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CIVIL WAR Antique ELI WHITNEY .38 Cal. CENTERFIRE Conversion NAVY Revolver Fourth Most Purchased Handgun in the CIVIL WAR with HOLSTER! Guns International #: 101777474 Seller's Inventory #: 215243 Category: Whitney Revolvers - Civil War Revolvers Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: AncestryGunsLLC Company: Ancestry Guns LLC Member Since: 11/3/16 State: Missouri Zip: 65203 Country: United States Phone: (314) 707-7373 International Phone: 314-707-7373 Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 1466 Total Number of Listings: 29962 Seller: FFL Dealer Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Types Accepted: Credit Card, Certified Check, Money Order Description: CIVIL WAR Antique ELI WHITNEY .38 Cal. CENTERFIRE Conversion NAVY Revolver Fourth Most Purchased Handgun in the CIVIL WAR with HOLSTER! Here we present an antique Whitney Navy Cartridge Conversion Revolver, made circa the late 1850s to the early 1860s in New Haven, Connecticut and converted to cartridge circa 1870. Eli Whitney Sr. established his Whitneyville Armory in1798 and produced firearms (among other things) by contract for the young U.S. government. Just prior to this, in 1793, Whitney invented the mechanical cotton gin, which dramatically changed the economic landscape in the U.S., namely in the South. While his invention was a labor-saving device, making the processing of harvested cotton extremely efficient and requiring fewer laborers, his machine caused the market for cotton to explode and more laborers were needed to plant, grow and harvest the crop. This resulted in a corresponding boom in the Southern slave trade. Great fortunes were created, and the population of the South became such that one in three Southerners were slaves. All this provided the fuel that would become the raze that was the American Civil War. Eli Whitney died in 1825, and his son, Eli Whitney Jr., began running the family business in 1841. Whitney Jr. seized the opportunity in 1847 to manufacture 1,000 of Samuel Colt’s latest revolver the Colt Walker revolver. Production of this revolver helped both parties immensely as it kept Colt in business, and it allowed Whitney Jr. to tool up and gain experience making revolvers. With the expiration of Colt’s patents in 1857, Whitney began production of percussion revolvers based on Colt’s patents, some of them very closely copied. The Whitney Navy Revolver came about when Fordyce Beals—later of Remington-Beal fame—came to work for the company. He was the primary designer, which was indeed why the Remington-Beals Navy and Army Revolvers came to look so much like the Whitney. The Whitney has the distinction of being one of the first successful solid framed revolvers. As their production began before the war in about 1857, both the Union and the Confederacy utilized them in the American Civil War. This one has been modified to be able to fire metallic cartridges. The back of the cylinder was cut and an extension added, allowing the cylinder chambers to be loaded from the back. The hammer and slot were also modified, the hammer having a large firing pin mounted on it. The old rammer was deleted and a simple ejector rod assembly was attached in its place. A great piece, showing an old revolver could be updated by the thrifty or sentimental shooter! The overall condition is good. Robust action. Good bore for age: reflective with nice rifling. Both grips are firm and have average wear. The faintly tooled holster is in good shape. A great example of a unique period conversion and what some were using after the war! Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction. Barrel is 7-3/4 inches. Caliber: .38 Centerfire Overall condition as seen in photos. Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail! Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. ancestryguns $2445 #215243   SOLD Antique: Yes