It will be a while before I get to it but I'll surely post photos.

 

[Mr. King]

Everytime I see anything marked "CSA", I think about Francis Bannerman.
This seems like a clapped together Bannerman special.

 

[Bill S]

Everytime I see anything marked "CSA", I think about Francis Bannerman.
This seems like a clapped together Bannerman special.

It might have been a Bannerman. but I sent her back home. I'm learning that it's hard to find a nice untouched gun but I'm having some luck.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Bannerman's modified a lot of arms, and some of their descriptions may have been a bit creative, but they NEVER had a reputation for fraudulently marking arms to make them Confederate.
J.

 

[drm2m]

A M1841 rifle with an 1848 E. Whitney lock marking and a browned barrel.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

For Jobe who already probably knows this, and others re: the Brown finish. "Dragon's Blood" can be purchased here in the US... Google it.
....just FYI for anyone who may wish to attempt to do a proper lacquer brown finish on a Missy.