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Whitney Variant Model 1861 Rifle Musket, “Manton” Lock
- University of New Mexico Press
- Chapter
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Whitney Variant Model 1861 Rifle Musket, “Manton” Lock 379. 379.–1 Available information indicates 1,070 Whitney “Manton” rifle muskets were delivered by merchants Fitch & Waldo to the state of New York during the summer of 1863. One hundred and nine of them failed inspection. The earliest reference to Manton rifle muskets in the Whitney records in our possession is a January 6, 1863, letter from C. Hubbard, Whitney’s plant manager in Connecticut, to Whitney, in Washington, DC: “Mr. Sackett [agent of the R. S. Stenton Co. of New York City] was here this morning to see you further about the ‘Manton’ guns. Captain Paul [Whitney’s foreman] told him we could deliver 55 within five days, 1,500 more in ten days.” On February 2, Whitney wrote to Stenton: “I can not promise more than 1,000 of the ‘Manton’ muskets and these only to be subject to State Inspection as good and serviceable work being as a general thing as the sample and if any are rejected it will lessen the number so much (from 1,000). My object in putting the ‘Manton’ on the lock was to avoid selling the muskets as mine.”24 Four days later, on February 6, Whitney wrote to arms merchants William Bailey Lang & Company: “You can sell the 1,000 ‘Manton’ U.S. muskets (but not as my manufacture) ‘tho as good as sample at $16 each.” He also offered a 21 /2 percent commission discount, which brought the price down to $15.60 per rifle musket. During the first six months of 1863, Whitney also corresponded with arms merchants Fitch & Waldo and Palmers & Bachelder, as well as New Jersey Quartermaster General Perrine regarding these muskets. On April 14, he offered 1,000 rifle muskets to a Mr. W. W. Seat, who is unidentified. No further information has been uncovered regarding this offer. On May 14, Whitney wrote to arms merchant R. S. Stenton, saying that he had “1,000 muskets put up with bayts [sic] and ready to box.” He added, “I have 689 Muskets put up without bay’ts and can deliver them in 30 days.” In a June 18 letter to Fitch & Waldo of New York City, Whitney stated that he had sent that afternoon “a sample Springfield gun, 1000 of which I can furnish in one day’s time. Enclosed with the sample is a cone wrench & screwdriver, wormer and cone, one of each goes with each gun. There is also with every 10 guns 1 spring vise, 1 ball screw, [and] 1 tumbler punch.” He also stated, “These arms are good & serviceable , though varying slightly from the Springfield gauges in points not essential.” 24 Emphasis added. This explains the reason for the “Manton” marked locks. Part III 496 In his June 19 letter about these muskets to New Jersey Quartermaster General Perrine, Whitney stated, “about 1 /3 of these Muskets are rifled with 7 grooves and the balance has 3 grooves.” On June 23, 1863, Fitch & Waldo ordered 1,000 rifle muskets from Whitney. Although only partially documented, it is believed that these arms were for the state of New York. Whitney accepted the order on June 25, and also offered an additional 700 rifle muskets, which Fitch & Waldo also accepted. In his letter, Whitney commented, “[T]he barrel is only 1 inch shorter.” On June 29, Whitney shipped a total of 1,000 rifle muskets. The remaining 700 were delivered during July and early August. The price of the 1,000 arms shipped at the end of June was $16.00 each, less his 21 /2 percent (or $0.40) commission . The New York state inspector who signed the inspection certificate on June 29 was a Mr. Anson A. Frichell. The unit price of the arms shipped after the first 1,000 does not appear to have been reduced by the commission. Whitney’s invoices to Fitch and Waldo clearly identify the quantities of both Manton and direct vent rifle muskets that were sent in each shipment: Shipping Date Manton Direct Vent June 291 685 3112 July 7 100 220 July 9 140 20 July 11 30 50 July 12 113 — August 3 — 1 August 4 2 98 Total Sent 1,070 700 Failed inspection: (109) Manton muskets accepted: 961 Notes 1 In his correspondence with Fitch & Waldo, Whitney used the term “direct vent” to describe rifle muskets that had a priming vent that extended directly from...
