This Whitney Second Model Navy rates very good for condition, with smooth metal showing sharp markings and some thin blue, and blue turning thin plum on the barrel, loading assembly and frame. As is typical of Whitneys the cylinder scene was lightly applied and pretty much invisible. The grip strap is a thin brown over silver gray. The grips have pleasing deep brown color and good surface showing two small notches on the lower right a couple short scratches above, a small ding on the butt and a shallow divot on the left near the screw. They have a good fit, showing perhaps just a hairline shrinkage gap on the butt at right rear. The barrel address is sharp: “E. WHITNEY / N. HAVEN” with just a very small s-shaped scratch to its right and a a few shallow scratches on the cylinder. The serial numbers match, 28453. The mechanics are good, though the barrel wedge and screw are loose. The cylinder nipples are not battered down. Like the Whitney First Model, the Second Model went through several changes and improvements, creating several sub-types. The bore has five grooves, which Flayderman classifies as the 6^th Type, changing from the seven grooves of the 5^th Type from serial number 29000 and to the end of production, which included about 1,500 First Models and 34,000 Second Models. This adjusts the change-over by 500 numbers or so.

Like other Civil War military revolvers, the six-shot Whitney took its “navy” designation from its .36 caliber and saw wider distribution and use in the cavalry during the war than on ship. It was liked for its use of a solid frame, among other things, though McAulay records some complaints about breakage of parts. Production started in the late 1850s and a number ended up in Confederate hands through prewar purchases, some likely early war sales by less than scrupulous retailers, and by capture. About half the production went directly to the Union military by purchase or contract, with others making their way in by state or private purchase. The army acquired 7,000 by contract or direct purchase from Whitney from March 1862 to February 1863, and another 11,184 by purchase, mostly by purchase from retailers in 1861-1862, but including 792 from the state of New Jersey in 1863-1864. Navy purchases totaled 6,276, running from February 1863, as army contracts ceased, to March 1865.

McAulay records at least nineteen Union cavalry regiments listing Whitneys in their small arms inventories, including the 1-3 Colorado, 4,7,11 and 15 Illinois, 7 and 9 Kansas, as well as 3 and 7 Ohio, 5, 21 and 22 PA, along with some of the 6^th US Regulars, with many of those receiving them seeing service in the western theatre. This would make a key addition to a collection of cavalry sidearms and Civil War revolvers, as well as nice memento if you had an ancestor serving in one of those units, many of whom saw very active campaigning.   [sr][ph:L]

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