Remington-Lee Model 1899: A Final Smokeless Version

[Bob Riebe]

The Model 1899 was the last pattern of the Remington Lee Military Rifle, following the models of 1879, 1882, and 1885. In this final guise, it was redesigned to handle new smokeless powder ammunition, with a new detachable bolt head that included two additional locking lugs. Only a few thousand were made, between 2,000 for the Michigan National Guard, 3,000 for the Cuban Rural Guard, and about 1,500 commercial production models (primarily porter and military patterns, with only a tiny number of carbines). The vast majority were chambered for .30 U.S.A. (aka .30-40), although it was also offered in 7mm Mauser, 7.65mm Mauser, .303 British, and 6mm Lee Navy.