Lee Speed?
- Thread starter stang
- Start date
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
not a Lee Speed
it is however a B.S.A. Co commercial rifle.
so a Lee Enfield that was not built for a Government Contract.
that rear sight by itself is worth $$, rifle would be even better if it was in one of the other big game calibers. But that is a nice rifle.
it is however a B.S.A. Co commercial rifle.
so a Lee Enfield that was not built for a Government Contract.
that rear sight by itself is worth $$, rifle would be even better if it was in one of the other big game calibers. But that is a nice rifle.
Well it way made after the patent ran out, so it's not marked lee speed but theoretically it is one still. Most people call commercial built sporters lee speeds because pre 1914 or something they needed the lee speed patent stamped on it.. Even commercial built full wood/military looking rifles would have been stamped lee speed, although when you read lee speed most think of factory built sporters
That was a factory made sporting rifle. It's not cut down/ bubbaed/sporterized. It was made like that from factory. They are very nice rifles and have quite the following.
That was a factory made sporting rifle. It's not cut down/ bubbaed/sporterized. It was made like that from factory. They are very nice rifles and have quite the following.
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This one is in not bad shape however the barrel is allowing it to keyhole. When I tried to slug it I got .317, it must have seen some corrosive ammo I'm guessing. Not sure how one would go about finding a new barrel so will need to figure out a value and sell it.
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Cordite .303 is rough on barrels many early .303 rifles have poor bores. Plus earlier bullets were flat based bullets that would expand into the bores, most modern bullets are boat tails or solid bottom round noses which do not do the same thing contributing to accuracy issues in many rifles.
As has been mentioned, it's not a LEE SPEED patents rifle. It was manufactured long after Mr. Speed's patents ran out.
It is, depending on its barrel length, either a #4b or a #4c.
It is, depending on its barrel length, either a #4b or a #4c.
It would have Enfield rifling. Regular 0.312 bullets should work unless it has a worn bore. The neck demension will likely stop you from using 0.321 or 0.323 bullet. Cartridge wont fit. I mostly use cast bullets in my LE’s. My martini 303 cast lead is the only bullet it shoots well due to being worn.
bdft
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Another point about accuracy. The crown may need to be recut. Some of those rifles were cleaned religiously with a metal cleaning rod and became egg shaped as a result. I had one recrowned and it improved the accuracy greatly.
The .315 that was chambered in the Lees was actually what was called, at least in England & the Empire, the .500/320, but which was nothing other than the 8x50R Austrian Mannlicher.
It is actually much rarer over here than the .375 Fl. N.E. 2 1/2", although not as rare as a Lee Speed chambered for the 7x57 Mauser.
The .32-40 chambered rifles were not actually Lee Speeds & the .256 Fraser Flanged [6.5x53R] complete rifles were never made by B.S.A.Co. or L.S.A.Co.Ld., the only 2 manufacturers of Lee Speed & the later commercial Lee Enfields like the OP's rifle, but were made up on B.S.A.Co. commercial actions by Fraser, McDougall & a couple of other Scottish "makers" for highland stag, as cheaper alternatives than Holland's M1895 Dutch Mannlicher or Farquharson-based single shot rifles in that chambering & to compete with Jeffery's offerings, also based on the same actions.
It is actually much rarer over here than the .375 Fl. N.E. 2 1/2", although not as rare as a Lee Speed chambered for the 7x57 Mauser.
The .32-40 chambered rifles were not actually Lee Speeds & the .256 Fraser Flanged [6.5x53R] complete rifles were never made by B.S.A.Co. or L.S.A.Co.Ld., the only 2 manufacturers of Lee Speed & the later commercial Lee Enfields like the OP's rifle, but were made up on B.S.A.Co. commercial actions by Fraser, McDougall & a couple of other Scottish "makers" for highland stag, as cheaper alternatives than Holland's M1895 Dutch Mannlicher or Farquharson-based single shot rifles in that chambering & to compete with Jeffery's offerings, also based on the same actions.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
OP - if you were going to try to sell it, perhaps get a No. 1 magazine for it - I think what is shown in your pictures above is a magazine for a #4 rifle - but that is just going by the side grooves - the rear end of the magazine will show the detail whether it is for #1 or for #4 Lee Enfield rifle - and it is possible (but not likely) that a proper "Lee Speed" rifle these days has a magazine for a #4 Lee Enfield rifle in there?? I think some of the above posters either have, or have built, Lee Speed magazines.
