6mm Navy Straight Pull: The 1895 Lee Navy Rifle

The US Navy held a trial in 1894 to adopt a new rifle, one to finally replace the .45-70 black powder Trapdoor Springfield. The rifle was to be chambered for the .236 Navy cartridge, a radically modern small bore round firing a 135 grain bullet at a remarkably fast 2500 fps. This was a lightweight cartridge which allowed sailors and Marines to carry more ammunition (standard load out was 180 rounds per man), and its high velocity provided a very flat trajectory and very good penetration.
For this round, James Paris Lee developed and patented an unusual straight-pull action. It was a tilting bolt type of system, with a bolt handle that calmed the bolt upward to unlock it (instead of the rotating bolt heads usually found on straight-pull rifles). He also developed an en bloc clip for loading in which the clip allowed 5 rounds to be loaded at once, but was not essential to the cycling of the action. Lee’s clip fell out as soon as the first round was chambered, and the rifle could be loaded with loose rounds, unlike Mannlicher’s clip system.
The Lee rifle ultimately won the trials, and a total of 15,000 were ordered in two batches by the US Navy (plus a few more supplied to replace guns destroyed in a New York dock fire). The rifle would only serve as standard for about 6 years, being replaced by the 1903 Springfield in order to unify Army and Navy ammunition logistics. During that time, however, it saw use in the Spanish-American War, in the Philippines, and in the international expedition to China. It was successful and well liked by the sailors and Marines who used it, despite a few design problems (like the extractor being easily lost when the bolt is removed). The gun was a commercial failure for Winchester, with a few thousand sales until 1902, when a large supply of cheap surplus captured Spanish Mausers dropped the bottom out of the modern small-bore rifle market in the United States. The last commercial sale was recorded in 1916.
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[@johannesdolch]

Ian's Wedding Night: "Let's start with the markings'

[@karljermunson9910]

"Let's bring you back here and take a closer look"

[@thetruthexperiment]

That’s funny but sort of gross at the same time.

[@davidhonfi2683]

The only reason I'm not going to like your comment is the fact that it has 69 likes..... I know I'm a childish as fuck, but that's just sooooooooooooo perfect fo this comment:)

[@caseymacdonald878]

Now it's 96 it just flip it upside down

[@jvanasselberg]

@sjw ARE PATHETIC! what, you don't like Tucson? It's a fine town, except for the missile factories here that ain't paying their fair share!

[@costantinoandruzzi2219]

Is it just me, or this rifle looks gorgeously sleek?

[@SomeGunNerd]

It does have a very nice profile to it.

[@TheWhoamaters]

Honestly I just love the guns Lee designs

[@Agentcoolguy1]

It's a beautiful rifle.

[@AnimeSunglasses]

It ain't just you.

[@thecanucklehead3034]

I will definitely say i was surprised by it being from the late 1800s. Looked more WW2 era at first glance

[@gergokerekes4550]

Luger: *submits a good rifle* US navy: Would you modify it so that our own cartridge can be used in it? Luger: No, I do not think i will.

[@JanTuts]

That's what I thought when he said that Luger didn't submit anything for the next round. "No, I will not defile my rifle with an inferior cartridge. Good day, sir."

[@three-stripes]

So much pride my good sir.

[@jackandersen1262]

Jonathan M. which is odd, as his lack of ego was partially why he was selected to improve the Borchart.

[@knutdergroe9757]

No, I think part of the problem (there is most likely multiple reasons) is the cartridge. 6mm Lee Navy is a semi rimmed case. That could easily cause feed problems.

[@acidwizzardbastard]

@@knutdergroe9757 Then again, semi rimmed cartridges were designed with the specific goal of improving feeding in box magazines while retaining the rim headspace. Just have to make sure to place the cartridges in the breech such that the rims rest in the previous cartridge's extractor groove.

[@hunterfisher1294]

I have two Lee Navy Rifles and thirteen back up extractors, I have never broken one, also reload my own ammo. My Grandpa bought them both in the early twenties. They are sweet shooters.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Very nice! How does compare for follow-up shots with .306 or similar? Or with 5.56?

[@hunterfisher1294]

The recoil is nothing, less than a Swedish Mauser ,boat tail bullets work great with it. You can fire it rapidly ,it is higher velocity than 30/40 Krag more accurate at long range.

[@drifter5375]

You’re a lucky man

[@nicholaswhite8522]

My truck blew a tire while I was driving on a side highway in the middle of really nowhere, I was really pissed and just about done with everything. I wanted to just say this video really helped me relax and feel a little better. Thank you Ian.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Good luck Nick. Keep on trucking.

[@poontsunami1114]

TRUCKIN AND A'FUCKIN

[@theme7363]

solidarity in this. real human emotion

[@thomascraiker6449]

I remember reading about the boxer rebellion and one of the stories was of the marines holding the embassy with this rifle smoking dudes out to 600 yards, apparently this was so effective the us areas became no-go areas for the boxers.

[@devincook2736]

When he mentioned 6mm 135gr @ 2500, I was thinking that long skinny bullet would have a hell of a bc and be pretty good for distance shooting, besides the somewhat reduced recoil making it more pleasant to shoot.

[@dwightehowell8179]

The Navy tried to use the same powder as the British at the time. This appeared to break down into smaller particle size. When tested some of the ammo was hitting 60,000 cup. The guns could take it but the brass sometimes failed. Wikipedia has a pretty good article about this. The Navy was afraid to surplus the ammo.

[@dwightehowell8179]

@@devincook2736 Just like a .243. While this is not an issue for hunters and casual shooters when put to heavy sustained use a .243 will burn out a gun barrel rather faster than the military liked. So would this 6mm. They most likely should have just used the 7mm mauser which didn't have any of those issues if it was on the market at the time. I sometimes forget just how early this arm really appeared.

[@tmclaug90]

The Marines had issues with this rifle during the Moro rebellion. I guess there was alot of close range fighting and the 6mm would pass right threw the enemy without delivering enough shock to knock them down.

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

But then the story goes that in Vietnam the 5.56 demonstrated 'superior lethality.' I always get a kick out of these anecdotal, war recollections being contradictory.

[@jammermontana.5335]

There always is a fire at the warehouse that destroyed so many guns, you would think that manufacturers would invest in some fire extinguishers!

[@ForeLab]

1895 a fire extinguisher would have been a bucked of water or sand.

[@TheWolfsnack]

@@ForeLab ..they also had glass balls full of some red liquid....

[@sarjim4381]

@@ForeLab The problem wasn't extinguishers,it was fire detection. The soda acid extinguisher was in common use by 1895, and an interior picture of the armory would undoubtedly show many of them hanging on the support posts around the plant. The reason for so many fires back then was the lack of anything but the eyes and nose of a night watchman to detect and report a fire. The concept of firewalls didn't exist, and many of these old plants were timber framed with brick infill. Once a fire got into the attic area, it was nearly impossible to extinguish before the structure burned to the ground. The motto of many fire departments back then was "We've never lost a foundation".

[@puppetguy8726]

If there was insurance back then it was probably more economical to just pay the insurance dues rather than also pouring money into fire safety and prevention.

[@sarjim4381]

@@puppetguy8726 Not at all. Look up Sanborn Fire Maps. Even back in 1895, they detailed all the fire protection available, both in and around industrial buildings. You couldn't get and keep insurance unless you complied with the local and national fire prevention laws, plus the requirements of the insurance companies. A lot of insurance companies had their own fire overhaul departments that sent trucks to the scene of any major insured fire to preserve, to the extent possible, the interior and contents from water damage. Many plants installed their own cisterns and fire hydrant systems. Most insurance only paid for the actual structural loss, not for the inventory or business interruption. Fires were a major cause of businesses failing back then. Any place that handled gunpowder or other explosives had a lot of rules they had to comply with. I think we have this idea that turn of the century America was kind of a Wild West when it came to fire prevention rules. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[@Agentcoolguy1]

James Paris Lee is so underrated in the firearms world. I didn't even know who he was until I watched one of Ian's videos a few years back. It's a shame really, considering the impact he had on the industry, including the revolutionary detachable box magazine and the action in the rifle that defended the largest empire in the world for over half a century including through two world wars.

[@jamesr792]

Lee and Browning really do deserve equal precedence.

[@geiroveeilertsen7112]

3:40 "Kind of blew up a little bit..." 😄

[@maxs.3238]

Came up right the second when I read your Comment :D

[@wesleyjohnson3786]

My favorite quote is from In Range: “AR 15s blow up really well”

[@bobbyhood101]

Home made cartridges pushing the limits of a hundred+ year old action! Yep happens more than you think unfortunately to many Home enthusiast think they know better than the fellows who built and tested the actions, end result eyes, fingers, hands and even sometimes death !

[@ColburnFreml]

2 gun: krag vs lee navy

[@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194]

As much as I think the Krag is a poor choice, it has a marginally stronger action than the Lee Navy.

[@ColburnFreml]

@@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194 That's ok, the 6mm round is weaker.

[@ogscarl3t375]

Give me the Lee Navy any day :D

[@Perry2186]

Throw in savage99 and Winchester95

[@Treblaine]

That looks like the 1895 Navy would be extra tricky to use left handed.

[@brucerobert227]

Back in the late 80's I had one of these! I had a machinist turn down some 220 swift cases, and with an RCBS case forming/loading set I did do some shooting with mine, using cast lead gas-checked bullets. However, the bore in mine was not very good, I think as it was due to the lack of cleaning rod (they used a leather thong as a pull thru, and of course the bore could not be scrubbed, hence the poor bore). I personally found that this action was really no faster in use than any other bolt action, due it's funky operation, and I broke an extractor and that was expensive to replace! The same machinist made one for me, and even heat-treated it. I held it for some time until I got a good offer on it, neat gun!

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Bruce Robert I can definitely see what you mean, that extractor looks prime for breakage.

[@waffins7057]

No way I was issued a Lee Enfield mk3 yesterday it was so lit when I got my tactical nuke killstreak with, so intense.

[@ale661]

Never thought i’d see the the day the words “Navy” and “Straight” in the same sentence

[@060racing8]

I was just playing Red Dead Redemption and I was thinking if I was in the mid 1890s I would want a Lee Navy

[@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194]

I think I'd rather get the M1893 Spanish Mauser in 7 mm Mauser, the cutting-edge technology of the time. Maybe a Krag rifle if there's nothing else but definitely not a 8 mm Lebel.

[@060racing8]

A Spanish Mauser would be my second choice although if price came into it probably my first

[@nylkul9933]

@@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194 from my knowladge there is Krag in Red Dead Redemption 2

[@kingnothing3523]

@@nylkul9933 Yeah, it's the Bolt Action Rifle in the game. I'm not sure if in RDR1 it's the same rifle or if it was the M1903.

[@Rigzly23]

@@kingnothing3523 if I'm not mistaken it was a spanish mauser. You buy it in Mexico I believe.

[@oldesertguy9616]

I can't believe the condition of that thing. It's gorgeous!

[@MattCellaneous]

Favorite American military rifle. Best military bolt-action because of the straight pull action placement of the Bolt relative to the trigger. And a round far ahead of its time, but that was kind of the problem. The round was a little too far ahead of its time, the ammunition had a very hard time dealing with the salty, humid and wet conditions in the Navy. But in the Spanish-American War and the Boxer rebellion, the Lee Navy proved itself magnificently under fire, especially considering the amount of ammunition could that could be carried. It allowed the Marines and sailors to fight longer than most others. Great video one of my favorites. Thanks Ian.

[@gyrene_asea4133]

yeah, kind of a super-star. unfortunately the only arena it played in was restricted to the banana wars. marines made the shots (and the legends) in Honduras, China, Santa Domingo, El Salvador, etc., etc. Long live Smedley Butler. Semper Fi.

[@MattCellaneous]

@@gyrene_asea4133 It really was, if you consider the rifle was only the standard arm of the Navy and Marines from 1895 to 1905 (the Springfield was adopted in 1903, but Marines and especially sailors on board ship had the Lee Navy as their primary arms for a few more years as production ramped up) the rifle performed victoriously in 3 wars(the Spanish-American, the Boxer Rebellion, in the Philippine-American war) not to mention the innumerable hotspot conflicts you named above. So in 10 years with much of the fighting bore by the Lee Navy we gained Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Guam, American Samoa, the Hawaiian islands, and the Panama canal. Not a bad decades work.

[@justincredible1863]

I love detachable box magazines

[@justincredible1863]

#me too

[@arifhossain9751]

*clipazines*

[@three-stripes]

Meh they're okay...

[@MILITARY-TUBE]

5 rounds is faster to load with a stripper clip.

[@MrRoboskippy]

Sometimes big things come in small boxes.

[@someguy325es]

the machining and finish on this and the Krag's of the same era is just stunning.

[@TheBurg229]

They’re still digging up 6mm brass in Guantanamo Bay from Cuzco Well.

[@killerpeaches7]

Gorgeous. And so handy. Probably my most coveted US service rifle. Do wish they'd made the extractor a captive part but otherwise, it's simply phenomenal

[@kevlarandchrome]

Do you hand load for it or is there commercial ammo available on the market? Certainly is a beauty, I'd love to get my hands on one.

[@iterationfackshet1990]

Edward G Parkhurst modified the Lee with what is now called the Lee-Parkhurst, although he called it the model 1899. He basically fixed all the problems with the Lee but the navy didn’t want to adopt it since the army was in the midst of just finishing the 1900 Springfield (the prototype of the 1901 which is the rod bayonet Springfield). Parkhurst also developed a cheap way to modify the krag magazine to use stripper clips but the army also declined to use that. Parkhurst honestly was a genius, he added a flag safety to the back of the Lee, cut a L shaped track in the bolt for the extractor, simplified much of the Lee system, made a self-closing bolt stop that didn’t need two bolt stops like the Lee, etc.

[@arxxiii91]

Nice! Lets set this gun out on tray...

[@therealamerican99.76]

I know that reference

[@gergokerekes4550]

*NICE* hiss

[@sand0decker]

Where is the heart react?

[@MrTylerman127]

I love Steve’s vids. They’re like the food version of these videos lol.

[@feralshooter6424]

No hiss...

[@marks_sparks1]

You can only imagine Marine Dan Daly using this rifle in Peking, that led to him being awarded his first Medal of Honor

[@knutdergroe9757]

Damn, what a time ! SEMPER FI !

[@johndilday1846]

My great grandfather joined the U.S Marines and served in the Spanish American war. He brought home three rifle cartridges as a souvenir of sorts. I have never learned anything about the gun that they were meant to be fired in until now. Thanks for a very informative and cool video.

[@periclesgermayn4705]

Quisiera esos cartuchos amigo

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

The Luger rifle would be very interesting to see

[@arachnonixon]

check out Waffen Werle. German master gunsmith who not only makes Lugers, but a ton of different concept guns using the Luger system. there's a number of rifles in there

[@paulshayter1113]

As I recall Ian already did a video on a couple of Luger rifles.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Paul Shayter - Luger carbine, yes.

[@mysss29]

This came to mind, but turns out it's not a Luger design. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZDWd3SBrK19ipI

[@dreadnought8363]

I know I'm late to the party, but it seems Luger submission was an improvement upon the Gewehr 88 design. (Wikipedia links to a book as a source of this, and luger did improvement work on the g88)

[@hesnotbad9045]

What a beautiful rifle. That extractor seems like something the armorer would have a bucket of under his workbench

[@kfeltenberger]

This is one of the most aesthetically pleasing service rifles that I've ever seen. To add to what Ian mentioned about handloads...be very careful (see the Forgotten Weapons blog post about this rifle); I was one of the first people on site when Mr. DeRuiter's rifle failed (we were shooting at the adjacent pistol bay) and will always remember the efforts to keep him alive until the paramedics arrived.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Sorry to hear that. Best wishes from England

[@geekmansegraves]

This looks like the classic hunting rifle you'd see on a mantle. Such a great aesthetic to this piece. I wonder how strong that tilting bolt action would be compared to the Krag's.

[@1337penguinman]

Based on that beefy locking lug and the fact that the brass would break before the action, I'd guess quite a bit stronger.

[@martinstiastny7679]

First, a thank you for exploring this rifle. I've always been fascinated with this rifle because of it's uniqueness. For me, the interest started because I reload. For those who are unaware, the 6mm Lee Navy cartridge was the parent case for the 220 Swift.

[@jerryhammack1318]

Both the 6mm Lee Navy and later the .220 Swift are very accurate and loaded with ball ammo are small diameter and deep penetrating rounds. The 6mm was overshadowed with over penetration and no knock down power! As for military use not a good thing! Distance shooting was easy out to 600 yards with light recoil! The .220 swift had the benefit of hollow point and soft point bullets! Love the swift but never got my hands on the 6mm Lee Navy . Thank you Ian for the opportunity to learn more about the 6mm Lee Navy!

[@ankoku37]

The US Navy: "Please chamber your rifle and resubmit it for trials by the 15th" Georg Luger checking his mail on the 27th:

[@billy56081]

The 236 caliber was way ahead of its time.

[@thesheepman220]

6mm lee navy rifle case is what the 220 swift was developed from

[@scottorgan2255]

The 303 lee Enfield was the go to nug for navie and army in Australia up to 1950s, yes bolt action 10 round mag BUT if you get hit with that ship 90% your dead

[@knutdergroe9757]

Wildcated in the early 1920's Winchester picked it up, I believe in 1928 or 1929. Teaming it up with the mod.54. Later to become the mod.70.

[@thesheepman220]

Knut Der Große I have a lovely Ruger no 1 in 220 swift, the 220 swift first came into production in 1935 , WDM bell ( Karamojo bell) used a model 54 with a x4 power scope from ziess to shoot red deer in his estate in Scotland and said it was actually better than his 275 rigby , I know this because I have the 1936 rod and gun magazine he did his review in , he also took it to Africa and shot rhino with it , believe it or not his words not mine atvb steve

[@thesheepman220]

scroat emm yes I have a few lee Enfields , a 1950 long branch, a 410 musket , a ishapore in 7.62 and a rare one a lee speed carbine in 410 , they get addictive lol

[@knutdergroe9757]

@@thesheepman220 I have owned six different rifles in 220swift. One was a Ruger no.1. I have my two favorites (still and till I die) both Winchesters mod.70's heavy varmints. Been shooting 220swift for forty years. It was my Father's favorite before mein. I reload, he did not. There is nothing better for "long range" varmint hunting.

[@TheOdst219]

But didn't you go over a Lee from the USS Maine?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes, but I did not go into any depth about the rifle's development.

[@nicholas_scott]

@@ForgottenWeapons I'm glad you did. It was an interesting back story.

[@Autobotmatt428]

@@ForgottenWeapons Will we ever see you fire a Lee Navy?

[@anthonyhayes1267]

@@Autobotmatt428 if you can get him a flux capacitor

[@hockeywarrior]

I'm always blown away by how the navies of the world were so consistently ahead of their army counterparts when it comes to small arms development in that period of history. Ironic, for sure!

[@Treblaine]

The 6.5 arisaka was a very similar round in terms of base diameter, projectile mass and muzzle velocity (also late 1890's). But without the throat erosion problem.

[@knutdergroe9757]

6.5×50 was Japanese round till just before WWII. Stayed in service (like the Italian 6.5) because they ran out of time(senior Generals with no ideal of logistics). The Japanese round like many of the 6.5 rounds of the day. Would be considered medium velocity today(on the low end). Barrel wear being a big reason for that. Bullet design was part of the problem, but manufacturing a bullet with closer the modern design was the bigger problem. Next was powders(propellant) was next, being few in selection.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Good discussion thanks gents

[@Treblaine]

@@davidgoodnow269 Except the switch to 7.7mm was years before any conflict with "white" soldiers in WW2 yet many many years after fighting the Russians with 6.5mm rifles. Russians aren't small. Remember, 7.7mm machine gun fire from hundreds and hundreds of metres away is going to have about as much energy as a 6.5mm round from typical rifle shooting ranges of about 100m. Because the 7.7mm has slowed down travelling through much more air. So I don't see how the distinction can be made.

[@davidgoodnow269]

@@Treblaine (1) I'm passing along the words of World War 2 Imperial Army veterans, arguing with what they say is . . . worthless? dishonorable? cretinous? ingenious? (2) Almost any military purchasing system has tremendous inertia, as there will be logistical, legal, financial, and social arguments against changing almost anything. The fact is, while the 7.7 was made a rifle round, the 6.5 rifles remained in the field until the end of the war. Just as the problematic 6.5 crew-serve MG was declared obsolescent well before WW 2, but remained in use until war's end because it was needed, even though Japan had several better machine guns.

[@Treblaine]

@@davidgoodnow269 Which specific words? And it is the FURTHEST thing from worthless to try to understand what actually happened in history. Do you think Belton Cooper is 100% right about tanks in WW2 just because he was there?

[@phenethylamine91]

I wonder how many of these extractors ended up overboard...

[@bubbleheadft]

Being that Marines were using them, probably a lot.

[@119fatty]

7

[@Hadowsay019]

I'm wondering which marine made the biggest pile.

[@119fatty]

@@Hadowsay019 Steve. He was useless.

[@sand0decker]

@@119fatty but he does have good taste

[@stephenbond1990]

Your earlier video for this rifle is still one of my favorites from your channel, thank you for this update.

[@Angrymuscles]

Ian, perhaps an exploration of an alternate history where the Lee-Navy and/or the 6mm cartridge was standardized on for all U.S. armed forces instead of the M1903 and 30'-06".

[@warhawk3719]

I feel like the Moro uprising in the Philippines would have made us switch to something closer to 30-06 anyway because of the greater stopping power over the 6mm Lee (much like we had to change from .38 to .45 in our pistols).

[@MattCellaneous]

Sadly, the 6 mm cartridge was too far ahead of its time. They didn't have the right chemical compound to get them burn in to 3000 feet per second like they wanted and it was still a very harsh burning powder that really did a number on barrels. Also most problematic was the 6mm's powder degraded and expanded and blew up in the salty, wet, and humid conditions in the Navy. The Navy didn't really switch to procurement with the army because they wanted to, they did it because the Lee Navy procurement ended up being more costly because of the lower numbers purchased at a time and the experimental nature of the ammunition. So the rifle had to be replaced rather quickly, and joint army Navy rifle procurement has been the standard ever since. It just wasn't a round you could store in a stockpile and count on years later. Really sad because it's probably the best rifle with the best ammunition idea short of the M16/M4 .556

[@knutdergroe9757]

@@warhawk3719 , I hate to tell you. That is a myth. It is all about velocity. At a 100yards the 5.56×45 hits harder and does more damage then 44mag or .308/7.62×51. The same would be TRUE of the 6mm Lee Navy. Kills come from three things: velocity, shot placement, and God. Every thing else is dick size or total BULLSHIT. The U.S. military pushed the ideal that .45 killed more. To make up for bad marksmanship. The same was true of .30-06. Bullet design of the day was round nose fmj or lead cast round nose. You either hit a vital organ (to kill) or you shot multiple rounds. Think I am talking B.S. I am third generation MARINE, (Dad was 1st MARINE Division WWII, my Great uncle was MARINE CORPS WWI Bellewoods) I have been shooting since I was 3, Working gun shows since I was 10, hunting from 14(when I could legally buy my first rifle. Studying ballistic at 10(thinks to Dad and the old NRA) along with reloading.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@MattCellaneous thanks Matt that was genuinely informative best wishes from England

[@MattCellaneous]

@@Surv1ve_Thrive I'm glad it was informative. Greetings from the colonies.

[@davidknight9709]

This rifle is still cherished by the Marine Corps. It is the rifle that is on out Good Conduct Medal.

[@oncall21]

Ian I discovered your channel this year. You have a wonderful descriptive economy of words in describing how the rifle that you are reviewing functions that even a non shooter would be able to operate it! Thanks for sharing!

[@ajlukelepuke]

Craziest bolt design I've ever seen. Very cool.

[@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194]

When can we see Ian shoot the 6mm Lee Navy? I really wanna see how the U.S. Marines used them in the Boxer Rebellion!

[@danapatelzick594]

This was very cool. In the past a web search didn't turn up much information. As usual you come thru with a super review. Thanks

[@porterschoen1510]

"It blew up a little." Well if it's not too much blowing up, it's fine.

[@sammybarnes9511]

A modified version of the 6mm Lee Navy was the parent cartridge for what was the King of Velocity for decades, the 220 Swift.

[@BullittGT40]

Great series of videos lately with some interesting firearms. Thanks for your work Ian.

[@51WCDodge]

Thanks to you Ian, supplling info that allowed me to ask the right questions, I now have conformation that my .22 Short Magazine Lee Enfeild was one of the troop trial rifles converted in 1907.

[@danieliussupienis9703]

One of more slicker rifles out there. Love it.

[@howler6490]

The opening scene sold me...what a little beauty...well done Ian...

[@JamesousMaxomous]

I’d like to see a video on the old lever guns they used to have on airliners. Love your videos by the way, you’ve taught me ALOT

[@todesgeber]

that's a bonny rifle...sleek beauty. bet she shoots like a dream.

[@frankbs6436]

So I'm not the only one who thinks aesthetics matter!

[@warshipsatin8764]

@@frankbs6436 i think they matter to everyone unless its being used for actual fighting

[@F4Wildcat]

YES! I HAVE BEEN WAITING YEARS to see a video about this!!!!!

[@n.m.s7552]

May favourite rifle. Thanks Ian!!

[@CaptainShiny5000]

This has a very satisfying amount of springy bits and moving doodads! I approve!

[@Melody_Raventress]

Plus it looks cool, which as we all know is important for any military arm...

[@puppetguy8726]

I commented a few weeks ago I wanted you to make longer more informative video about this rifle, either you had this already lined up or you listened! ☺️ Kudos regardless!

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@jayfelsberg1931]

So cool to see you get to thus weapon. As a Lee Enfield collector I love to see the evolution of the Lee system.

[@jagervw]

Beautiful proportions on that rifle!

[@kenibnanak5554]

Been waiting awhile for someone to mention the Lee Navy. First rifle my grampa taught me to shoot. Loved it. Half a century ago, LoL

[@knutdergroe9757]

I am so jealous.... As a MARINE, And a varmint hunter ( 220swift is my first choice).

[@wasteddragon8201]

This guy has a voice as relaxing as the one from the Blue Lagoon audiobook. I'm English and have no idea about guns but this guy is a legend . I'll be asleep in 15 minutes or sooner. Bloody legend!!! Thumbs him up!!!

[@NudeJawn]

Thanks for the video. The rifle is a beauty.

[@TheArcticFox1962]

Owned one for 30 yrs and learned a lot from this video.

[@ancient_gamerr]

You really can make the history behind a firearm very interesting, even for someone like me who isn't that much into guns 👍

[@matthewcosta780]

You talking about a navy rifle and when the 30-06 was adopted with the Springfield reminds me. My dad used to be a wreck diver off the coast of New York and New Jersey. He recovered a 30-06 bullet from the wreck of the U.S.S. San Diego. I now have it in my curio cabinet on proud display. I'm proud to own a piece of history like that. I also owned a sporterized Krag rifle, which I sold to him since he said he always wanted to own one.

[@PRACERZ]

GREAT vid Ian, thanks !!

[@MB-nn3jw]

In 1894, the U.S. Navy was using the bolt action Remington Lee, with its proprietary detachable box magazine, in 45-70. Not sure how widespread was its adoption but the Remington Lee had gone through 3 models by this stage and all were used by by U.S. Navy until the Lee straight pull was adopted.

[@mikofthewat]

I've got one of those Winchester sporters! It's one of my coolest rifles.

[@jamesmalott7851]

This looks like a very nice weapon, and that was a definitely a hot little round for the time.

[@jayfelsberg1931]

WE of the Naval Service should not be surprised that we got a decent rifle and machine gun before the junior service...

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Ha! Proud barnacles :)

[@virutech32]

Been hoping for a lee navy vid. Thx ian:)

[@LieutenantTbone]

This is a rifle I’ve been looking forward to for a long time!

[@knutdergroe9757]

Me too....

[@forrestlindsey3947]

Great video, Ian! I was lucky enough to own one for a couple of years and I found some Buffalo arms ammo for it and one original clip: it will not fire from the magazine well without the clip. Mine had an excellent bore and it shot accurately and smoothly. We had a local "Marine Officer's Range Day" and we brought our rarer Marine Corps weapons and ammo for the TBS Lieutenants to shoot. My Lee Navy was popular and we fired a lot of my ammo. The groups we fired were very surprisingly good: some around an inch and a half at 100 yards, all using the iron sights! Sadly, I sold it as I always seem to do with my really good weapons. The rumors I have gleaned was that the army had a cow about the Marines and navy having the 6mm while they had their .30-40 Krags - and they pushed for the naval services for "commonality" i.e., replacing the Lee Navies with Krags and their ammo. As soon as the navy fell for this and got the Krags, the army dumped the Krag for the Springfield 1903.. Figures.

[@billplemitscher9502]

I believe this rifle is still represented below the ribbon of the USMC Good Conduct Medal.

[@connorpark3782]

The Lee Navy saw action in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War that followed right after as well as the Boxer Rebellion Ian noted as well. Wonderful video.

[@danclermont7586]

I love this rifle!

[@wadeeubanks4560]

Beautiful rifle!!!

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Very genus system on the bolt. Interesting !!!!!!

[@dwightehowell8179]

From the Navy's point of view this gun had a remarkably short development before it became one of the most effective rifles in service anywhere. It many ways it was decades ahead of its time.

[@blueband8114]

Its a beautiful looking rifle, well to me at least.

[@Mr_Modder]

Love your videos bro❤

[@jackmehoff1840]

that is a beautiful rifle

[@mars_man9971]

My favorite bolt action to shoot for sure

[@jeremiahjones4443]

It blows my mind that 60 years after this weapon was adopted we were using 556

[@mrkeogh]

That floating extractor is pretty clever!

[@gabenplznerf1093]

Damn they should have standardized on this sleek beauty

[@kamenriderblade2099]

This is one of those rifles I would want semi-Modernized in a new reproduction Ambidextrous Bolt handle options, Double-Stack magazine if possible.

[@scottorgan2255]

You should look at the P90

[@DGao-zz5vq]

A bolt action AR in 6.8 Rem APC maybe?

[@acidwizzardbastard]

Honestly I just want this plain reproduced as it originally was.

[@ogscarl3t375]

That's a gorgeous rifle it's a shame their isn't many around I wouldn't be surprised if it's the only one :D

[@evanwickstrom5698]

Actually, there are two for sale on gunbroker.com right now.

[@theophileification]

Ooohhh! Pretty rifle!

[@walterbigsby6380]

Seems like a good clip system, a shame it was never used by another design.

[@jonathoncreech3186]

I love the videos but I've never looked at any of the guns and actually wanted one. This was the first rifle that I've really wanted and I'm not completely sure why.

[@derp-construction3341]

There is a great article about his investigation into two 1895 Lee Navy rifle catastrophic failures on his website. Definantly worth a read.

[@ultramagnus4374]

Edward Haas right, I remember that, one guy from NJ died from handloads from .30-40 Krag cases

[@derp-construction3341]

@@ultramagnus4374 It was 2014, and the end of the article mentioned he was going to perform destructive testing to duplicate the failure in a controlled setting, but I couldn't find an update.

[@1murder99]

The 6mm Lee lives on as the 220 Swift.

[@ABCantonese]

Can't wait for a video on that Luger rifle

[@cyrusaverell3494]

Trilobite’s video has sent me looking for answers. Best provided by the Forgotten Weapons archive

[@jameskazd9951]

tilting bolt bolt action straight pull. what an interesting piece. i would love to see one in action. i'll search after this video.

[@Blasterainia]

I know I'm late to the party, but you did do a video on an M1895 Lee Navy from the USS Maine, posted on February 27, 2015. Great video regardless. Love these cool old rifles.

[@victuff9765]

I have several stripper clips for this rifle found in a gun show in Montana! As usual the wire clip that retained the cartridges was missing.... the ones I have are tin plated!!!

[@67DANNO]

S&S firearms has repop wires if interested.

[@lawrencebautista1]

This version has its extractor with an integrated leaf spring. The early versions had a separate leaf spring which was prone to loss. The short barrel life was due to its metford rifling.

[@giausjulius4]

If you put this and the Winchester 1895 in front of me I would have a real tough time choosing. Both of these guns are positively gorgeous and I would give my right nut to own one.

[@draconus56]

Look up the Marine Corp good conduct medal. Many people think its a 1903 but its one of the lee Winchester from the boxer rebellion.

[@cnils407]

I am not sure but isnt there already a vid about the 1895 Lee Navy Rifle at this channel ? Edit. yep a vid from 2015

[@ohnenamen2843]

Gut Pfad

[@cnils407]

@@ohnenamen2843 Allzeit Bereit und gut Pfad zurück.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes, but I did not go into any depth about the rifle's development.

[@robertanvilrm]

Sort of it was about a Lee rifle salvaged from the USS Maine but I don't think he got into it vary deep