lee speed or cut down military rifle?
- Thread starter superbee
- Start date
Real Lee Speed. Often the mags are not 10 rd so that may be a replacement. See the patent date 1890 on the bolt head (commercial)
and all the usual commercial numbers on body and barrel. Sometimes these are made with Lee Metford rifled barrels Express sights and
checkering were the selling feature of the times. All had some engraving. John
and all the usual commercial numbers on body and barrel. Sometimes these are made with Lee Metford rifled barrels Express sights and
checkering were the selling feature of the times. All had some engraving. John
I noticed it may have a military style brass butt plate and the butt is not shaped like any of my other lee speeds.
In the pic of the rear sight, it looks like there is wood filled in the foreshock where the military hand guard clips would fit into.
I also has a viewing mark, F876, on the receiver and barrel,I only ever seen that on military pattern lee speeds.
In the pic of the rear sight, it looks like there is wood filled in the foreshock where the military hand guard clips would fit into.
I also has a viewing mark, F876, on the receiver and barrel,I only ever seen that on military pattern lee speeds.
The forestock has filler blocks where the original rear sight band inlet is and the original serial number has been stamped out and a new one stamped beneath.
The three leaf rear sight was a standard replacement sight that could be purchased in quantity back in the early 20th century.
The butt stock appears to be a replacement as I can't detect any glue lines on the pistol grip and as mentioned the butt plate is brass.
However, that brass butt plate may have been purposely ordered.
The rifle may have been put together from a surplus military rifle, or it may have been ordered from the factory as a complete barreled receiver and built up from there. Usually, they don't have lined out serial numbers and will have one of the logos of the cottage gunbuilder stamped on the barrel.
That one is bare.
Nice work though.
The three leaf rear sight was a standard replacement sight that could be purchased in quantity back in the early 20th century.
The butt stock appears to be a replacement as I can't detect any glue lines on the pistol grip and as mentioned the butt plate is brass.
However, that brass butt plate may have been purposely ordered.
The rifle may have been put together from a surplus military rifle, or it may have been ordered from the factory as a complete barreled receiver and built up from there. Usually, they don't have lined out serial numbers and will have one of the logos of the cottage gunbuilder stamped on the barrel.
That one is bare.
Nice work though.
