Need id help with my .303

I will also add that the bolt head might have been changed, too.
But keep in mind that, whatever modifications it went through over the years, it's still a Lee-Speed. Of course, an all original will bring premium price.
You must know that these rifles, just like the sportrized versions Gary is showing here, were workhorses or, if you like, "meat bringers" in many areas of Canada. This type of rifles were extensively used for the everyday slaugthering at the farm, hunting anything when times were hard... So, they must have been through changes, for sure.
Even if they're relatively scarce, Lee-Speed rifles, just like commercial Ross rifles were some time ago, don't bring very high prices for the moment, because no-one knows about them for now.

BTW, Gary,
Your Sparkbrook was very well made. The person who spent time doing this knew what he was doing and I'm sure he based it on a genuine Lee-Speed. Except for the barrel lenght (and, the stamping, of course), one can easily take it for a Lee-Speed Pattern No. 4.
 
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Bsa Lee Speed .303 Sporter

HERE YOU GO GUYS.

READS LEE SPEED PATTEN AND PATTEN NUMBER
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BSA LOGO, TOP READS RECOL?? BOTTOM READS FULTON. COMMERCIAL PROOFS.
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EXPRESS LEAF SIGHTS
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James Speed was the inspector of works at Enfield around about 1900 and there was considerable fuss about a Govt employee patenting design improvements to a service rifle action.
 
While the bolt covers are available, I do hot think you can use one on this bolt. the rear bolt cover lug appears to have been altered by removing the "lip" that retains the cover.
At least one good thing has happened here.
You have removed the rust, and have been warned off rebluing it which would have greatly degraded it's value.

One other caveat. DO NOT EVEN THINK OF SANDING THE WOOD!!!!!!!!!
 
Alrighty, ive blasted off a ton of pics of pretty much everything and anything on my rifle. I even set the scope and mount on it to show what it looked like with it on. The multitude of disgusting scratches where the scope was mounted is partially my fault as inexperience on my part on how to get JB Weld off led me to using drastic measures to get it off. If there is one section that NEEDS to be reblued, that will be it. I still have a bit more surface rust in some areas to get off, but im not sure how much elbow grease i should use to do that.

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Why do you ask what it is? (lol!) I'ts a No. 3, Of course! (it's written is the left side!)

Now, seriously, this rifle went through some refurbishing; new bolt head, new barrel and sights, looks to me the brass insert (front) is not original (but I may be wrong) the barrel band ansd the screw neither. You are also missing the sling swivels.
What is the receiver s/n? does it matches the bolt? or the barrel?

Regarding the scratches, do not try to blue it other than with cold blue. I know it's not a permanent fix, but it's better than having the rest of the rifle loosing it's patina. And as John said, same for the wood.
Just re-install the scope mount and scope if you want it.
Even in that condition, it can be called a safe queen (or sort of), as I said previously, expect the value of such gun going up (by these days it's not uncommon to find some at about 100.00 $ / 125.00 $ while in the States it often sales for over 1500.00 $ for a top notch one (just like K98Action's one)!

The broad-arrow is uncommon to me on civilian arms. Might have been a military (or militian) property, wich used to be shot on a military range.... who knows. It may also have served in some units (home guards, etc) This may also explain why it was refurbished with a new barrel.
 
I knew it was a No 3 silly........lol. I just needed a history lesson on it mostly. The receiver number doesnt match anything on the whole entire rifle....boohoo. That why it made me wonder if it was a "throw together" with left over parts. The sling swivels were taken off awhile ago and are most likely in my safe. Its dark in there, i'll have to look. The cold blue technique im assuming is the one you can buy at a sporting goods store? As for putting the scope back on, im thinking im going to leave it off for now and see about tracking parts down to re-match everything on it. Not sure where to start but im thinking someone on here knows........lol
 
kokanee king said:
Gary D........ you take amazing photos. Maybe I send my rifle to you for a photo shoot? Only trouble is, would you send it back? :D
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If I had the time and I might be able to make them all nice and clear too. But sure send the rifle this way, you'll just need to phone up the registry and tell them that I will have it and that it should be put in my name and on my PAL. :D

really your pics are just as good as mine, and in many shots, better.

My vote is replace what you can and enjoy it for what it is. Safe Queen nothing, shoot it as often as you can!
 
Fultons

K98ACTION said:
what does that mean exactly Woodchopper?
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Fultons would regulate a rifle for match use. Fultons of Bisley was (some say still is) a great target rifle shop. They would tune the rifle as we say nowadays ensuring the barrel floated or was bedded correctly and all surfaces were trued up. This may have been done at any time during the rifles life as it is stamped on the receiver not around the muzzle as with service rifles.
It is a nice rifle and with an arrow stamp may just have been used for home guard service during the eraly days of the war.
It is unlikely to have been issued as a No3 Sporter so it has definetly had an interesting life. Over here we still have competitions for those rifles in the spirit of the original!
 
TimC said:
Fultons would regulate a rifle for match use. Fultons of Bisley was (some say still is) a great target rifle shop. They would tune the rifle as we say nowadays ensuring the barrel floated or was bedded correctly and all surfaces were trued up. This may have been done at any time during the rifles life as it is stamped on the receiver not around the muzzle as with service rifles.
It is a nice rifle and with an arrow stamp may just have been used for home guard service during the eraly days of the war.
It is unlikely to have been issued as a No3 Sporter so it has definetly had an interesting life. Over here we still have competitions for those rifles in the spirit of the original!
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The English gentleman whom I bought it off, indicated that it was used by a friends grandfather while serving in India and hunted Tigers with it. It was also sent back to the factory at some point and rebarrelled. I shot it the other day and it is still very accruate. With the open sights I was spliting 4" rocks at 75yards.
 
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