Civil War-era Whitney Navy & Eagle Co .36 Cal Percussion Revolver Antique
SOLD FOR: $1030
LSB#: 220404DW006
Make: Whitney Arms Company
Model: Whitney Navy & Eagle Co. Revolver; Second Model, 4th Type
Serial#: 16078G
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1857-1869, Antique
Caliber: .36 Cap & Ball
Action Type: Single-Action Percussion Revolver with a Six-Round Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “B”. The trigger guard is marked “B”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “16078G” which is the serial number. The loading lever is serial matched. The right side of the barrel and frame are both marked “B”. The top of the barrel is marked “E. WHITNEY / N. HAVEN”. The bottom of the right grip panel is “HH”. The right grip-strap is marked “4”. Both grips are serial matched to the revolver.
Barrel Length: 7.5”, Octagonal
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a brass bead fixed by the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the top-tang.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece wood. The grips have some light handling marks, nicks and compressions. Notably, there is a light ding on the left panel slightly ahead of the screw and a light crack at the bottom rear portion of the right panel. Overall, the grips are in Very good condition for Antiques.
Type of Finish: Blue with a Brass trigger guard and Case Color loading lever
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is grey with sharp rifling. There is light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 1% of its metal finish. The brass trigger guard is heavily tarnished and coated in light surface oxidation. The blue finish has worn off and the gun is now in the white. There are scattered patches of light surface oxidation in addition to some light handling marks, nicks and scuffs on the frame, cylinder and barrel. The loading lever is also now in the white and has some light surface oxidation and light handling wear. The cylinder engraving is no longer visible but the remaining markings are clear. The screwheads have tool-marks but they remain serviceable. Overall, the revolver is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The timing is off on two of the chambers but otherwise the action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder locks with only barely palpable play on each chamber. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Eli Whiteny (1765-1825) is one of the most famous inventors to have ever lived. He is most famous for the cotton gin which had a profound effect on the American economy in the early 19th century, particularly in the South, but he also was heavily involved in the firearms industry. He was a major advocate for manufacturing firearms that had interchangeable parts, an idea that, in a modern context at least, originated with French General and inventor Jean-Baptise Vaquette Frechencourt de Gribeauval (1715-1789). Whitney entered the firearms business in 1798 securing a contract to supply the United States with between 10,000-15,000 muskets by 1800. Whitney passed away in 1825, but his armory remained in operation until 1880 when the company finally closed its doors.
This particular specimen is a Whitney Navy & Eagle Co. Percussion Revolver which falls into the category of the Second Model and Fourth Type. The gun entered production in the late 1850s and was discontinued in the late 1860s. The gun was among the first generation of practical solid frame revolvers, it was an early competitor to Colt which had just lost its Master patent in 1857 which had allowed Samuel Colt to dominate the revolver market. Although not nearly as well known as the Colt and Remington revolvers that were used prolifically during the Civil War, the Whitney Navy & Eagle Co. Revolver was pressed into service during the conflict and they were effective in the field. This particular specimen has no visible government acceptance marks, so there is no way to know for sure if it was employed during the conflict. The cylinder engraving has worn off, but otherwise the gun is nicely preserved and aside from a minor issue with the cylinder’s timing the revolver remains mechanically sound. This is a great option for fans of Civil War-era relics and historical firearms. Good luck on your bid!