The Whitney family was involved in making guns for years. The company made some of the Flintlock 1798 Contract Rifles thru the era of lever action guns.
It was the Whitney company that made the first Colt Walkers because Colt didn't have a manufacturing plant in 1848.
Yes, it is the same family that invented the Cotton gin.
Your E WHITNEY N HAVEN sounds like the Whitney Navy, manufactured in the late 1850's to the early 1860's.
"FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS" has quite an extensive write up about both the Whitney company and your pistol. The following information comes from that book:
The normal barrel length was 7 1/2 inches. Other lengths from 4" to 8" are known and are more valuable.
There were two basic models and the serial numbers started with 1 for each of them.
It was "the first practical solid frame revolver...", beating the Remington by several years. (Remington didn't start producing the "1858 until 1862).
Over half of the production was sold to the U.S. Military. Guns so sold will have Military acceptance stamps on them.
The first model (type 1,2 &3) can be recognized by the junction between the grip and the frame.
The upper area where the wooden grip meets the frame is going straight up in a straight line forming a square juncture.
The top strap of the frame is very thin.
The First Model, First Type has no loading lever.
The First Model, Second Type has a loading lever.
About 300 First Model Whitney Navys were made.
In 2008 this pistol in 'fine' condition was worth up to $4,000.
The Second Model's grip meets the frame with a radius rather than the straight grip.
The Second Model came in 6 different "types".
The first type had a heaver frame, brass trigger guard and cylinder pin secured with a wing nut.
One safety notch on rear of cylinder.
Barrel marking was "E.WHITNEY/N.HAVEN"
S/N 1-1200
The second type same as first but 6 safety notches on rear of cylinder.
S/N 1200-13,000
The third type had the ball type loading lever latch changed to the Colt wedge type.
S/N 13,000-15,000
The forth type changed the roll engraving scene and the marking to "WHITNEYVILLE"
S/N 15,000-25,000
The fifth type enlarged the trigger guard.
S/N 25,000-29,000.
The Second Model Whitney pistols in 2008 ranged up to $2,000 in 'fine' condition.
As a side note, the Whitney was the model that Spiller & Burr used as a basis for the pistol they made for the Confederate army using a brass frame instead of the Whitneys steel frame.
An Italian reproduction of the Whitney Navy was offered for many years. I believe it is no longer in production but the existance of these reproductions creates the possibility that Whitneys on the market may be faked.
I am not saying the Whitney that we are talking about in this topic is a fake but folks should know about the possibility.
