Lot 1331: Winchester 1895 Musket 6 mm

This is one of approximately 3,300 Military pattern muskets manufactured by Winchester for the civilian market in 1898. This example also has the distinguishment of once being part of the Winchester Museum collection. The rifle retains the Winchester Museum tags (78.1/2455 and 1513). The rifle has a blue finish and is fitted with a full length military style stock and handguard. The civilian rifle correctly lacks the U.S. Navy property and inspection markings on the receiver ring, stock and buttplate. The rifle is equipped with a pinned blade front sight and a ladder rear sight graduated to 2,000 yards. A sling swivel is present on the middle barrel band with a stacking swivel located behind the bayonet lug and a sling swivel stud on the buttstock. The top of the receiver ring is stamped with the serial number. The left side of the receiver is marked "-MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.-/NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. PAT. OCT. 10. 93.JAN.30.94.OCT.8.95." The high velocity 6MM (.236 caliber) cartridge, unique straight pull bolt and five-round, clip fed, magazine made the Winchester-Lee Musketon one of the most innovative rifles of the period, but was discontinued by Winchester in 1902.

Excellent. The rifle retains 95% plus original blue finish showing some thinning to a brown. The buttplate shows areas of gray with a number of handling marks at the toe and heal. The wood is also excellent with some scattered minor pressure dents. Mechanically excellent.