Original Item: Only One available. This early bolt-action design was first patented in November 1878, as marked of this rifle's receiver, by JAMES PARIS LEE, an immigrant from Scotland who arrived via Canada. This is the same Lee who later became famous for his huge contribution to the British Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield series of rifles of WW1 and WW2. He had previously spent time in various pursuits before beginning to work on firearms designs, which led him to enter an association with Remington for a time. His first designs during the late Civil War were not entirely successful, but he did end up working with Remington until the early 1870s, after which he went back out on his own.

During this time he made several designs for the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept, and more importantly, developed a box magazine design, patented in 1875. This was intended to be a safer alternative to tubular magazine, which unfortunately could have accidental discharges. He returned to Remington to refine the design, and developed a Bolt-Action military rifle, patented in 1878, with the purpose of entering it into military trials. Specifically, the design was partially made to fill a U.S. Navy Board of Ordnance request for magazine rifles to become their new standard service rifle. They had two designs already, the Hotchkiss and Remington-Keene, but both of these were tube magazine designs, and they wished to evaluate a gun with a detachable box magazine.

Unfortunately Remington had already produced the Remington-Keene, and were unlikely to want to produce another, so Lee started the Lee Arms Co. to market this design. He then entered into a contract with the Sharps Rifle Co. to use their production facilities, and was able to get a U.S. Navy Contract in 1882 for 300 Lee Model 1879 Rifles in .45-70. This also gave Lee access to designer Hugo Borchardt, who would himself design several noteworthy arms.

More importantly, Borchardt would help Lee refine his magazine design, devising an effective production method, which involved the use of two stamped steel sections that were then brazed together. This resulted in what is known as the Lee-Borchardt magazine, or first pattern, which his has a distinctive protrusion at the top front of the magazine, and extended feed lips at the back. These were intended to help retain a cartridge in the magazine by using the point and rear rim to anchor it. This unfortunately ended up not being entirely successful, as rounds would often fall out of the top of the magazine during handling or reloading. The protrusion at the front was removed for the next version of the magazine, and instead a small catch on the side of the magazine was introduced, which was then retracted once the magazine was put into the gun, somewhat of a forerunner of the "magazine cutoff". This design was called the Lee-Cook, or second pattern, named after the designer at Remington that further refined the design. 

While this was going on, the business side of things had run into some hiccups, which explains why a designer at Remington became involved with the design that Sharps was supposed to produce. Sharps fell onto hard times during the lean Post Civil war years, and went out of business, which resulted in Lee entering into a new agreement for production with Remington, who would utilize the partially finished rifles made by Sharps to fulfill the original Navy contract for 300 rifles. These were serialized 1-300, and had barrels inspected by WWK, for inspector W.W. Kimball

After this, the Navy made a second contract for an additional 700 M1879 rifles, which would be serialized in the 400-1000 range, and were all stamped with WMF for Navy inspector William M. Folder. The earliest of these were also still marked on the receiver with "THE LEE ARMS Co.", while later in the second contract they would be marked "E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NY.". This is detailed in U.S. MILITARY BOLT ACTION RIFLES by Bruce N. Canfield, pages 102-109, some of which are shown in the pictures, but are not included.

The U.S. Army subsequently ordered 750 of the Model 1882 variant for trials, and later the U.S. Navy would later acquire 3,400 of the revised Model 1885 in two contracts. the Remington-Lee however saw much more success with foreign contracts, with 32,000 being produced, including about 13,000 being sent to China. It was also sold in a quantity of 500 units to New Zealand in 1887. Eventually in 1892 it was passed over by the U.S. Military in favor of the M-1892 Krag–Jørgensen Rifle in 30-40 Caliber.

This lovely example is one of the Lee Model 1879 rifles received by the Navy as part of the 2nd Contract awarded, and has the correct early pattern sight. Otherwise, these were fitted very similarly to the U.S. Trapdoor rifles of the period, and this example has two sling swivels with a stacking swivel, and a standard cleaning rod that threads into the receiver. It has the correct U.S. Navy inspection marking stamped onto the left side of the barrel by the receiver:

P
W.M.F.
⚓︎

It has the correct inspection marking for U.S. Navy inspector William F. Folger, only seen during this second Navy contract for the M1879. The top and side of the receiver has the Lee address and patent information, correct for these even though they were manufactured by Remington:

To the right of these the top of the receiver is stamped with serial number 543, which is also consistent with the 2nd order placed by the Navy for these rifles, which had the serial number range of approximately 400-1000. There is also an HN inspection stamp at the front of the magazine well, for government inspector Henry Nettleton.

The rifle appears totally complete including its original cleaning rod, and does not look to have been messed with or modified during its long life. The metalwork has had the original bluing wear a bit in some areas to a nice gray patina, and there is no major oxidation or pitting present. Both sling swivels are intact and moveable, and the stacking swivel is present as well. The cleaning rod is in great shape, with intact threads, and still screws easily into place. The stock is in fantastic condition, displaying a lovely matured dark red brown color, with no major damage or evidence of major restoration in the past. 

The rifle cycles correctly, with a strong dry fire, though we have no way to know if the magazine still feeds. The first pattern magazine definitely does detach from the bottom of the action when the release in front of the trigger is pulled. It is in very good shape with a strong follower spring, and would be hard to improve upon. We checked the bore, and it is in excellent condition, showing clear rifling with a bright finish. There is just a bit of wear to the lands, and evidence of past fouling in the grooves, but overall it is exceptional for a black powder gun of the time.

A wonderful example of a very early scarce Navy Contract Remington-Lee M1879 rifle with a first pattern magazine, one of only 700 received! This fantastic rifle is more than ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: circa 1882-1883
Caliber: .45-70 Government
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action Magazine Repeater
Feed System: 5-Round Box Magazine

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

More on the Remington-Lee

The Remington–Lee is a bolt-action, box magazine repeating rifle designed principally by James Paris Lee. It first appeared in 1879, manufactured by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company. Eventually Remington took over production and produced copies in .45-70. Arguably the most modern rifle in the world until the introduction of the 8 mm smokeless powder using Lebel M1886 rifle, the Lee utilized the first successful detachable box magazine, unlike the Lebel which still used a tube magazine.

The design was incorporated by the British into the Lee–Metford and Lee–Enfield rifles, thereby becoming one of the most widely used rifle designs of the 20th century. Remington's version of the Model 1879 saw only limited use by the U.S. Navy and the Model 1882 was tested by U.S. Army and issued on a very limited scale. Ultimately, it was passed up in favor of the Krag–Jørgensen in 1892.

New Zealand purchased 500 for its militia in 1887. These were chambered in Remington's .43 Spanish (11.15×58mmR) caliber. These were quickly replaced after complaints about ammunition quality.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.