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LOT 197
Extremely Rare and Historic Well-
Documented Spanish-American War U.S.
Navy Contract Winchester-Lee Model
1895 Straight Pull Rifle Recovered from
the Sunken Battleship U.S.S. Maine - Serial
no. 7131, 6 mm Lee cal., 28 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut stock. Rock Island Auction
Company is honored to be able to offer this
rare, incredibly historic, national treasure
U.S. Navy issued Winchester-Lee Model 1895
rifle that was recovered directly from the
Battleship U.S.S. Maine after it was sunk in
Havana Harbor on February 15th, 1898; one
of the most significant events in American
history and considered to be the catalyst of
the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.
Reportedly, over 260 crew members were
claimed in the explosion from what was said
to be a Spanish mine or torpedo, although
there were beliefs it may have instead been
caused by an accidental spontaneous fire
within a coal bunker of the ship, igniting
the ship’s magazines, which is still a subject
of debate today. Either way, newspaper
headlines went wild and “Remember the
Maine! To hell with Spain!” became a popular
rallying war cry of Americans after this event.
This is one of 56 rifles in total salvaged
from the U.S.S. Maine, with 2 sent to the
Smithsonian Institution and 54 subsequently
purchased by Francis Bannerman, a well
known military surplus dealer, who then
sold them to the public for $40 each, with a
documented list of serial numbers in period
Bannerman catalogues. This rifle, serial
number 7131, is listed in the included copy
of the record from the U.S. Navy that lists
the serial numbers of the complete rifles
salvaged from the U.S.S. Maine that were
sold to Francis Bannerman. This list of serial
numbers is also shown on page 495 of “The
Winchester Book” by George Madis, and on
pages 78-79 of the “Winchester-Lee” book by
Eugene Myszkowski. A Springfield Research
Service letter is also included that also verifies
this rifle by serial number as one of the U.S.S.
Maine recovered rifles. This rifle is part of
the first U.S. Navy contract of 10,000, with
completed deliveries between late 1896
through mid 1897. Designed by James Paris
Lee, the innovative Winchester-Lee rifles are
chambered for the rimless smokeless high
velocity 6 mm Lee Navy (.236) cartridge and
feature a straight pull bolt action, five-shot
internal spring-loaded magazine that loads
with stripper clips and pistol grip stock.
The advanced 6 mm bullet utilized in these
rifles was the smallest diameter round in
U.S. military service until the adoption of the
AR-15/M16 rifles in the 1960s. Many of these
rifles saw extensive service with the Navy
and Marine Corps landing parties during the
Spanish-American War, Boxer Rebellion and
Philippine Insurrection (not including this
specific example).
Only 56 Winchester-Lee Model 1895 Straight Pull rifles were recovered
from the U.S.S. Maine. 2 were sent to the Smithsonian Institution and 54
were purchased by Francis Bannerman and then sold to the public.
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