U.S. Navy Remington-Lee Model 1885 .45-70 Bolt Action Rifle Antique
Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $2,576
The U.S. Navy Contract Remington-Lee Model 1885 was one of the more advanced American military rifles of the late 19th century, pairing .45-70 Government chambering with a detachable box magazine at a time when many service rifles were still single-shot designs. Produced in limited numbers for the U.S. Navy, this example carries desirable U.S.N. and anchor markings and is additionally marked “MONTEREY” on the buttplate, linking it to rifles assigned to the USS Monterey. As a scarce Navy contract rifle with strong markings and a good bore, it remains an important piece for collectors of early American military arms.
Identification
MMA#: 260408GC150
Make: Remington Arms Company
Model: U.S. Navy Contract Remington-Lee Model 1885
Serial Number: 52046
Year of Manufacture: 1889-1893
Caliber: .45-70
Action Type: Bolt action rifle fed by detachable magazine
Barrel Length: 32.5 inches
Sights / Optics
The front sight is a blade pinned into a small base. The barrel-mounted rear sight is a Buffington rifle sight. When folded down, it presents a U-notched blade. When raised, it becomes a ladder sight with two apertures and two U-notches.
Stock Configuration & Condition
The hardwood stock has a straight grip, nosecap, cleaning rod cutout, two barrel bands, two sling loops, and a curved metal buttplate. The stock hardware shows surface erosion. There are edge cracks at the front of the cleaning rod cutout. There is also a repaired crack on the left side of the grip at the receiver. The wood shows numerous scrapes, scratches, and compression marks, most of which are small.
Length of pull measures approximately 13.5 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows surface erosion and wear.
Overall stock condition: Very Good as an antique.
Finish & Overall Condition
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
This rifle has lost most of its metal finish. The metal shows scrapes, varying degrees of discoloration from oxidation, and areas of surface erosion. Screw heads show use. Most markings remain well defined, though the markings on the left side of the receiver are partially faded.
Overall condition: Very Good as an antique.
Bore & Mechanics
Bore Condition: The bore is intermittently semi-bright and light gray with deep rifling. There is erosion at the muzzle and scattered light erosion through the remainder of the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7.5 out of 10.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The magazine cutoff moves into place properly when the magazine is removed and retracts when the magazine is inserted. This firearm has not been test fired. As with all antique firearms, careful inspection and cleaning are recommended prior to use.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories
The rifle has a leather sling attached and includes a 5-round magazine that appears to function correctly.
Our Assessment
The Remington-Lee Model 1885 was an important step in the development of American military repeating rifles. Designed around James Paris Lee’s detachable box magazine system, the rifle gave its users a faster reload capability and greater practical firepower than many contemporary military arms. Chambered in .45-70 Government, it retained the power of the standard U.S. service cartridge while introducing a magazine system that foreshadowed later bolt-action military rifle development.
Approximately 1,500 Remington-Lee Model 1885 rifles were manufactured for the U.S. Navy, making surviving examples scarce today. These rifles are particularly notable for their U.S.N. and anchor markings, and many saw service with sailors and Marines during a period of rapid modernization in naval small arms.
This example is especially interesting because the buttplate is marked “MONTEREY,” indicating association with the USS Monterey. According to the listing information, this rifle was among the 343 Remington-Lee rifles assigned to that vessel. That ship marking gives the rifle an added layer of historical identity beyond its already desirable Navy contract configuration.
Condition is consistent with an antique military rifle that has seen long service and storage. The rifle shows finish loss, oxidation, surface erosion, stock wear, and a repaired crack near the grip at the receiver, but it retains collectible markings, functional mechanics, a working magazine cutoff, and a good bore. For collectors of U.S. Navy arms, early bolt-action rifles, or scarce .45-70 military repeaters, this Remington-Lee Model 1885 is a historically significant and difficult-to-find example.
The Mt. McCoy Auctions Difference
At Mt. McCoy Auctions, every firearm is carefully documented and professionally photographed to create a detailed archival record. Our descriptions are written to provide collectors and shooters with a clear understanding of condition, originality, historical significance, and long-term collectibility.
