This is an about GOOD+ to NEAR VERY GOOD condition example of the relatively scarce US Model 1895 Bayonet for the Winchester Lee Navy 6mm Straight Pull Rifle. This rifle, designed by noted firearms inventor James Paris Less, was the standard issue battle rifle for the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1895 to 1900, when it was replaced by the Krag Rifle and then the Model 1903 Springfield Rifle. The Winchester Lee Navy was the first small bore, high velocity, smokeless powder cartridge to be used by the US military and was ahead of its time, with the 6mm cartridge having a nominal diameter of only .244”. The military loading was a 112-grain jacketed round nosed bullet that was fired at a velocity of 2,560 ft/sec and developed 1,629 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. While the .30-40 Krag cartridge in use by the Army had more muzzle energy at 2,150 ft-lbs, the Krag cartridge was slower, with the 220-grain bullet only traveling at 2,000 ft/sec. The Lee Navy cartridge had a flatter trajectory and created a more devastating would cavity than the Krag cartridge did and had more penetrating power out to between 500 and 700 yards. It was only beyond those distances that the heavier Krag bullet performed better. The downside to the 6mm cartridge was that the high velocity loading, combined with the corrosive primers of the period resulted in signification chamber and bore erosion in the rifles. Some 15,000 Lee Navy Rifles were produced for the Navy and Marine Corps with the first contract for 10,000 guns and the second contract for 5,000 guns. The rifles saw service in several US conflicts around the turn of the century, including the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion.

The other advanced feature of the Winchester Lee Navy Rifle was the adoption of a knife bayonet that was manageable length and that could be used as a utility knife as well as a bayonet. The bayonet had a nominally 8.1” blade, an overall length of about 12.6” and a muzzle ring with a .52” (13mm). The blade was a single edged, spear point blade with a median fuller that was about 5 ½” in length. The bayonet contract was actually granted to Remington, even though Winchester made the guns. Most of the bayonets were Remington marked in the fuller, but a small number of the bayonets are known without markings. The bayonets were issued with two different scabbard variants. Both versions were leather scabbards with blued steel mountings, but the hangers were different. One was a nominally 6” leather belt loop and the other was a wire hanger system. 

The example of the US Model 1895 Winchester Lee Navy Rifle Bayonet offered here is one of the less commonly encountered unmarked examples. The bayonet has an 8.125” blade with a 5.375” fuller and an overall length of 12.625”. The hilt is nominally 4.5” in length with riveted smooth walnut grip panels. The muzzle ring is nominally .523” in diameter or 13.2mm. The bayonet is accompanied by its blued steel mounted leather scabbard with a leather belt loop.

As noted, the bayonet is in GOOD+ to NEAR VERY GOOD condition. The blade has a moderately oxidized freckled gray patina with scattered patches of discoloration, surface roughness and some lightly scattered pitting. As noted, this is an unmarked example with no Remington markings in the fuller and no inspection marks or serial numbers on the bayonet. The wood grips are in about VERY GOOD condition with scattered bumps, dings and mars. The latching system remains intact and works as it should. The scabbard is in about VERY GOODcondition as well. The leather shows moderate wear, with some crazing and flaked finish loss. The blued steel mounts retain most of their blued finish with some thinning, fading and wear. The leather belt loop shows moderate flaked finish loss with scuffs and mars. 

Overall, this is a solid example of a fairly scarce US Navy and Marine Corps bayonet from the turn of the century that does not pop of for sale all that often. It would be a nice addition to your bayonet collection or to add to the display of your Winchester Lee Navy Rifle.

SOLD