Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a rare Winchester M1895 Lee Navy Sporting Rifle in 6mm, usually referred to by collectors as a "Winchester-Lee". This is the first example of of a Lee Navy that we have had, and looks to have seen little to no use. The bluing on the metalwork is in great shape, and the stock shows only storage wear, with the checkering still quite crisp.

The M1895 Lee Navy is a straight-pull magazine rifle adopted in limited numbers by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in 1895 as a first-line infantry rifle. The Navy's official designation for the Lee Straight-Pull rifle was the "Lee Rifle, Model of 1895, caliber 6-mm" but the weapon is also largely known by other names, such as the "Winchester-Lee rifle", "Lee Model 1895", "6mm Lee Navy", and "Lee Rifle, Model of 1895". It is chambered for a 6mm (0.236-in. caliber) cartridge, which used an early smokeless powder, was semi-rimless, and fired a 135-grain (later 112-grain) jacketed bullet. The 6mm U.S.N. or Lee Navy Cartridge was also used in the navy version of the Colt–Browning Model 1895 machinegun. The rifles were ordered in several contracts, with the first 10,000 delivered to the Navy and Marine Corps 1896-1897. After this, there were approximately 5,000 made as Commercial / Sporting rifles, as well as military replacements.

This example of the sporting rifle is marked with serial number 10488 on the top of the reciever ring, putting it solidly in the commercial range, and indicating manufacture in 1897. It features the iconic "Buckhorn" Winchester rear adjustable sight with sporting style front ramp sight base with a "blaze" style front sight installed in the dovetail. The left side of the barrel has the 6 M/M chambering marked, and to the left is the address marking

The top of the barrel and the adjacent top of the receiver are marked with the WP in an Oval "Winchester Proof", which was not introduced until 1908. This indicates that the rifle was most likely returned to the factory at some point for servicing and/or customization. This may explain the excellent condition if it had the barrel replaced and was factory restored. The left side of the receiver bears the correct Winchester-Lee patent information:-

The design of the rifle involves a bolt that pivots upward in the back, accomplished by a lever on the right side that keys into the receiver. After this the bolt slides backwards, and the extractor / ejector presents from the front, removing the spent cartridge. After this the follower in the internal magazine raises the next cartridge into the loading position, after which the bolt is closed and moved into battery.

We checked the action on this example, and while the overall design is a bit "clunky" by modern standards, it works well, with a crisp dry fire, though we have not tested it's ability load or eject any type of cartridge. The left rear of the receiver has three levers, with the forward top lever being a bolt release, while the rear top lever is a safety, which must be pushed up hard to engage. The lower lever is a bolt-lock release, which unlocks the bolt even if a cartridge is loaded. We tested all of these, and did not notice any deficiencies. The bore is in excellent condition, bright and shiny with clear rifling.

The metalwork is in excellent condition, showing strong bluing throughout, only showing wear to the components of the action. There is an area of oxidation on the right side of the magazine housing, which looks to have developed over a long period of time, probably when this rifle was in long storage. The stock is in excellent condition, showing only minor handling marks from use and storage, and the checkering is still in great shape. It is fitted with a horn nose cap and "pistol grip" style stock, though we did note that the bottom of the grip is a separate piece of wood with a steel cap on it. The butt plate has a working storage compartment, which is empty, and there are fittings for a sling clip on the fore and butt stocks, with another on the front of the magazine.

This 1897-production Winchester-Lee Model 1895 Sporting Rifle retains its factory sporting configuration, strong exterior bluing, crisp stock checkering, functional straight-pull action, and notably bright 6mm bore. The later Winchester proof marks indicate that it was returned to the factory after 1908, possibly for servicing, refinishing, or replacement of the barrel, although the exact work performed is unknown. Minor handling wear and the area of oxidation on the magazine housing are fully evident, but the rifle remains an unusually well-preserved commercial example of Winchester’s distinctive straight-pull design.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1897
Maker: Winchester Repeating Arms co.
Model: 1895 Lee Navy
Caliber: 6mm Lee Navy
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 43 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action Repeater
Feed System: 5 Round Magazine with En-Bloc clip
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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 most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the 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 most addresses within the United States.