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Extremely Rare Deluxe Factory Engraved Whitney-Kennedy Lever Action Repeating Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare Deluxe Factory Engraved Whitney-Kennedy Lever Action Repeating Rifle
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Extremely Rare Deluxe Factory Engraved Whitney-Kennedy Lever Action Repeating Rifle

This is a rare example of a deluxe factory engraved Whitney-Kennedy lever action rifle that was manufactured circa 1879-1886. The rifle has the late full-loop loading lever, octagon barrel, full length magazine and crescent steel buttplate with sliding brass trap. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted front sight with brass blade and sporting style rear sight. The barrel, magazine and receiver have a blue finish and the forearm cap, hammer, trigger, loading lever and buttplate are casehardened. The receiver, bolt and loading lever are decorated with meticulously executed scroll engraving on a punch dot background. The scroll work extends to the lower portion of the barrel between the rear sight and receiver, the sides of the forearm cap and the heel of the buttplate. The fancy walnut stock and forearm have checkered panels with a varnish finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend "WHITNEYVILLE ARMORY, Ct. U.S.A." in an engraved panel ahead of rear sight. "44 CAL." is stamped on the top barrel flat at the breech in a rectangle surrounded by engraved scroll work. The upper receiver tang is roll stamped "PAT'D JANY. 7-73/AP'-1, (2) MAY 13.& AUG.12-7" in two lines with engraved scroll work borders. The serial number "K-98" is stamped on the lower receiver tang beneath the loading lever (Whitney-Kennedy rifles were serial numbered with alphabetic prefixes after number 5000). According to "Lever Action Magazine Rifles" by Maxwell only 4 of these configured rifles were factory engraved and only three were in 44 caliber.

Manufacture: Whitney Arms Company
Model: Kennedy-Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: k98

Very fine. The rifle retains over 90% of the original blue and casehardened finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the barrel and magazine. There is light edge wear on the receiver high points and the contact points on the loading lever. The casehardened finish on the forearm cap, loading lever and buttplate has a silver patina with strong traces of the original case colors. The engraving is deep and crisp. The barrel and tang markings are sharp. The stock and forearm are very fine with minor handling and storage marks. The checkered panels on the wrist and forearm are sharp. Most of the high polish varnish finish remains. This is a very fine example of a rarely encountered deluxe factory engraved Whitney-Kennedy lever action repeating rifle.