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Military Rifles in the Age of Transition
(Non-U.S.) Black Powder, Metallic Cartidge, Military Rifles
1865 to 1890
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M1872 Whitney-Laidley (also Laidley-Emery)
Photos courtesy: C.W. Slagle
GENERALLY: This Rider-Remington Rolling Block knock-off was originally based on a patent granted to Theodore Laidley and C.A. Emery in 1866 and was manufactured by the Whitney Arms Company of (big surprise) Whitneyville, Connecticut.. Originally, the Whitney rifle's action had a specially designed cam which locked the breech closed, separate and distinct from the hammer, (which locks the breech in the Remington-Rider system). Later versions of the Whitney-Laidley rifle are a near exact copy of it's much more successful rival, the Remington. Whitney also built sporting rifles such as the Phoenix, but these were not successful military contenders.
PHOTO: The above picture is of a standard M1872 Whitney-Laidley (also Laidley-Emery) Military rifle, which was part of an 1877 purchase by Mexico directly from Whitney of some 2,000 such rifles.
DISTINGUISHING CHARECTERISTICS: Mexican rifles are marked R. DE MEXICO or simply R. M. (Republica Mexicana) and are sometimes also marked with the "Liberty Cap on Sunburst" design, sometimes called the "Phrygian cap insignia." As far as I can tell, dimentions, furniture and charecteristics are almost (though not quite) identical to the M1871 Spanish Remington. The Whitney can also be recognized by the extra lateral screw in the left side of the receiver below what looks like the pin retainer plates (there are actually 2 separate parts locked in by a single center screw) ... and the "pin retainer plates" themselves, which, although they look like cover plates covering retainer pins, are actully part of the retainer pins.
I expect that examples of the M1868 (71?) Spanish Model Mexican Rolling Block rifle bought by Mexico at the same time would be similarly marked.
The main axis pivot pins are retained by a central screw which locks in what appears to be a single cover plate but which is actually two pieces, each of which is an integral part of each pivot pin. The rifle is otherwise very difficult to distinguish from a Remington Rolling Block.
Markings, left to right starting to the right of the rear sight: The Mexican "Liberty Cap on Sunburst" design, sometimes called the "Phrygian cap insignia"; R.M. (Republica Mexicana), "43" (for .43 Spanish calibre) and something else I can't quite make out. You'll notice that the rear sight is likewise a Remington RB knock-off.
UNLIKE Remington rifles, the Whitneys were usually serially numbered on the lower tang as evidenced by this example's lower tang numbers.
Page first built March 26, 2001
Updated: Nov 5, 2021