How 'bout some Lee sporter rifle #### (seeing as how every other make has their own)

jamesharrison

jamesharrison

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Just like the title says, let's see some Lee Sporting Rifle ####!

Think marble-cake Circassian & French walnut, intricate fine scroll engraving, fish belly magazines, cold rust blacking on lovingly-prepared steel. I'll start it off & then provide some historical catalogue pages if I can upload any more to photobucket, that is.

This is not the thread for bubba-sportered #1's, #4's, #5's, etc., but rather original factory sporting rifles, built on B.S.A.Co. or L.S.A.Co. Ltd. actions that were never intended for H.M. Service in defense of Empire.

 
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Nice Lee Enfields, James. I've handled a few like them and they are decidedly NOT "just old sportered Lee Enfields".
Quality wise they stack up well against anything ever made in my opinion.
 
cody c said:
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You didnt by chance buy your rifle stock in Dildo, Newfoundland did you?
 
Now for some background of the various grades:

[h=2]Standard Specifications[/h]Bear in mind that all grades were not available during the same time period. The better grades were unavailable after the Great War and ALL rifles, right up until their end at the beginning of the Second World War were assembled on actions manufactured prior to the Great War (post 1919 B.S.A.Co. became B.S.A. Guns and rifles manufactured after 1919 were so marked. I have NEVER seen or heard of a #1 rifle so marked, yet all shotguns and later B.S.A. rifles were so marked.

No. 1 Pattern (Superior)

  • Available in .303”, 7 m/m (.276” Rimless) (7x57 Rimless Mauser), 8 m/m (.315”) (8 x 50 Rimmed Mannlicher Model 1890, aka 500/320 Flanged Nitro Express) at a cost of 210/- and .375” (.375 Flanged Nitro Express 2 ½”) at a cost of 240/-.
  • Flat top engine turned rib on barrel
  • Handsomely-figured French, Circassan or Turkish walnut Pistol hand butt-stock and fore-part fitted with horn caps and extensively chequered
  • handsomely engraved (usually, [only?] fine English scroll covering the receiver ring, action straps, action sides, trigger guard, magazine & screws)
  • superior finish (better quality polishing & blacking)
  • Flat top turned down & swept-forward bolt handle carbine pattern (with the Nitro Proof stamp & the serial number on the bottom of the) bolt handle (on post 1910 examples)
  • OAL 3 ft. 8 ½” (44 ½”)
  • Weight 7 ½ lb. (Of course, this would be different if a different length of barrel was fitted from standard).
  • Barrel 24 ½” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling. Longer barrels up to 30 inches could, apparently, be substituted without extra cost.
  • Back Sight: (.303, 7 and 8 m/m bores) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards. (.315 bore) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards; special for India. (.375” bore) - – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards. Sighting for longer ranges if required.
  • Front Sight: Adjustable bead, platinum or ivory tipped. Foresight fitted with spring steel cover. Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector could be fitted for an extra charge of 3/-.
  • Magazine: To hold five cartridges; .315” and .375” bore, to hold four cartridges. 10-shot magazines could be substituted without extra cost. All photos and examples I have seen that have been fitted with a 10 round magazine had a retaining chain or link fitted.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch. Metford bolt without safe could be fitted without extra cost. B.S.A. Patent Safety Bolt could be fitted for an extra charge of 7/6.
  • Charger Loading Actions could be substituted, but only on .303” or .375” rifles, for an extra charge of 3/9.
  • Oil bottle & pull through included free of charge

No. 1 Pattern

  • Available in .303”, 7 m/m (.276” Rimless) (7x57 Rimless Mauser), 8 m/m (.315”) (8 x 50 Rimmed Mannlicher Model 1890) at a cost of 195.
  • Flat top engine turned rib on barrel
  • Pistol grip butt-stock and fore-end fitted with horn caps
  • handsomely engraved
  • superior finish
  • Flat top turned down & swept-forward bolt handle
  • OAL 3 ft. 8 ½” (44 ½”)
  • Weight 7 ½ lb. (Of course, this would be different if a different length of barrel was fitted from standard).
  • Barrel 24 ½” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling. Longer barrels up to 30 inches could be substituted without extra cost.
  • Back Sight: (.303, 7 and 8 m/m bores) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards. (.315 bore) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards; special for India. Sighting for longer ranges if required.
  • Front Sight: Adjustable bead, platinum or ivory tipped. Foresight fitted with spring steel cover. Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector could be fitted for an extra charge of 3/-.
  • Magazine: To hold five cartridges; .315 bore, to hold four cartridges. 10-shot magazines could be substituted without extra cost. All photos and examples I have seen that have been fitted with a 10 round magazine had a retaining chain fitted.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch. Metford bolt without safe could be fitted without extra cost. B.S.A. Patent Safety Bolt could be fitted for an extra charge of 7/6.
  • Charger Loading Actions could be substituted on .303 rifles only for an extra charge of 3/9.
  • Oil bottle & pull through included free of charge

No. 2 Pattern

  • Available in .303”, 7 m/m (.276” Rimless) (7x57 Rimless Mauser), 8 m/m (.315”) (8 x 50 Rimmed Mannlicher Model 1890) at a cost of 180/- and .375” (.375 Flanged Nitro Express 2 ½”) at a cost of 210/-.
  • plain round barrel
  • Pistol grip butt-stock and fore-end fitted with horn caps
  • handsomely engraved
  • Flat top turned down & front-angled bolt handle
  • OAL 3 ft. 8 ½” (44 ½”)
  • Weight 7 ½ lb. (Of course, this would be different if a different length of barrel was fitted from standard).
  • Barrel 24 ½” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling. Longer barrels up to 30 inches could be substituted without extra cost.
  • Back Sight: (.303, 7 and 8 m/m bores) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards. (.315 bore) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards; special for India. Sighting for longer ranges if required.
  • Front Sight: Adjustable bead, platinum or ivory tipped. Foresight fitted with spring steel cover. Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector could be fitted for an extra charge of 3/-.
  • Magazine: To hold five cartridges; .315 bore, to hold four cartridges. 10-shot magazines could be substituted without extra cost.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch. Metford bolt without safe could be fitted without extra cost. B.S.A. Patent Safety Bolt could be fitted for an extra charge of 7/6.
  • Charger Loading Actions could be substituted on .303 or .375 rifles only for an extra charge of 3/9.
  • Oil bottle & pull through included free of charge

No. 3 Pattern

  • Available in .303”, 7 m/m (.276” Rimless) (7x57 Rimless Mauser), 8 m/m (.315”) (8 x 50 Rimmed Mannlicher Model 1890) at a cost of 165/- and .375” (.375 Flanged Nitro Express 2 ½”) at a cost of 195/-.
  • plain round barrel
  • Pistol grip butt-stock and fore-end
  • plain finish
  • Round knob, straight turned down military style bolt handle
  • OAL 3 ft. 8 ½” (44 ½”)
  • Weight 7 ½ lb. (Of course, this would be different if a different length of barrel was fitted from standard).
  • Barrel 24 ½” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling. Longer barrels up to 30 inches could be substituted without extra cost.
  • Back Sight: (.303, 7 and 8 m/m bores) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards. (.315 bore) – 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards; special for India. Sighting for longer ranges if required.
  • Front Sight: Adjustable bead, platinum or ivory tipped. Foresight fitted with spring steel cover. Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector could be fitted for an extra charge of 3/-.
  • Magazine: To hold five cartridges; .315 bore, to hold four cartridges. 10-shot magazines could be substituted without extra cost.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch. Metford bolt without safe could be fitted without extra cost. B.S.A. Patent Safety Bolt could be fitted for an extra charge of 7/6.
  • Charger Loading Actions could be substituted on .303 or .375 rifles only for an extra charge of 3/9.
  • Oil bottle & pull through available at extra cost.

No. 4 Pattern

  • Available in .303” only in 1919 catalogue but also in .315” in 1927 and 1935 catalogues. No cost shown in 1919 catalogue, but L12 for either .303” or .315” in the 1927 catalogue and L10 for the .303” and L10.15s in the 1935 catalogue.
  • plain round barrel
  • Chequered military pattern pistol grip butt-stock and chequered fore-end.
  • plain finish
  • Round knob military style bolt handle shown in the 1919 catalogue, but flat top and swept-forward bolt handles shown in the 1927 and 1935 catalogues.
  • OAL 44” shown in 1919 catalogue, but 45” in the 1935 catalogue.
  • Weight 7 lb. Shown in the 1919 catalogue, no weight shown in the 1927 catalogue and 6 lb. 13 oz. In the 1935 catalogue.
  • Barrel 25” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling.
  • Back Sight: 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards.
  • Front Sight: Nickel-faced bead fitted with Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector.
  • Magazine: 5-shot shallow (.315” takes 4 cartridges) or 10-shot deep (.303” only).
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch.
  • LOP 13” (1919 catalogue) 14 ¼” in 1935 catalogue.
  • Action: L.E. pattern action


No. 4b Pattern

  • Available in .303” and .315” in 1927 catalogues, but only .303” in the 1935 catalogue. L12.7.6 for either .303” or .315” in the 1927 catalogue and L10.15s in the 1935 catalogue.
  • plain round barrel
  • Chequered sporter style rounded semi pistol grip butt-stock and chequered fore-end.
  • plain finish
  • Flat top and swept-forward bolt handle
  • OAL 45” shown in the 1935 catalogue.
  • Weight 7 lb.
  • Barrel 25” long, with 5 groove Enfield rifling.
  • Back Sight: 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards.
  • Front Sight: Bead Fitted with Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector.
  • Magazine: 10-shot magazine.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch.
  • LOP 13” (1919 catalogue) 14 ¼” in 1935 catalogue.
  • Action: L.E. charger loading action.

No. 4c “Bush” Pattern

  • Available in .303” for L11.15s in the 1935 catalogue.
  • plain round barrel
  • Chequered sporter style rounded semi pistol grip butt-stock and chequered fore-end.
  • plain finish
  • Flat top and swept-forward bolt handle
  • OAL 41 ½” shown in the 1935 catalogue.
  • Barrel 20 ½” long.
  • Back Sight: 100 yards, fixed; folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards, and tangent from 400 to 1,000 yards.
  • Front Sight: Bead Fitted with Cole’s Holdfast Foresight Protector.
  • Magazine: 10-shot magazine.
  • Safe: Fitted with Enfield military safety catch.
  • LOP 13” (1919 catalogue) 14 ¼” in 1935 catalogue.
  • Action: L.E. charger loading action.
 
That's a nice collection of Lee sporters! I've only owned milsurp Lee conversions over the
years, but have handled and shot some lovely, true Lee sporters. The nicest one I
got to fondle was a .303 No.1 by Westley Richards back in the late 70's.
That rifle was a full-rib work of art.

I did build up a BSA actioned No.4 mk1 in .45 ACP though for small game & plinking.
Not a true, high end Lee based sporter, but it's a scream on grey squirrels and feral cats.
45 ACP LE.jpg

Me other build up is a No.4 in .32-40 that is a pleasant shootin" rifle that fits me well. Not classic British sporting style, but effective for me uses.;)
32-40 LE.jpg
 

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Well, it ain't fancy, but it has character.

Dad bought this out of barrel at an Eatons store in Chilliwack circa 1965, military surplus for the grand sum of $10.00.

He removed all the excess forearm wood, and cut the original down. Then he got rid of the original stock, and hand carved a new one out of mahogany, along with an ebony cap on the grip. Shortened the barrel to under 20", and installed a Sour Dough front sight. That ramp over the action? He cut that off, too, and then had a Williams peep sight installed. Took the magazine to a machinist buddy of his, who cut it off flush with the trigger guard and welded a plate to the bottom to make it a five shot clip.

I think it weighs in at about 6 pounds, and carries like a Winchester 94. (Was he ahead of his time, or what!)

Used it to take my first two mulies. Still sits in my safe, no parting with this one. Haven't shot it in about 25 years, 'cause the last time I had it out, discovered that the firing pin was piercing some primers. Should get this fixed, is this a big deal to take care of?

And still have a couple boxes of Dominion 180 gr. Copper Point Expanding ammo for it, too.

Thenandnow001.jpg
 
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