February 5, 6, & 7, 2019 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/6/2019
Features tapered round sporting barrel, integral sporting blade front sight, elevator adjusted sporting semi-buckhorn rear sight, one piece walnut stock with finger grooved forearms, pistol grip, Winchester grip cap and steel shotgun pattern buttplate. The Model 1896, also known as the Lee Navy Sporting rifle, is an extremely scarce variation of the straight pull used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. These rifles where short lived as the era of high velocity small bore cartridges had not come into age and they where not commercially well received. Any example is a true find as most Winchester collectors have never encountered a Sporting Model 1896 Lee Straight Pull. Very fine overall condition with most all rust blue finish remaining. Slight blue loss is evident at muzzle and high points of receiver. Four small areas of blue loss about 1/4" in diameter are present on barrel on left side forward of rear sight. Walnut stock is very fine with evidence of use but most all varnish remains. Light oil staining at buttplate. Strong rifled bore. A rare opportunity to own one of Winchesters rarest production models.