1870's Whitneyville Model 1 Pocket Pistol

CaptainAmerica · May 9, 2011, 12:07 PM

While digging through my attic I managed to stumble upon an Whitneyville Model 1 Pocket Pistol. At the time I didn't know what it was and the torsion spring in the handle was broken, so I took it to a gunsmith to see if it could be repaired. He seemed to believe that it's a super rare firearm and is getting me a quote to see how much to fully restore it. He said that of the ones he's seen it in the nicest condition as a starting point. What is something like that worth?

RJay · May 9, 2011, 04:17 PM

Whitney Arms Co. Whitneyville, Connecticut. By the 1870's this once famous firm was reduced to making "Suicide Specials ". Sold under a number of different names such Eagle, Defender and Monitor. Yours is a typical firearm as shown in Fayerman's under the Title Sucide Specials . Value is very low and I for one ( unless it is a Heirloom ) can see no justication for the expense of restoration. They sold for less than 2 dollars when brand new. Sorry about that However that is just MHO and like belly buttons everyone has an opinion

James K · May 9, 2011, 08:21 PM

If the gunsmith offers you a bunch of money, take it and thank him as you run out the door. In one sense he may be right, it is not a real common gun, but it takes more than rarity to make a gun valuable. There is some collector interest in those "suicide specials" and they are inexpensive enough that a nice display can be made at minimal cost. But most of the attraction, aside from variety, is that they are cheap.

Jim

g.willikers · June 9, 2011, 02:57 PM

Eghads, that was my very first "real" gun.
I was maybe 11 or 12 years old.
My grandpappy found it someplace and gave it to me for a toy.
Little did he know!
I found ammo for it and shot it a few times.
Can't remember if it was .22 rimfire or .32??
Wonder what ever happened to it.
Could it be..............naw.

James K · June 9, 2011, 06:37 PM

I have one of those around someplace; I think I paid $45 for it a couple of years ago. If that gunsmith is offering big bucks for that rare gun, ask him if he would like a matched pair.

Jim

Hawg · June 10, 2011, 01:50 PM

You were lucky. A buddy of mine found one similar to it in an old house when we were teens. He fired one short in it and blew it into three pieces.

May 9, 2011, 12:07 PM	#1
CaptainAmerica Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 1	1870's Whitneyville Model 1 Pocket Pistol While digging through my attic I managed to stumble upon an Whitneyville Model 1 Pocket Pistol. At the time I didn't know what it was and the torsion spring in the handle was broken, so I took it to a gunsmith to see if it could be repaired. He seemed to believe that it's a super rare firearm and is getting me a quote to see how much to fully restore it. He said that of the ones he's seen it in the nicest condition as a starting point. What is something like that worth?

June 9, 2011, 02:57 PM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Eghads, that was my very first "real" gun. I was maybe 11 or 12 years old. My grandpappy found it someplace and gave it to me for a toy. Little did he know! I found ammo for it and shot it a few times. Can't remember if it was .22 rimfire or .32?? Wonder what ever happened to it. Could it be..............naw. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 9, 2011, 04:17 PM	#2
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Whitney Arms Co. Whitneyville, Connecticut. By the 1870's this once famous firm was reduced to making "Suicide Specials ". Sold under a number of different names such Eagle, Defender and Monitor. Yours is a typical firearm as shown in Fayerman's under the Title Sucide Specials . Value is very low and I for one ( unless it is a Heirloom ) can see no justication for the expense of restoration. They sold for less than 2 dollars when brand new. Sorry about that However that is just MHO and like belly buttons everyone has an opinion

May 9, 2011, 08:21 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	If the gunsmith offers you a bunch of money, take it and thank him as you run out the door. In one sense he may be right, it is not a real common gun, but it takes more than rarity to make a gun valuable. There is some collector interest in those "suicide specials" and they are inexpensive enough that a nice display can be made at minimal cost. But most of the attraction, aside from variety, is that they are cheap. Jim

June 9, 2011, 06:37 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I have one of those around someplace; I think I paid $45 for it a couple of years ago. If that gunsmith is offering big bucks for that rare gun, ask him if he would like a matched pair. Jim

June 10, 2011, 01:50 PM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	You were lucky. A buddy of mine found one similar to it in an old house when we were teens. He fired one short in it and blew it into three pieces.