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Item No.:	9467	Price :	SOLD
Item :	WHITNEY MODEL 1861 U.S. NAVY PERCUSSION RIFLE, "PLYMOUTH RIFLE"

Description :

This is an original, Civil War Model 1861 U.S. Navy Percussion Rifle manufactured by Eli Whitney of New Haven, Connecticut in 1862. Known as the "Plymouth" Rifle, the gun was conceived by Captain John A. Dahlgren, a well known ordnance officer in the U.S. Navy. The prototype rifles were assembled at the Washington navy Yard and taken aboard the U.S.S. Plymouth for testing. Hence the name. Whitney was awarded a contract for 10,000 guns in July of 1861. The contract was completed in 1864. The Plymouth Rifle was a .69 caliber muzzleloader with a 34" round barrel fastened with two bands. The barrel has three groove rifling. The trigger guard has a spur finger grip behind the guard bow. It used a unique long range leaf rear sight graduated to 1000 yards. There is a large bayonet lug on the right side of the barrel for the saber bayonet. This rifle is in very fine to excellent condition. It remains nearly 100% armory bright, as built, with just a few tiny specks of brown. The speckling is a little heavier on the original ramrod. The lock works perfectly. It is an early, 1st style lock with the large eagle-shield-flag motif. The bore is excellent, bright and shiny with strong rifling. The barrel does not have the usual "VP"/Eagle/Date marking on the top flat. It does have the simple "W" inspector's initial of Frank C. Warner. This "W" is also stamped into the left flat of the stock. The bayonet number "1487" is stamped on the tang. The stock is in very fine condition with just a few small dings and scratches from use. There is a small gouge at the front of the lock plate flat that has long ago been worn smooth. The Navy Plymouth Rifle is a fairly scarce Civil War arm, especially in nice condition. Stock no. 25232

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