The 6mm caliber Winchester-Lee saw a lot of action in the Spanish-American War. Carrying a five-shot magazine, the rifle received its nickname because bolt operates by pulling it straight up and then back, rather than rotating it first. The rifle was the primary issue long arm of both the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1895 to 1900, and was thus the “tip of the spear” in projecting American power around the globe in the “little wars” of Cuba, the Philippines, the Boxer Rebellion in China, and others where Marines and naval landing parties would be the first and sometimes principal US combatants. An initial contract for 10,000 rifles for the navy in 1898 was followed by another for 5,000 in 1899. Of the first contract, some 1,800 were marked and issued to the Marines. It was a Marine battalion armed with these that first landed and came under fire in Cuba. A group of them were also found aboard the USS Maine when the ship was salvaged.

This example rates very good to excellent with a bright blade, unmarred and tight fitting grips, along with its scabbard and belt loop. The blade is bright, with just some slight gray on reverse near the tip, and a small bit of light gray and some light scratches on the lower edge near the tip. All of these bayonets were made by Remington, but Hardin (p.154) reports that some, like this, are unmarked. The pommel shows some dark gray and some brown, which might clean. The locking mechanism works. The scabbard is the Type II, which is black leather like the Type I, but with a small ball finial on the drag and belt loop that is stitched most of the way up each side to admit just the brass wire double hook device to attach it to the belt. Like the bayonet it self, the scabbard is in exceptional condition.  [sr]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!