Navy Arms Whitney?

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kBob

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Did Navy ever import a steel frame Whitney and if so who made it? When?
Are they worth having? How much are they worth having?

inquiring minds and all that.......

-kBob
 
Palmetto Arms (Italy) made a Whitney .36. They were imported by Navy Arms and Richland Arms. Palmetta wasn't known for quality firearms. I never handled one of their Whitneys, so I don't know how well made they were.
 
I have a Palmetto made Whitney.
It's OK so far as shooting it.
Some items of comment:
The wood grips are pocked. That is, they are not smooth they have a lot of uneven tiny ..."dimples" (for lack of a better word) in them. It's a bit like they had a bad "complexion" if you will.
Upon disassembly for cleaning, I note that the nipples have washers behind them, which is something I never encountered on any other firearm. I queried members of this forum about that and was told that it's because when Palmetto drilled the holes for the nipples, they did a rough job and the wahers were to help seal the chamber.
I had no problems shooting the gun and it seems reasonably accurate. I will say that IMHO the gun was more expensive (I got mine from Dixie Gun Works IIRC) than it is really worth. I mean at the price it was offered I think it would be nice to have some good grips on it and not be required to have nipple washers which is silly.
Fratelli Pietta makes a Spiller and Burr which is a Confederate copy of the Whitney with a brass frame and they do a good job of it, so I think maybe that might be a better overall deal. That's my two cents.
 
pohill & tommygunn,

I knew I could count on you guys. Thanks.

Unfortunately or maybe not unfortunately the auction appears to have been withdrawn over night. So I will never know if the one in question was worthwhile or not. It did appear that the listed gun at some point had a date with some jeweler's rouge and a felt wheel as markings were "worn" and yet some seemed to have blueing in the bottoms of the numbers.

Likely I was saved from many headaches and heartaches by not openning the bidding.

-kBob
 
A few years ago, I saw a Whitney in a store at a very low price. The salesman told me it was a "pre-Italian reproduction", whatever that means. I bought it because I knew what it was, an original.
It likes to sleep in a 3rd Generation case.
The iron frame turned a plumb brown.
Picture004-1.gif

For what it's worth, if you ever come across a "Pre-Italian repro," check under the trigger guard. To the left of the serial number is the Whitney eagle.
IMG_0267.gif
 
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No, the box is a 3rd Generation Signature Series box.
I do have a fantastic box made by another poster here, Snaggletooth. I'll have to get a pic of it.
 
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