March 1-2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/1/2018
Manufactured 1897. This rare musket is part of a group of an entire collection of Winchester muskets dating from 1866 to 1895 that took the consigner nearly 50 years to complete. Winchester desperately tried to get a U.S. contract for the 1895 musket. Tens of thousands of muskets were made for foreign countries in non-American calibers but it was General Miles that placed an order for 10,000 muskets from Winchester in May of 1898 as the demand for arms was heavy due to the Spanish American war. When the parts and muskets had been inspected by the army at the Winchester factory, a large number were rejected for unsubstantial reasons. After discussion, the 10,000 passed inspection. In 1899, 100 were issued in the Philippines but the Ordnance board gave them an unfavorable report and the 100 muskets were returned to the United States and sold to a Boston arms dealer. The remaining 9,900 were sold to a New York dealer who sold them to Cuba in 1906. All of these arms were marked "U.S.". Civilian orders were manufactured in .30 Army and .303 British. It is unknown how many civilian muskets were manufactured for the retail trade but the number had to be very small, and one could search for years for a non-military stamped model. The NRA adopted some 40 muskets, made to comply with club rules, and a few were offered with 24" barrels in .30-03 and .30-06. The .30-40 Krag Models were manufactured with standard 30". This is the first 28" barrel retail Model 1895 musket that we have seen. Efforts to research other models on the market proved unsuccessful, further proving the rarity of this model. Civilian model muskets exhibited several differences with their military counterparts. This rifle remains in nearly new unfired condition with 99% blue on barrel, 98% blue on magazine with touch of wear, 90% blue on frame balance towards rear simply flaked, 100% blue on bolt, 100% Nitre blue on extractor and base of rear sight. Some thinning of finish on bottom of lever and magazine. 75% blue on buttplate; thinning on top and bottom. Rifle is equipped with three sling swivels, two bands and bottom bayonet lug on front band. Near mint bore and Fine action. This is an early post-flatside musket. It was impossible to determine total civilian sale muskets but it is rare as we can find no record of any other examples being sold.
CORRECTION: The serial number is 7159.