Mehul and WI32nd:
I would be very interested to learn more of the 8x50R chambering in the Lee Speed. Can you confirm that it is original, ie chambered by BSA? I have done a fair bit of background research on this topic, and cannot find a printed reference to the 50mm case in the existing literature (hence my reply on the other thread, before reading this).

I am in the process of tossing together an article for our local Arms Collectors Assn newsletter, so would appreciate something concrete. If the 8x50R-chambered barrels carry British proof marks for the period, that would be worth knowing (...and worth a photograph, BTW!). While I appreciate that a 'one-off' re-barrel could have occurred at any time over the last 100 years or so, it's possible that an individual maker such as WM&G could have specialised in rebarreling for a 'proprietry' chambering.

I'm all ears!