I unknowingly picked up a Lee Speed thinking it was a nicely done sporter. I can't find alot of information as for an approximate date of manufacture. It's 6.8lbs (aftermarket recoilpad). Dust cover and thumb safety. Silver disk in the bottom of the buttstock and a fixed 100 yard sight with two separate flip leaves for 200 and 300 and then a ladder sight to 1000 yards. Barrel is just a touch under 21" only proof under the bolt handle is B.S.A. Co . On the top of the barrel is the stacked bsa rifles and On the left side of the receiver and barrel are a set of BM crowns on just the left side also is a .303 and NITRO PROOF the only markings I can't identify are here also. A series of what look like messy W's and V's. The serial is 20234 . I got a bit of info from Google but nothing for an approximate date. And I haven't seen another with these sights No photo bucket but this might work. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZHh-fHgL0E/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BYQh4gHAXYi/ https://www.instagram.com/p/BYOVma8AowY/
Lee Speed help.
- Thread starter 7.62xfun
- Start date
Sorry rgg but a Lee Speed is not an Enfield. There are 3 common sizes that the Lee Speed comes in. I believe they were the military, the commercial/target and the calvery carbine. Lee is the Scottish Canadian guy who invented the magazine and Speed had several patents under his name such as the thumb safty behind the bolt. He worked at BSA but received none of the royalties for his inventions but instead had a rifle named after him. I really have to see pictures to determine whether it is a commercial or military varient. It could get a bit confusing because the commercial varient also have things such as a dust cover which is a throw back to its military lineage. Lee Speeds are fantastic guns and if you have a military varient with all matching numbers then you are a head of the game.
I have to advise you however, not to shoot modern rounds through the rifle. The Lee Speed was designed during the transition period from black powder to smokeless. Specifically the Lee Speed was designed to use Cordite which produces less pressure than the modern 303 Brit. You can fire a modern 303 round through the rifle but chances are that after a few rounds there will be some metal fatigue and broken parts are next to imposible to fine. Post some pics.
I have to advise you however, not to shoot modern rounds through the rifle. The Lee Speed was designed during the transition period from black powder to smokeless. Specifically the Lee Speed was designed to use Cordite which produces less pressure than the modern 303 Brit. You can fire a modern 303 round through the rifle but chances are that after a few rounds there will be some metal fatigue and broken parts are next to imposible to fine. Post some pics.
Looked at the other two photos. Most definitely an original sporting rifle. Even the 5 rd. magazine is sporting, not a cavalry magazine. The recoil pad is old, but I don't think original. Pre 1914 recoil pads on British rifles tended to be "Silvers" brand. Sights are probably regulated for Mk. VI ammunition with the 215gr bullet, although I doubt that you would be shooting at long range. What do the proof marks say? BSA made?
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Article on a W.W. Greener Lee Speed sporting rifle.
The BSA-W. W. Greener Lee-Speed Sporting Rifle;
http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/classics/lee-speed/lee-speed.html
Lots of information, Google, " BSA Lee Speed Sporting Rifles ", click on images.
The BSA-W. W. Greener Lee-Speed Sporting Rifle;
http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/classics/lee-speed/lee-speed.html
Lots of information, Google, " BSA Lee Speed Sporting Rifles ", click on images.
Wrong
That is helpful Buckbrush.
Enfield is the name of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in London. They were a government owned and run factory that did not sell to the public. There was another govt factory at Sparkbrook in Birmingham.
BSA (Birmngham Small Arms) and LSA (London Small Arms) were privately owned factories that would manufacture Lee Enfield rifles under contract to the government. There was a strong demand for private sales to fill the need of militia and volunteer units that were formed and organised at that time with private funding. The govt allowed them to manufacture for the public under licence, as it was in the interests of the Empire that sales were allowed. It was considered a good thing that citizens were involved in shooting sports and some Lee Speeds were top of the line target rifles.
Any rifle that was made for the commercial market would be required to display patent information. The patent for the action was held by James Paris Lee and the patent for the box magazine and other features were held by Joseph Speed, a senior manager at RSAF Enfield. Hence a commercial version of the Lee Enfield would have Lee-Speed patents marked on the action.
Patents at that time had to be registered to an individual, not a business entity, so Speed being the top banana introducing these features, prepared and registered the patent on behalf of the Govt. LSA also made commercial varients of the service rifle, so they too manufactured what became known as Lee-Speed rifles.
The patent expired in 1914 (I think) and no longer needed to be marked on the product.
Both BSA and LSA made full specification military arms and also made sporting rifles, all marked Lee-Speed, but in recent times, the term is now used to describe a short stocked sporting arm, even if not marked with the patents.
Cordite was a brutal propellant , the main ingredient being nitro glycerine. It had a sharp pressure spike and burnt very hot. Modern commercial ammo uses a much milder propellant with a lower pressure spike and lighter bullets, and is loaded to ensure that it will be safe to use in any good condition rifle that will chamber it (litigation concerns).
So have at her with off the shelf ammo. Stay clear of old army surplus stuff as sometimes the primer can be corrosive and will rust your barrel in short time if not cleaned properly after use.
Enfield is the name of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in London. They were a government owned and run factory that did not sell to the public. There was another govt factory at Sparkbrook in Birmingham.
BSA (Birmngham Small Arms) and LSA (London Small Arms) were privately owned factories that would manufacture Lee Enfield rifles under contract to the government. There was a strong demand for private sales to fill the need of militia and volunteer units that were formed and organised at that time with private funding. The govt allowed them to manufacture for the public under licence, as it was in the interests of the Empire that sales were allowed. It was considered a good thing that citizens were involved in shooting sports and some Lee Speeds were top of the line target rifles.
Any rifle that was made for the commercial market would be required to display patent information. The patent for the action was held by James Paris Lee and the patent for the box magazine and other features were held by Joseph Speed, a senior manager at RSAF Enfield. Hence a commercial version of the Lee Enfield would have Lee-Speed patents marked on the action.
Patents at that time had to be registered to an individual, not a business entity, so Speed being the top banana introducing these features, prepared and registered the patent on behalf of the Govt. LSA also made commercial varients of the service rifle, so they too manufactured what became known as Lee-Speed rifles.
The patent expired in 1914 (I think) and no longer needed to be marked on the product.
Both BSA and LSA made full specification military arms and also made sporting rifles, all marked Lee-Speed, but in recent times, the term is now used to describe a short stocked sporting arm, even if not marked with the patents.
Cordite was a brutal propellant , the main ingredient being nitro glycerine. It had a sharp pressure spike and burnt very hot. Modern commercial ammo uses a much milder propellant with a lower pressure spike and lighter bullets, and is loaded to ensure that it will be safe to use in any good condition rifle that will chamber it (litigation concerns).
So have at her with off the shelf ammo. Stay clear of old army surplus stuff as sometimes the primer can be corrosive and will rust your barrel in short time if not cleaned properly after use.
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