Remington Lee 45/70 Model 1885 Navy Rifle

[Von der Goltz]

Here's my Remington-Lee 45/70 Model 1885 U.S. Navy rifle serial number 3473 Remington serial number 52059 inspected by Lt H. H. Eames (H.H.E). The M1885 USN rifles were issued in larger numbers than either the M1879 or M1882 U.S. government contract rifles. The Navy desired the new Model 1885 Remington-Lee rifles for its newest warships coming into service, including some gunboats. The first ship to be issued M1885 USN rifles was the new cruiser U.S.S. Philadelphia which was commissioned in 1889. The following ships are known to have received varying quantities of M1885 Remington-Lee Navy rifles: U.S.S. Philadelphia; U.S.S. Monterey; U.S.S. Charleston; U.S.S. Detroit; U.S.S. San Francisco; U.S.S. Columbia; U.S.S. Vesuvius; U.S.S. Castine; U.S.S. Thetis and U.S.S. Concord. Some 3,400 of these rifles were accepted by the US Navy between 1888-1894 which places it under the final order made in 1894.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Cool rifle!

I chuckle at the miscellaneous 6mm Lee Navy components on the floor in the background.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I chuckle at the miscellaneous 6mm Lee Navy components on the floor in the background.

Not to mention the Ross barreled action beside the 6mm Lee Navy action. And the classic pocket revolver (IJ or H&R? .32 or .38 S&W?) Plus that red box from back when Lee (the reloading Lee) still used pasteboard packaging. By any chance does this carpet smell of Hoppe's #9?

A proper treasure room!

 

[.455_Hunter]

... and some sort of Snyderesque breech block assembly.

 

[Von der Goltz]

Yes the scent of Hoppes #9 and a few other gun cleaning products wafts from the carpet!
I've shot this rifle using black powder 405-grain and 500-grain modern black powder ammo made by Goex and Buffalo Arms and it functions flawlessly and is very accurate; I shoot black powder ammo only. Bore/rifling are in excellent condition; rifle seems to have come through service life at sea in excellent shape; now all I need is a matching bayonet!