SCARCE U.S. Navy REMINGTON-LEE M1879 .45-70 GOVT Bolt Action MAGAZINE Rifle ANCHOR MARKED 1 of 300 NAVY CONTRACT Rifles ANTIQUE

Product Description

SCARCE U.S. Navy REMINGTON-LEE M1879 .45-70 GOVT Bolt Action MAGAZINE Rifle

ANCHOR MARKED 1 of 300 NAVY CONTRACT Rifles ANTIQUE

Here we present a scarce antique U.S. Navy Remington-Lee Model 1879 Bolt Action Magazine Rifle, manufactured circa 1881 in Ilion, New York and chambered in .45-70 GOVT. The Lee Arms Company was formed and patented in 1879 by James Paris Lee. When we think of James Paris Lee, we usually think of the British family of Lee-Enfield rifles. However, the United States Navy actually adopted this early version of Lee’s action before the British in 1879. In addition, this rifle was the first use of the detachable box magazine, a patented invention of Lee’s.

This example is one of 300 Model 1879 Lee rifles designed by James Paris Lee, and manufactured under the first U.S. Navy contract, with deliveries completed by January of 1882. The Lee Arms Company was formed and patented in 1879 by Lee, and in 1880, the U.S. Navy contracted with Lee of Bridgeport, Connecticut for 300 full stock .45-70 caliber rifles of the patented type in 1879. The Lee Arms Company was formed and handed the actual manufacturing of the contract over to the Sharps Rifle Company. But, when Sharps went bankrupt and closed its doors in October of 1880, it handed all of the unfinished receivers, parts, and tools over to Remington in 1881, who completed the guns for the Navy Contract. The barrel is marked “P/W.M.F./ANCHOR”, for Ordnance Inspector Lt. Commander William M. Folger, U.S. Navy. The magazine is the correct flat sided type with the rib for the cutoff device.

The Lee Model 1879 rifle, a landmark rifle design, incorporated a turnbolt action, the Lee spring-loaded column-feed magazine system, and was his first successful magazine-fed rifle. The Model 1879 was adopted by China and the United States Navy, and two later designs, the Remington-Lee M1885 and the Winchester-Lee or Lee Navy M1895, were also adopted militarily and sold commercially. Approximately 100,000 Lee magazine rifles were manufactured between 1880 and 1907. Arguably the most modern rifle in the world until the introduction of the 8mm smokeless powder using the Lebel Model 1886 rifle, the Lee utilized the first successful detachable box magazine, unlike the Lebel which still used a tube magazine.

The overall condition is good+. Clear inspection markings. Gray patina throughout. The action is excellent. The bore is dim with strong rifling. The stock shows use and has an old semi-circular graft repair along the left side of the receiver and is solid throughout.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 29-1/4 inches.

Caliber: .45-70 GOVT

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$3500
#247310