U.S. Navy contract Winchester-Lee Model 1895 rifle manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Co. c. 1898. Designed by James Paris Lee, the innovative Winchester-Lee rifles were chambered for the high velocity 6mm (.236) cartridge and featured a straight pull-bolt action, charger-loaded five-shot magazine and pistol grip stock. The Navy purchased approximately 6,800 Model 1895 rifles in 1898 and 1899. These rifles saw extensive service with the Navy and Marine Corps landing parties during the Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion and Philippine Insurrection. This rifle has the Navy markings: "U.S.N./Anchor/No.15704/-J. N.J.-" roll-stamped on the top of the receiver. A Navy "Triangle/J" inspection marks is stamped on the toe of the buttplate and a five-pointed star and the rack number "4" are stamped on the stock heel ahead of the buttplate. "U" is stamped on the left side of the lower barrel band with the open end of the letter facing the muzzle. Winchester patent marks are roll-stamped in two lines on the right side of the receiver. The barrel, upper and lower barrel bands, rear sight base, receiver, bolt, magazine, trigger guard and buttplate have the military blue finish. The rear sight leaf spring is niter blue. The stock and handguard are oil finished black walnut. The upper barrel band has a stacking swivel, the lower band has a fixed sling swivel, and the magazine and stock have holes of the removable sling swivel which was a distinctive feature of this rifle. The scarce sight cover designed for the Navy Model 1895 rifles is fitted to the front sight. The carbine style buttplate has a sliding butt trap door. Although the innovative U.S. Navy Model 1895 rifle had a relatively short service life it is a scarce and historically important rifle that saw action in numerous small engagements with the Navy and Marines in the colonial era that began with the Spanish American War.

Very fine. This rifle is all original and is complete with the exception of the removable lower sling swivel that is inevitably missing from Model 1895 rifles. The front sight has the rare cover issued with Model 1895 rifles. The rifle has 85% of the original military blue finish. Most of the finish loss is limited to the lower barrel band which retains about 50% of the original blue and the buttplate which shows moderate handling marks and has a silver-gray patina. Nearly all of the blue is present on the upper barrel band, barrel, receiver, bolt and magazine/trigger guard. The receiver markings are crisp. The walnut stock and handguard are in very good overall condition with numerous scattered handling marks that are universal on U.S. Navy Contract Model 1895 rifles. Nearly all U.S. Navy Model 1895 rifles show moderate-heavy service wear. Although this rifle shows service use, it is in top condition for a U.S. Navy Model 1895 rifle. It would be difficult to find a better example of this scare and historically significant rifle.