rifles. This one has a sharp, “Remington Arms Co. Ilion N.Y.” stamp in the fuller on the blade reverse. The blade has a good surface with no pitting, some thin color, and a good point and edge with no nicks or sharpening. The guard and pommel are a smooth steel gray. The dark wood grips are very good, with minor pressure dents or handling marks, but no chips or deep scratches. The pommel has a couple of small handling dings and is very good. The locking mechanism works and the pommel bears a serial number, 17210.

The scabbard mounts have beautiful blue remaining. The surface of the leather body and swiveling frog is good. The frog shows some wrinkles and the scabbard some shallow creasing on the reverse, but no deep bends or folds and both are solid. As is usual, the frog shows a bit more brown than black. The frog also has the scarce “T” in a triangle stamp that collectors believe to be the inspection mark of Ensign Nathan C. Twining. Hardin calls this scabbard the “Type-II,” though without committing to a chronological sequence. It has a small ball finial and a frog sewn along the sides that admits only a small wire belt hanger, which is still in place on this one. Janzen calls this one the first type and collectors believe the Navy inspection mark indicates bayonets and scabbards from the earliest deliveries. (We see it here only on the scabbard.)

This is a very good example of the new, short bayonet used on the primary issue long arm of both the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1895 to 1900. The first navy contract for Winchester Lee “straight-pull” rifles in 1898 included some 1,800 for the Marine Corps and about a third of these saw action with the Marines who were the first to land and come under fire in Cuba. A second navy contract for 5,000 put even more into the hands of sailors who would form naval landing parties that fought along side Marines in many of the “little wars” in the Philippines, China, and elsewhere.

[sr]

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