What rifle is this?

Hardscrabble Gus · July 05, 2007, 11:22:33 AM

Hate to display my ignorance, but what model rifle is this man holding? The picture is said to have been taken October 16, 1887 and is of a family identified as Saulteaux Indians (I believe the Saulteaux were originally upper Great Lakes, notably Superior and Ojibwe?). I don't know how many do Native American impressions, but the mixing and blending of traditional and white clothing and articles stood out to me. I wish I could see his ring better, see if it was a trade or Jesuit ring or something else entirely.

Delmonico · July 05, 2007, 11:41:16 AM

It don't magnify well for me, not enough pixels, but to hazard a guess, I'd say a Kennedy. It the picture availble on-line at higher resalution? If so post the link.

Bull Schmitt · July 05, 2007, 06:06:56 PM

Might be a Colt-Burgess, Whitney-Burgess-Morse, Whitney-Kennedy or a Whitney-Scharf. I favor the Colt-Burgess.

Hardscrabble Gus · July 05, 2007, 08:49:03 PM

I don't think the picture has higher resolution on-line. It is located at the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada website, the specific site is the image index page: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/hti/imgally/index_e.html

The picture is contained within Treaty 4 (1874) and does not appear, to my limited expertise, to be able to be enlarged at the link.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/hti/imgally/pg16_e.html

Dutch Limbach · July 07, 2007, 02:21:43 AM

Here is a higher resolution picture:
http://www.manitobachiefs.com/multi/oldies/oldpic33.jpg

Fox Creek Kid · July 07, 2007, 09:41:36 AM

It looks like a '66 Winchester and that his hand is making the hump where the lever enters the frame appear larger than it is a la a Whitney Kennedy, but the forearm cap, size & the way it shines gives it away.

Will Ketchum · July 07, 2007, 10:36:27 AM

Quote from: Fox Creek Kid on July 07, 2007, 09:41:36 AM
It looks like a '66 Winchester and that his hand is making the hump where the lever enters the frame appear larger than it is a la a Whitney Kennedy, but the forearm cap, size & the way it shines gives it away.

I agree. In the poorer resolution photo it was hard to determine. I initially thought it was a 66 but the apparent "hump" threw me.

Will Ketchum

Delmonico · July 07, 2007, 10:54:45 AM

Another case of "I wish they would have saved the negative." Thanks Dutch.

Steel Horse Bailey · July 07, 2007, 04:05:04 PM

Does anyone else see something pretty unique 'bout that picture?

.gnielims s'eH

Books OToole · July 07, 2007, 04:42:10 PM

It appears to be a canvas tipi. Not uncommon for that late date.

Books

Dr. Bob · July 08, 2007, 12:21:32 AM

And the door flap appears to be a blanket.

River City John · July 08, 2007, 07:37:55 AM

Steel Horse,

.si eh, seY

Will Ketchum · July 08, 2007, 04:32:14 PM

Do you mean that he's holding the rifle left handed?

Will Ketchum

Delmonico · July 08, 2007, 04:39:30 PM

Jeff, it did happen once in a while, but very rare.

Hardscrabble Gus · July 08, 2007, 09:39:52 PM

Left-handed, got to admit something I didn't notice as unusual. Think it was a prop? So much to learn and I see this is a great place to do the learning.

Forty Rod · July 08, 2007, 10:25:47 PM

Full lever loop rules out the Whitney-Burgesss-Morse and about half of the Kennedys. The Morses all had serpentine levers and all three of the small frame Kennedys I owned had them too. I had a friend who had one large and one small, both with full loops.

Also, the Whitney frames were larger in the Burgess and the large Kennedy.