June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Metal retains most of a pleasing but cleaned patina with about 20% original blue in protected areas. Some areas of very minor pitting. All markings are clear. Wood is fine with light handling marks, slight crack at wrist. Good mechanical function. Bore is good with strong rifling and pitting. This gun is of the first contract consisting of 10,000 guns which were delivered in 1897. Missing rear sling swivel, although the base is present. This gun is very close in serial number to one of the 54 Lee Navy rifles that were salvaged from the USS Maine in Havana Harbor in 1900 and later sold through Bannermans of NYC in 1907.