1899 Remington Lee

[jmoore]

Stock and "fixed" fittings: (roughing in at this point- check back later for a more finished product)


#11a)

#11b) Nose cap with bayonet lug details. The projection on the bottom of the cap (as shown on the top of the inverted stock in the photo above) is to restrain the front band from forward motion under recoil.


#11c)

#11d)

#11e) Middle band retaining spring clip.

#11f) Note the cleaning rod retaining piece at the right hand side of the photo. Simple bar stock with a threaded hole centered in the front side.


#11g) Top view of the action inletting.


#11h) Action/trigger guard inletting


#11i) Heel markings and top view of buttplate.

[jmoore]

"Removable" fittings:


#12a&b)





#12c


#12d) Very simple cleaning rod that likely had a loose extention. One piece, with the slotted area slightly flattened. Note the lack of threads on the slotted end in photos 12a and b.


#12e&f) Two views of the front band, both from the front looking rearwards. The swivel is non-detatchable and retains the hex-headed clamping nut.


#12g,h,&i) Rear band. Unidirectional in function, so there's no small "U" marking on the side to indicate the proper orientation. What's odd is that the clamping screw enters from the opposite side as the front band.






#12j,k,&L) Simple, no reinforcements, handguard. There's an integral overhang on the front of the action body that retains the handguard rear.

[jmoore]

It's not a US service rifle but here's some preliminary photos of a Remington Lee .30-40 Cuban contract carbine:


#13a

#13b: Sorry about the fold in the blue cover obscuring part of the fore end tip- It will be a while before more and better photos can be done.


#13c

#13d

#13e

#13f

#13g

#13h

#13i

#13j

[jmoore]

Some more hastily photographed details of the Remington Lee "1899 Model" carbine:


#14a: No real differences in the action, but there are some differences in the markings from the rifle shown earlier.


#14b: The bolt head stop arm is installed and is pivoted outwards on this action, unlike the rifle which is missing this mysterious little part. (RH side of the action, just above the locking lug.)


#14c


#14d: Note that the side mounted rear swivel appears to be a standard Remington buttstock swivel, just relocated.

Having a hard time finishing the photos and commentary on this rifle type. Given some incentive, perhaps a bit more progress will be made without a huge delay. Being able to shoot one and having someexpectations as to a good range report would help. But neither of these examples (only one of which is mine) has a good bore- the carbine's is probably the better of the two, but it has a very weak muzzle. Your patience is appreciated!

[Robert Wallace]

Does anyone know where one can obtain a bolt for the 1878 Remington-Lee? Bolt handle is in front of receiver lug.

[jmoore]

Adding a link to another thread in the Milsurps forums showing some photos of the 1899 rifle in the hands of the Michigan National Guard:

1899 Remington Lee in Michigan

[jarmann]

my remington lee has caliber .43 spanish ,is a ex trials rifle of the suisse rifles board ,came out a suisse museum auction
it as a cook type magazine of the 2nd generation mentioning on right side "pat'd. march 7th 1882 " and P under this text
no proof stamps only serial 6399 and the regular text on receiver
receiver has the m1882 long ledge as mentioned in gene myzkowks book on page 37
on the buttstock toe is a copper disk with centre screw ,mentioning " M+S above 396 "?????
the rifle is in excelent condition over all (no scratches or dings ,all fittings have caseharden marble colouring even the buttplate
have schot the piece at 100 m with 22 gn vitha n110 and 16 gn n340 plus dacron 2/3 gn as a keeper ,regular .439 sized lyman bullet a

---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------

sorry touched wrong button ,was not finished yet , would tell:used bertram cases nice groups but have to learn the sights ,no signs of overpressure , us same loads in other BPCR's berdan I and II , gras , mausers 71 /71/84 and many others with plus minus same case capasity .
greetings from over the pond
jarmann

[jarmann]

forgot to mention that both slingswivels are marked "patd feb 11 th 1868 " why this is importand ? they like very common to me ,only the upper swivel has a hex headed clamp nut like the swivel pictures of jmoore on thread no 12
regreetings
jarmann

[jmoore]

my remington lee has caliber .43 spanish ,is a ex trials rifle of the suisse rifles board ,came out a suisse museum auction it as a cook type magazine of the 2nd generation mentioning on right side "pat'd. march 7th 1882 " and P under this text

Interesting rifle! There's a photo thread of this type Remington Lee (1882/1885) coming, in theory, but maybe you ought to start your own in the
Milsurps General Discussion Forum .

It seems like a worthy subject on it's own!

[jon_norstog]

.....If anyone has an 1899 with a good bore and won't mind sharing a range report, it would be most welcome! Mine has the typical rotten bore which is due to a primary diet of blank cartridges. A friend has a Cuban carbine that looks better, rifling-wise, except for the last inch or so, which is completely "wallered out". So shooting results are apt to be dismal at best, and "ill advised" for the most part. ALMOST bought one to rebarrel, but it just wouldn't be the same, so opportunity lost...

J,

Thank you for the excellent series of posts.

I've been shooting a Rremington-Lee in 30/40 for about 15 years. It was "sporterized" and had a boogered chamber when I bought it from Ron Peterson's shop in Albuquerque. Ron was **not** happy about the warranty work to repair the drilled-out chamber, but he paid for it. Work done by Bedeaux et Fils.

The rifle's good parts are light weight, quick handling, the detachable magazine, and a very strong action. Not-so good points include the half-cock safety which is both unsafe and too slow for hunting use.

This rifle, I never really found the formula for it. It would shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards but I never got it to shoot as well as my Krag, inspite of its sharp rifling. The barrel is quite light and may be whipping. What the rifle will do is easily shoot the "Ruger only" loads in the Hodgdon manual, or recommended loads for the .308 in other manuals. I think the bolt head on mine was nickel steel, since it stayed bright.

This particular rifle, I'm thinking, was from a cancelled sale, and was in a lot picked up dirt-cheap, perhaps by Bannerman's. The bore is like new.

If there is interest, I'll take it out and run a box of 180gr reloads through it.

jn