Frank de Haas refers to it as the m/72 in his book on single actions.  Lots of great info.  My problem is I can not get the action reassembled for the life of me.  I need an order of reassembly.  I have the breech block assembly, hammer assembly, and the trigger assembly out.  All springs are where they started. It is different than a remington rb that much I have learned.  Can anyone help?

Mike

I got it finally. It is the Whitney-Laidley.  I was treating it like a rem rb but it is not.  You need to remove the trigger assembly/trigger guard and then it becomes kind of a 3 hand job as you fight the mainspring/cam spring to get the rear trigger guard screw in.  I found my problem too which is why I disassembled....broken latch and lucky I found one at Dixie Gun Works.  always an opportunity to learn something with an old gun.  Thanks for the reply.

mike

Yup I had the same problem the first time I reassembled the Whitney Laidley Model 1 Rolling Block. 
I found I had to compress the main spring to reassemble.
Wood has been refinished on the one in the pictures for owner who refused to leave it original.
More parts and better quality machining than the Remington which was cheaper to produce and took over the market.
These rifles were designed to compete with Remington's  No. 1 rolling block rifles and are fairly rare. 
Manufactured in 1871-1881. 
Standard markings, blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, "45-" on top at the breech, "70" ahead of the forearm, and matching serial numbers on the barrel, forearm, and lower tang.
Whitney acquired manufacturing rights for this model from inventors T. Laidley and C.A. Emery, who had received the patent in 1866. 
Whitney immediately started modifying the action to become competitive with Remington Rolling Block. 
Approximately 50,000 manufactured totally between 1871 and 1881. 
There are a number of variations of this model.
In 1865, Rider improved the split breech design to create the rolling-block action which was named the "Remington System" which was cheaper to produce.

Maybe this?

Regards,
Joe

Latest update is good news.  I painstakingly straightened the spring and was very pleased with the results.  Then I copied the new extractor with the old with a file and bingo at last when I assembled according to Vall's method I had full function and the hammer fell as it should.  I think with the latch out the hammer was falling but not at the correct notch in the hammer because now the trigger pulls as a trigger should.  thanks to all
mike

If I have one I will bring it to OAC ken

jfeldman wrote on Feb 11^th, 2023 at 4:07pm:


How thick is it from screwdriver tip to tip Joe? Maybe it's OK as-is if it's short enough. I have a couple of those racheting handles like Lyman uses for their lubrisizers, and might consider just cutting the length down on bits for magnetic tip screwdrivers. Then I could use those rachet handles and a short tip for tight areas.

The 1/4" ratchet wrench with some of the newer Lyman Lubrisizers is the Chapman wrench.  I also use a 50+-year-old Chapman set.  I can usually make do in a small space by cutting off the top of the bit.  If needed, a new full-size bit can be ordered from Chapman for usually around $1 and quite often for free.  Chapman is an excellent company for standing behind their products.

Bill Lawrence