Commercial 1885 Remington-Lee Bolt Action Rifle In 45-70 Govt., Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,350.00
WOA#: WY240608JW002
Make: Remington
Model: 1885
Serial Number: 53634 (# 3,634 of 5,000 Produced)
Year of Manufacture: 1879 to 1894
Caliber: .45-70 Government Black Powder
Action Type: Bolt action, 5 magazine
Markings: The receiver is marked with patent dates and, “REMINGTON ARMS Co. ILLION, N.Y. U.S.A./ 53634 / SOLE MANUFACTURERS AD AGENTS / PATENTED NOV.4TH 1879” Both barrel bands are marked, “U” The magazine has patent dates.
Barrel Length: 32 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a block set on the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable flip up Buckhorn Ladder/Elevator marked out to 12.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a single piece full length walnut stock with a capped forend, barrel band with double sling loops, barrel band, sling loop, straight wrist, straight comb, and semi-crescent steel buttplate. There are scratches, pressure dents, and small chips throughout. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13.5” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition as a C&R.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is defined but worn. There is some small spots of erosion in the bore and some stubborn fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 20% of its metal finish. Much of the finish has worn off and gone to patina. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. The receiver and bolt retain some of their finish. There are impact marks throughout. The action has moderate wear from use. The screw heads show moderate use. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition as a C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Leather sling, 5 round magazine, The Remington-Lee By Eugene Myszkowski.
Our Assessment: The 1885 Remington-Lee Bolt Action Rifle in .45-70 Government is an early and historically significant military rifle that helped pave the way for the development of bolt-action firearms. Designed by James Paris Lee, the inventor of the detachable box magazine, and manufactured by Remington Arms, this rifle represents a major advancement in military small arms technology during the late 19th century. It combined the reliability and power of the .45-70 Government cartridge with the innovation of a bolt-action mechanism, marking a transition from single-shot rifles to more modern repeating firearms. Chambered in the powerful .45-70 Government cartridge, the 1885 Remington-Lee was capable of delivering substantial stopping power and range. The .45-70 was a well-established cartridge at the time, having been adopted by the U.S. military in 1873. Known for its large bullet and high powder charge, the .45-70 offered excellent performance for both infantry use and against larger game animals. This made the Remington-Lee suitable for military engagements as well as for use on the frontier, where hunters and settlers valued the cartridge’s effectiveness in harsh conditions. One of the key innovations of the 1885 Remington-Lee was its use of a detachable box magazine, which allowed soldiers to carry pre-loaded magazines for faster reloading compared to single-shot rifles or rifles with internal magazines. This detachable magazine held five rounds, giving the soldier the ability to fire multiple rounds before needing to reload, a significant advantage in battle. The bolt-action mechanism, while still relatively new in military service at the time, provided a faster and more reliable method of cycling rounds compared to lever-action or single-shot rifles.
The 1885 Remington-Lee was one of the earliest bolt-action rifles adopted by a major military force, seeing limited use with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. While it did not fully replace the trapdoor Springfield rifles that were in use at the time, it represented a step forward in firearm design and foreshadowed the widespread adoption of bolt-action rifles in the years to come. The detachable magazine, in particular, was a groundbreaking feature that would later become standard in military rifles. Despite its innovative design, the Remington-Lee was not widely adopted on a large scale, as military forces were still transitioning from single-shot to repeating rifles, and the technology of the time was still evolving. However, its influence on future bolt-action rifle designs, particularly in terms of magazine-fed firearms, is undeniable. The rifle’s design principles would be carried forward in later models and influenced the development of more modern firearms in the 20th century.
Overall, the 1885 Remington-Lee Bolt Action Rifle in .45-70 Government is a historically important firearm that marked a key moment in the evolution of military rifles. Its combination of the powerful .45-70 cartridge, bolt-action mechanism, and detachable box magazine made it a forward-thinking design for its time. Although it did not see widespread use, its innovations helped shape the future of military small arms development, making it a prized collectible for firearms historians and enthusiasts alike. Please see the photos, and good luck on your bid! -R.E.
