Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this lever-action rifle today for a penny-start auction; this is the Whitneyville “Kennedy” rifle.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Whitneyville Arms Co.
Model: “Kennedy” Rifle
Serial: H210
Date of Manufacture: 1880-1886
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 20"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Wood Forearm and Straight Grip Stock with Crescent Butt Plate
Action: Lever
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Whitneyville Arms Co. “Kennedy” Rifle is a historically significant lever-action repeating rifle produced during the late 19th century by the Whitneyville Armory of Connecticut, an area closely associated with Eli Whitney and America’s early arms industry. Building on a legacy that included military arms production and innovation, Whitneyville Arms manufactured a variety of firearms that, while limited in overall output, were well engineered and are highly regarded by collectors today. Chambered in the popular .44-40 Winchester cartridge, this rifle reflects the company’s effort to compete directly with dominant makers of the era by offering a practical, reliable repeating rifle suited to both civilian and frontier use.
Model: “Kennedy” Rifle
Serial: H210
Date of Manufacture: 1880-1886
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 20"
Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Wood Forearm and Straight Grip Stock with Crescent Butt Plate
Action: Lever
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Whitneyville Arms Co. “Kennedy” Rifle is a historically significant lever-action repeating rifle produced during the late 19th century by the Whitneyville Armory of Connecticut, an area closely associated with Eli Whitney and America’s early arms industry. Building on a legacy that included military arms production and innovation, Whitneyville Arms manufactured a variety of firearms that, while limited in overall output, were well engineered and are highly regarded by collectors today. Chambered in the popular .44-40 Winchester cartridge, this rifle reflects the company’s effort to compete directly with dominant makers of the era by offering a practical, reliable repeating rifle suited to both civilian and frontier use.
Manufactured between 1880 and 1886, the Whitney-Kennedy rifle represented a refined evolution of the earlier Burgess Model 1878 Long Range Repeating Rifle, redesigned by Samuel V. Kennedy and Frank W. Tiesing to accommodate the widely adopted .44-40 cartridge. With an estimated total production of approximately 26,500 units, these rifles are comparatively scarce, particularly in well-preserved condition. This example features the later Winchester-style loop lever—introduced after the early “S”-shaped Burgess lever—along with a 20-inch barrel, blued finish, and smooth wood furniture with a crescent butt plate. Together, these features place it firmly within the later production period and underscore its desirability as a representative example of Whitneyville’s innovative but short-lived lever-action designs.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.




