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LOT 1090
Fine Documented Antique U.S. Navy Contract Winchester-Lee Model 1895 Straight Pull Bolt Action Rifle with Factory Letter, Two Bayonets and Ammunition - Serial no. 18114, 6 mm Lee cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Designed by James Paris Lee, the innovative Winchester-Lee rifles are chambered for the rimless high velocity 6mm Lee Navy (.236 U.S.N.) cartridge and feature a straight pull-bolt action, charger- loaded five-shot magazine and pistol grip stock. These rifles saw extensive service with the Navy landing parties during the Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion and Philippine Insurrection. This example was part of 5,000 ordered under the second contract for the United States Navy, in the 15001-20000 serial range, with deliveries completed by December 1898. The accompanying
factory letter confirms the serial number of this rifle as “Navy” caliber when received in the warehouse August 26, 1898 and shipped on August 29, 1898, order number 3651. Navy markings: “-U.S.N.-/Anchor/No 18114/-J.N.J.-” roll-stamped on the top of the receiver. “J” in a triangle Navy inspection mark stamped on the toe of the buttplate, and a five-pointed star is stamped ahead of the buttplate tang. Winchester patent marks roll-stamped in two lines on the left side of the receiver. The barrel, upper and lower barrel bands, rear sight base, receiver, bolt, magazine, trigger guard and buttplate have military blue finish. The rear sight leaf spring is nitre 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, ahead of the magazine has a rotating sling swivel (included separately), and a fixed sling swivel underneath the buttstock (included separately). Fitted with the scarce front sight cover
designed for the Navy Model 1895 rifles. 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. Includes a non-maker marked Remington manufactured first contract Navy bayonet marked with a “T” in a triangle on the blade, the U.S. Navy inspection mark of Nathan C. Twining, and numbered “6959” on the butt, with scabbard, a commercial Winchester manufactured bayonet with maker markings on the cross guard, with scabbard, five Winchester manufactured 6mm Lee cartridges on a stripper clip, an unsealed twenty-round box full of Remington-UMC manufactured 6mm Lee cartridges, and two separately included sling swivels.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus original blue finish with scattered mild spotting, a slight bend in the rear sight ladder, minor wrist cracks, and crisp markings. Stock is fine with scattered scratches and dents, defined edges and a crisp star inspection mark. Mechanically fine. Included bayonets, scabbards and ammunition are all fine. Ammunition box is very good. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1091
Historic Mexican Campaign I. Bernstein U.S. Navy Officer’s Sword and Scabbard Inscribed for Medal of Honor Recipient Gunner Robert Semple by the Chief Petty Officers of the USS Texas in 1915 - The sword has a 30 inch blade with scroll and U.S. Navy themed etching along with “PRESENTED TO ROBERT SEMPLE, GUNNER U.S.N., BY THE CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS OF THE U.S.S. TEXAS. 1915.” on the obverse and the maker’s mark “I./BERNSTEIN/ BROOKLYN/N.Y.” on the reverse. The gilt brass hilt has oak leaf and acorn and “USN” decoration and a wire and white shagreen wrapped grip along with a sword knot. The black leather scabbard has brass fittings with classic navy and oak leaf and acorn themed patterns “RS” inscribed on the obverse of the upper band and “Presented to/Robert Semple/Gunner U.S.N./by the Chief Petty Officers/of the U.S.S. Texas/- 1915.-” inscribed on the reverse.
Robert Semple (1887-1943) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1906. He was promoted to the rank of chief gunner. He received the Medal of Honor for his meritorious service under fire as the chief turret captain on the dreadnought battleship USS Florida (BB-30) during the U.S. occupation of Veracruz in 1914 during the Mexican Revolution. The Florida was then the largest battleship in the world and the lead ship of its class, and its crew along with that of her sister ship USS Utah and the USS Prairie landed over one thousand U.S. Marines and sailors at Veracruz on April 21, 1914, and engaged in battles with Mexican defense forces. The gunners trained their guns on the Mexican Naval Academy but withheld their fire. Captain Knapp had the other cruisers and destroyers begin the bombardment but had his own crew withhold fire because they had a man in the sick bay who would die. The Marine fell from his cot during the battle but was sedated and survived, endured two surgeries at sea, and was medically discharged more than a year later. In addition to Semple, twenty-four other men from the USS Florida crew were also awarded the Medal of Honor. The USS Texas (BB-35) was one of two New York class super dreadnought battleships and also traveled to Veracruz in 1914 and returned to the New York Navy yard for repairs at the end of the year.
In December 1915, Semple was commissioned as a gunner and served on the USS Frederick. Semple also went on to receive the Navy Cross for his service in the mine fields in the North Sea during World War I on board the USS Oklahoma. He served in various capacities over the next two decades. He retired in 1937 with the rank of lieutenant but soon returned to service with the U.S. entry into World War II
and died in San Diego, California, while on active duty and received a promotion to lieutenant commander the same day. CONDITION: Very fine with a bright blade with distinct etching, aged patina on the hilt, great grip with minor aging, and dark patina and mild storage wear on the knot. Aside from a break above the drag, the scabbard is also very fine and has crisp inscriptions and minor age and storage related wear. Overall, this is a very attractive sword presented to Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Navy Chief Gunner Robert Semple. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
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