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LOT 214
Spectacular U.S. Contract Whitney Model 1841 Percussion “Mississippi Rifle” - NSN, 54
cal., 33 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an exceptional, nearly as
issued, original example of a U.S. contract Model 1841 rifle that was manufactured by Eli Whitney at the
Whitneyville Armory in New Haven, Connecticut. The rifle is in the original .54 caliber round ball configuration with its 7-groove rifling, has none of the alterations performed on most Model 1841 rifles prior to or during the Civil War, and appears to have remained in storage throughout its service life as opposed to being issued, protected from the elements and harsh conditions of warfare and serving as a
true time capsule today. The rifle has a color casehardened lock plate and hammer with browned barrel. The trigger, screw heads, and band springs have a fiery niter blue finish. The buttplate, patch box, trigger guard, sideplate and barrel bands are brass. The rifle
has the distinctive over-sized brass patch box. The barrel has a half-moon shaped brass blade front and a fixed notch rear sight.
The steel ramrod has a flared brass tip. The lock plate is roll-stamped “N. HAVEN/1851”
in two vertical lines behind the hammer and “E. WHITNEY/US” in two lines
ahead of the hammer. “US” stamped on top of the buttplate. The barrel tang is
dated “1850”. The top of the barrel is stamped with the proof and inspection
marks “US/SM/V P”. “STEEL” and small inspection initial “K” stamped on the left
barrel flat, sideplate and patch box door. The left stock flat is stamped with
two Ordnance inspection cartouches consisting of script initials “SK” in a boxed
border and the script initials “WAT” (William A. Thornton) within an oval border.
Includes a combination tool and extra nipple in the patch box. The Model
1841 rifle gained fame during the Mexican War when the 1st Mississippi Rifles
commanded by Colonel Jefferson Davis and armed with Model 1841 rifles
played a key role in the U.S. victory at Buena Vista, earning the nickname “Mississippi Rifle”. Initially issued to light infantry and
the Regiment of Mounted Rifles, Model 1841 rifles saw wide use with
both the Federal and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Most Model 1841 rifles were altered to .58 caliber, to accept bayonets, and/or fitted with long range sights prior to and during the Civil War. Unaltered Model 1841 “Mississippi Rifles” in their original configuration are scarce, let alone witnessed in this high level of condition.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, nearly as issued. There is no wear visible on the percussion nipple, bolster or adjacent areas of the lock and barrel. Retains 97% attractive original brown finish on the barrel with a few areas of slight thinning, and absolutely sharp markings and edges overall in the metal surfaces, 97% vibrant original
case colors on the lock and hammer with only slight darkening on the hammer, 85% plus original fiery niter blue finish on the small parts, and attractive golden bright patina on the brass surfaces. The stock
is also excellent, with attractive original raised and feathered grains in
the wood with rich oil finish, a few scattered light handling marks, and exceptionally sharp stampings and edges overall including the unmarred
ramrod channel. Mechanically excellent. This spectacular example is one of the finest Model 1841 “Mississippi” rifles ever offered for sale by the Rock
Island Auction Company and is one of the top few examples of its type extant. Do not miss your opportunity to own the best, this “Mississippi Rifle” would be nearly
impossible to improve upon and would be a prime possession in any U.S. martial firearms collection!
Provenance: The David Aroh Collection; The Ralph Arnold Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,500
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