Whitney Kennedy lever rifles

Tubac · September 11, 2007, 06:12:16 PM

Hi gents,
Can anyone suggest a source for information on these rifles, other than Flaydermann's?
Thanks,
Tubac

St. George · September 11, 2007, 10:37:46 PM

Several texts mention the Whitney rifles.

They are:

'Our Rifles' - Sawyer
'.45-70 Rifles' - Behn
'Firearms of the American West 1866-1894' - Garavaglia - Worman
'Guns of the Old West' - Boorman

There are probably more - but I know that these address the question.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Tubac · September 18, 2007, 09:05:56 PM

Thanks St. George. I ordered a copy of "The Whitney Firearms" from Amazon.
Hopefully, it'll have some information on these rifles.

Tubac

Tubac · September 21, 2007, 08:53:08 PM

Gents,
The book "The Whitney Firerarms" arrived, and it's a company history rather than a study of the firearms.
Oh well, win some, lose some.

Tubac

gunplay · October 01, 2007, 07:06:01 AM

The 2007 Standard Catalog of Firearms published by Gun Digest has some information on page 1343. It also has general prices. I hope this helps a little bit.

Tubac · October 08, 2007, 09:55:48 PM

Gunplay ,

Thanks for the info. The madness overtook me and I took my Whitney-Kennedy and my Winchester 1873
out into the desert. I wrote the the experience up in the GUN REVIEW section.
Regards,
Tubac

ColonelFlashman · January 11, 2008, 07:45:36 PM

Quote from: Tubac on September 11, 2007, 06:12:16 PM
Hi gents,
Can anyone suggest a source for information on these rifles, other than Flaydermann's?
Thanks,
Tubac

If you are able to locate a copy try;

LEVER ACTION MAGAZINE RIFLES
Derived from the Patents of Andrew Burgess
Including
1872/5 Burgess 1881 Marlin
1878 Burgess The Tiesing
The Kennedy 1886 Whitney
Colt-Burgess
By Samuel L. Maxwell Sr.
Published by the Author 1976
Printed by TAYLOR PUBLISHING COMPANY
DALLAS, TEXAS
COVINA, CALIFORNIA

minerotago · April 22, 2008, 11:49:05 PM

Did I hear someone say Whitney kennedy!

I use one to shoot on my place now and again. Just love it as it is far superior to my '73. Mine is the early 'S' lever and the bore is as good as the day it wa smade though the outside is now an even plum brown patina.
I would love to know more about them as they are a fine rifle and have a smooth action. In fact I find that the action is far better and easier to operate than my '73

Rube Burrows · May 02, 2008, 10:18:36 PM

I read in the book GUNFIGHTERS that Billy the Kid presented deputy U.S. Marshal Eugene Van Patten a Whitney-Kennedy Lever Action Carbine in 44-40.

Forty Rod · May 03, 2008, 12:57:12 AM

I never had a Kennedy, but owned a Whitney-Burgess-Morse .45-70. It was like a Swiss watch...biggest dang Swiss watch you ever saw...glassy smooth and beautifully finished. If the Kennedys were anything like them you'll have a real fine rifle.

minerotago · May 04, 2008, 05:26:44 AM

The action is a longer throw than the Winchester 73 but in my opinion much smoother. In any case I like it much better as it is clearly a much stronger rifle. I loaded up 60 or so rounds of black powder .44 for it a while back and took it on holiday whne I went on my more or less annual bunny hunt at a place called the Lindis in Central Otago NZ but I didnt get anything as the front sight had got knocked over bother it all but the bore is exceptionally good and when it is sighted in it is far more consistent than my 73, also with an excellent bore.
The Lindis in Central Otago incidentally saw me get my best score in a 1/4 mile by 1/4 square (on the map but on the ground the side of a steep hill) when I lost count on my 109th rabbit.
I was also at an Antique Arms show here a few years ago and a fellow had the receiver of a Whitney Kennedy. He wanted 200 for it and told me that it had been found in a shed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Wish i had bought it either for the parts or as a project. This rifle wa sone of the Burgess family and I also use a Burgess 12g takedown, pistol grip pump action and its just the best shotgun I ever had.

Rube Burrows · May 04, 2008, 03:44:21 PM

Does anyone make a replica of it yet?

minerotago · May 04, 2008, 06:43:54 PM

I dont think so, at least I havent seen one. Mind you its a matter of time as a lot of early firearms which we may not have expected to come out as replicas are being made. In a funny way I hope they never do as the replicas take something away from the scarcity of knowledge of the originals, especially the little known originals of which the Whitney Kennedy is one. It is one of those rifles which you can take to a shoot and the first time you do so everyone says "Whats that?" but if they are reproduced then their novelty and conversation value has gone.

Rube Burrows · May 04, 2008, 10:36:37 PM

Quote from: minerotago on May 04, 2008, 06:43:54 PM
I dont think so, at least I havent seen one. Mind you its a matter of time as a lot of early firearms which we may not have expected to come out as replicas are being made. In a funny way I hope they never do as the replicas take something away from the scarcity of knowledge of the originals, especially the little known originals of which the Whitney Kennedy is one. It is one of those rifles which you can take to a shoot and the first time you do so everyone says "Whats that?" but if they are reproduced then their novelty and conversation value has gone.

Yeah, that is very true. There is something mystique about owning a Whitney when very few own one. I myself cant quite afford one......yet.

minerotago · May 05, 2008, 03:06:17 AM

Quote from: Joey Guns on May 04, 2008, 10:36:37 PM
Yeah, that is very true. There is something mystique about owning a Whitney when very few own one. I myself cant quite afford one......yet.

Well its something to aim for. I kne of the existenc of the ne I have for years and years. Its owner considered it the best item in his collection and when he died age 52 he left it to his wife. A year or so later another friend came to tell me that his wife had put it into a local gunshop to sell for $1350NZ and he wanted it but didnt have the money. I made him a deal - I would buy it for him and if he did not uplift it in 12 weeks by reimbursing me then I got to keep it - For the next twelve weeks I dreaded every day, but when the twelve weeks had passed and he had not uplifted it then it was mine...and now it just aint for sale.
Youll get one - they come up form time to time and there is always one advertised somewhere in the US of A for sale. Just save for it and if you do that you will have the money when it is avaliable.
The past really lives when you take originals out to shoot and the Whitney Kennedy is ideal.
Actually come to think of it I have to make up my mind which gun to get buried with - the Whitney Kennedy or my Spencer!