My thoughts for the engraving would be a basic scroll design, tight and well done. A Lee Speed to me is a rifle that looks best with good wood, good checkering coverage, a forend cap, rust bluing, trap buttplate with checkering and not much adornment. That said, I haven't seen one with engraving and might like it if I did. If I had to pick an animal I'd probably make it a leopard. I'm sure the cartridge has taken a bunch back in the day and would still do it today with the right bullets.

I haven't handled or shot these rifles so have always wondered how they feel in the hand. How do they compare to a 1903 Springfield or 98 Mauser in terms of smoothness, lockup etc? Any clattering or sloppiness? How about the ones offered by Woodward, Greener, Army Navy, etc?

many thanks