Benjamin Whitman, Stillwater, N.Y.

[GrampaJack]

I was fortunate to pick up a very nice little side by side combination gun today. 27" barrels with the right 38 Cal. and the left appears to be 16 Ga. Very nice curly walnut stock. Left rifle trigger is adjustable. Cap box on the right side.  It also has a real neat fold down lollypop tang sight with both windage and elevation.  Engraved in nice script on the barrel rib is: "B Whitman - Stillwater NY". The locks are both stamped: "Warren Albany". Quite a bit of nicely done engraving including the locks.  All the engraving  appears to have been done by the same hand.  So far all I can find on Ben is Sellers has him working in Stillwater 1859 - 1874.  I was wondering if there is any more information out there? I'll post up some pictures if anyone is interested. Thanks, Jack

[OLUT]

Swinney's book has a bit more information on Benjamin Whitman as well as a photograph of  a "buck & ball side-by-side" percussion gun that he made. Apparently he was primarily a watchmaker (as stated in various census reports).

[Levy]

Yes, pictures please!

j. Levy

[GrampaJack]

Ok, might take me a couple days but I'll get some pictures posted up.  Thanks for the information OLUT. I find it interesting that he was a watchmaker. The engraving is much better than most I have seen and almost has a British look to it although not as fine as the banknote type you see on a lot of British doubles. The watchmaking probably gave him some skills in this area. The guy I bought it from said he used it for squirrels for the past few years. Best Regards, Jack

[GrampaJack]

Here are some pictures:

[Curt J]

Very nice piece!  Congratulations on finding it.

[Buck]

Agreed, nice find.
Buck

[Levy]

You are indeed fortunate.  I have one that I use for squirrels, but it started life as a 24 gauge dbl and the left barrel was lined to a .29 cal.  It is a fun gun but heavy with 36" barrels.

James Levy

[slwhitman]

GrampaJack,

Realizing this is a 10 year old post and not likely monitored, but I am the 4th great-grandson of a Benjamin Whitman from Stillwater, NY, very likely the same person that engraved your piece. If you are at all still active on this forum, would love to provide you any background information that I can.

-Slwhitman

I was fortunate to pick up a very nice little side by side combination gun today. 27" barrels with the right 38 Cal. and the left appears to be 16 Ga. Very nice curly walnut stock. Left rifle trigger is adjustable. Cap box on the right side.  It also has a real neat fold down lollypop tang sight with both windage and elevation.  Engraved in nice script on the barrel rib is: "B Whitman - Stillwater NY". The locks are both stamped: "Warren Albany". Quite a bit of nicely done engraving including the locks.  All the engraving  appears to have been done by the same hand.  So far all I can find on Ben is Sellers has him working in Stillwater 1859 - 1874.  I was wondering if there is any more information out there? I'll post up some pictures if anyone is interested. Thanks, Jack

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi SL, 

First, welcome to ALR.  Unfortunately, December 18, 2022 was the last time that GrandpaJack logged in here.

Ron