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LOT 282
Extremely Rare and Historical Documented Spanish-American War U.S. Navy Contract Winchester-Lee Model 1895 Straight Pull Rifle Recovered from the U.S.S. Maine - Serial no. 8808, 6 mm Lee cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. It is
a privilege and an honor for Rock Island Auction Company to offer this rare, incredibly historic, national treasure U.S. Navy issued Winchester-Lee Model 1895 rifle as 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, for sale to the public, with a documented list of serial numbers in period Bannerman catalogues. This rifle, serial number 8808, is listed in the Bannerman catalogues, on page 495 of “The Winchester Book” by George Madis, and on pages 78-79 of the “Winchester-Lee” book by Eugene Myszkowski. Large old painted stencil letters “U.S.S. MAINE” are located on the right side of the buttstock. 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. 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). This rifle has
the Navy markings: “-U.S.N.-/(Naval anchor)/No8808/-N.C.T.-” roll-stamped on the top of
the receiver, with the latter being the inspection initials of Nathan C. Twining. A small five-pointed star Navy inspection mark is stamped ahead of the buttplate tang and also
at the toe. Winchester patent marks are 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. Fitted with the scarce front sight
cover designed for the Navy Model 1895 rifles. 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, ahead of the magazine has an empty slot for a detachable sling swivel, and a rotating detachable sling swivel is fitted underneath the buttstock. The carbine style buttplate has a sliding butt trap door.