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Whitney-Kennedy rifles (Read 6025 times)

Bob_11B50 Newbie Offline Posts: 8 Location: Placerville, CA Joined: Jan 27^th, 2009	Whitney-Kennedy rifles Jul 20^th, 2009 at 5:38pm	Print Post
	Hello all, A friend has asked me a question regarding a Whitney Kennedy repeater. I know nothing about them other than what I've read ab out them in a Dixie cataloge. I asked the NRA abut them and they were of virtually no help. My friend states that the rifle is in good shape. He also mentioned that he was interested in getting ammo to fire in the critter. I told hime that I would ask around, but not to hold out much hope. From what I have found out is the beast is well made and moderately valuable. I also told hime that it is a candidate to be a safe queen. Thanks, Bob_11B50


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38_Cal Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2257 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Joined: Apr 27^th, 2005	Re: Whitney-Kennedy rifles Reply #1 - Jul 20^th, 2009 at 6:13pm	Print Post
	Bob_11B50 wrote on Jul 20^th, 2009 at 5:38pm: Hello all, He also mentioned that he was interested in getting ammo to fire in the critter. Bob_11B50 And what caliber is it? Should be marked, if not, it will need a trip to a knowledgeable gunsmith to make a chamber cast and research just what it will need to be fed. It should see the gunsmith anyhoo, to determine if it's safe to fire...and not just a quick glance and "looks ok to me"! Your buddy's face will be right behind the firing pin (and yours may be as well) so it's worth the expense to check it over mechanically, especially since neither of you are knowledgeable on this rifle. No disrespect, just want you and your buddy healthy and around for a long time, buying and shooting old guns! David Kaiser Montezuma, IA

	David Kaiser Montezuma, IA
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waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3016 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Whitney-Kennedy rifles Reply #2 - Jul 20^th, 2009 at 6:33pm	Print Post
	I have had some minor experience with the Whitney-Kennedy. They were competitive with the Winchester 73 & 76 and chambered the same cartridges. Most were the small frame models and were chambered for the same 44-40, 38-40 & 32-20 WCF cartridges as the 1873 Winchester. If you are going to shoot it, stick with something loaded for "cowboy action" or other black powder shooting, and with lead bullets only. The W-K is not much stronger than the Winchester 73. A larger frame model was made to compete with the 1876 Winchester and was chambered for the 1876 series of cartridges. Those will be much more of a challenge to obtain & shoot. waterman


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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18250 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Whitney-Kennedy rifles Reply #3 - Jul 20^th, 2009 at 8:06pm	Print Post
	The Whitney Kennedy was the first of the Burgess designed lever action repeaters. It's a well built gun, and had Whitney been able to survive it would have been much better known. Unfortunately Winchester saw the competition in Whitney's quality and bought them so they could close them down. The Whitney Kennedy is very similar to the Marlin 1881, another Burgess inspired lever action, and the two are foten mistaken for each other. Like the Whitney, the 1881 also was made in two frame sizes, but Marlin chose to make theirs both rifle chamberings. The .45-70 and .40-60 for large frames, and .38-55 and .32-40 for small frames. I've owned and shot a few Whitneys, and they function and shoot quite well. Plenty strong enough for the calibers they were offered in.

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podufa Full Member Offline Posts: 182 Location: Maine Joined: Dec 30^th, 2007	Re: Whitney-Kennedy rifles Reply #4 - Jul 21^st, 2009 at 5:54am	Print Post
	The book"Lever Action Magazine Rifles" by Samuel L.Maxwell Sr. is what you need.It was printed in 1976 and might be expensive now.I could copy a few pages and mail to you but would need to know what model.


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