Suggestions on where to find a Lee Speed Express Sight set ?

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nailcreek

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Saukville, WI
I've found a decent sporterized 1906 SMLE Mk.I*** without the charger bridge which I want to convert to a Lee Speed. The metal finish is pretty good for a 100+ yr old rifle and the rifling still there. Next step is to see if it'll shoot, and if so start the project of restocking, etc.

I'm going to have the sights pulled and replaced with express sights. Can anyone suggest a source for a Lee Speed express leaf/ladder sight set or at least the rear?

Thanks,

Kerry
 
Good luck one finding an original. Last one on ebay went for approx $500 US. You might have some luck finding a period English sight. Alternately, you could use an express sight from NECG or a Lee carbine ladder sight. Ron
 
Ouch, $500? That's more than the rifle's worth ... I might stick with the NECG set or at least the Sarco set. It would nice to find an original, but not for that kind of scratch!
 
There's a limited supply of rare parts. Most are sold on eBay. The last Lee Speed I restored needed a stock set. My source in New Zealand passed away....his blanks and tooling sold...and no longer available as they were cut from otiginal patterns. I purchased a shot out Lee Speed and recovered the stock and sight...was the least inexpensive way to go and parts are period correct. I've never seen a loose sight for sale other than the one on eBay. I do attend a lot of gunshows and can tell you..."this stuff is rare and pricey". Ron
 
rgg_7 said:
There's a limited supply of rare parts. Most are sold on eBay. The last Lee Speed I restored needed a stock set. My source in New Zealand passed away....his blanks and tooling sold...and no longer available as they were cut from otiginal patterns. I purchased a shot out Lee Speed and recovered the stock and sight...was the least inexpensive way to go and parts are period correct. I've never seen a loose sight for sale other than the one on eBay. I do attend a lot of gunshows and can tell you..."this stuff is rare and pricey". Ron
Click to expand...

Ron, I seem to recall reading on NitroExpress about that fellow in NZ recently passing. It was a shame, as no one else has picked up the slack and he really seemed to produce beautiful stock sets. I'm going to give Boyd's a try and go from there. Hopefully there's enough wood in the right places to bring it to a LS style.
 
I hate to disillusion you about Boyd's but the stock I got from them as "semi-inletted" will need to be put in a milling machine to finish the inletting properly.

If you've got a SMLE with the charger on the bolt head and an uncut barrel, that's a rifle that should be restored to original configuration IMO. There's an outfit in England called EFD Rifles who can supply reproduction stocks etc.

Lots of chopped older Lees around for projects like yours - and mine!;)
 
Lee Speeds were made in all sorts of configurations and grades. Many can be viewed on the Nitroexpess site under Lee Speed Archive.
I have a Lee barreled receiver in very good condition that I'm debating original / sporter as the original sights, charger bridge etc. are still there.
Should I go sporter I'm leaving all that alone and just put on a sporter style stock. Never thought about express sights but I know
Cogswell & Harrison made Lee Speeds - contact them, perhaps they might have a sight, just a thought. Fwiw --- John
 
I've ordered the rear express sight from Sarco to start. We'll see if I can get it to fit reasonably well. I've also ordered a cut-off and associated screw from Numrich, to complete the action. I'm tempted to replace the cocking piece, but no idea as how to fit a new one. As far as the front sight goes, I'll likely find one from NECG as I like the look of the banded ramp. Wood will have to wait a bit - and I'm not shy as to fitting a stock - I've done a few muzzleloaders, so I know what I'm likely in for!
 
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