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Eli Whitney, New Haven, CT, 1826 - 1888

Whitney "hooded cylinder"

Whitney "hooded cylinder", serial # 79, caliber .28 percussion, 6" octagonal barrel with fixed front sight and maker's inscription E. WHITNEY N. HAVEN CT. The cylinder hood is marked "PATENT" on the right edge and "APPLIED FOR" on the left. The serial number is marked on the right side of the front strap under the grip. The revolver features a six shot,  which is the trial type with a groove between each nipple aperture and exposed nipples, brass post front sight, brass frame which was silver plated. The iron barrel, cylinder, hammer, trigger and trigger guard were all finished blue. This is the scarcest of the variations of this model of Whitney revolver. There is a push button mounted at the top of the blackstrap that releases the cylinder for manual revolving after the hammer is cocked. When the nipple is lined up with a hole in the top of the hood, the button is released and the cylinder locks in place for firing. This was the first revolver produced by Whitney after his contract for manufacture of the Colt Walker in 1847. Whitney manufactured only about 200 of these Hooded Cylinder Model revolvers circa 1850 to 1853.
The iron surfaces have a mottled grayish patina with several minor dings on the barrel, and scattered overall minor pitting including on the brass. The grips are good. The right panel has a repaired crack which runs from the top to the bottom, there are strong traces of the original varnish, a few minor dings and dents and a pleasant hand rubbed patina. The markings are clear. The mechanics are fine. One does not find these very historic Whitney revolvers very often.
Flayderman's # 5J-086. Very rare revolver in very good condition    $7,500.

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