Arms, Armor and Militaria

.58 caliber. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. SN: C83. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut musket stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifle musket with Whiteny mid-range leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked in Gothic letters MANTON forward of the hammer and dated 1862 at the tail. Top of breech with B/100 rack mark as well as V and P proofs. Left angled breech flat with G.W.Q inspection mark. Barrel serial numbered C/83 behind the front sight. No cartouches on counterpane as it typical. These "Good & Serviceable" muskets produced by Whitney were of inconsistent enough quality that he did not want his own name placed on them, or for anyone to know that they were a Whitney product. Less than 2,000 were produced with the bulk being sold to Fitch & Waldo of New York, who subsequently resold them. Most use English made barrels that were acquired from Colt after Colt found out they would not be accepted for US Ordnance contract muster deliveries. As this one has "U" marked barrel bands and a G.W.Q barrel inspection, it may have started life as a Connecticut contract rifle musket that was rejected and then was repurposed as a "Manton". Other similarly marked examples are known. A scarce and interesting part of the story of Whitney's Civil War arms production and an uncommon rifle musket to find for sale. It is worth noting that the rack number B/100 is specifically listed in George Moller's American Military Shoulder Arms - Volume III in the section discussing these guns, suggesting that Mr. Moller at the very least examined this gun prior to writing his book and may have owned it. {ANTIQUE}