Hardin, p. 154, called the Winchester Lee bayonet, “short, lightweight, and effective.” These same qualities led someone to create a fighting knife out of this one. The muzzle ring was cut down and the slot for the locking mechanism was filled. The 8 5/16 inch blade and the grips were left untouched. The wood grips show some minor handling dents and a couple of scratches, but are very good. The hilt and blade are a uniform silver gray with scattered dark gray areas and brown spots. The edge and point are good. There is no telling when the alteration was done or by whom, but it was a professional job. There is a good possibility it was a World War Two conversion meant as a gift for a soldier. We have seen at least one identified example where a family converted a grandfather’s Civil War cavalry saber into a trench knife as a present for a son serving in the Pacific. Remington made the bayonets for the Winchester-Lee 1895 rifles, but some, like this are unmarked. The rifle saw service in Cuba and elsewhere but was supplanted by the Krag after 1900.  [SR]

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