| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 20/01/17 04:16 PM |
Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Gents,
I'm writing from the big antique arms show in Las Vegas and I've had a grand day. I just picked up a really lovely No1 Lee-Speed in .303 by Watson Bro's of London AND it's in a lovely leather case with the retailer label, just doesn't get much better.
Pics to follow as soon as able.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Marrakai |
| (.416 member) |
| 20/01/17 08:35 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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G'donya mate, well done!
Looking forward very much to the photo spread!
| lonewulf |
| (.300 member) |
| 20/01/17 10:29 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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I'm happy for you (well, you know, in a sort of bitter envious kind of way : )
Photos would be much appreciated.
| Gundog01 |
| (.333 member) |
| 21/01/17 12:31 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Congrats sir!
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/01/17 03:44 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Gents,
Many thanks indeed.
I know from experience one can't own everything but at least this forum allows us to share and enjoy one another's rifle - even if it drives us a little crazy at time...:)
Cheerio,
Roy
| HistoricBore |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/01/17 04:40 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Does it have a full length rib on top of the barrel? That makes it a ten Guinea rifle, rather than a six Guinea rifle....
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/01/17 05:10 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi HB,
Yes, a full length rig and interestingly the retailers details are engraved on the left side of the butt/action strap (as apposed to the top-rib or dust cover. Really nice retailers label on the inside of the case too. The top of the case also has the original (one would assume) owners initials and London address embossed.
Cheers,
Roy
| Sarg |
| (.400 member) |
| 21/01/17 10:09 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Great, can't wait to see one of your very cool detailed write up's .
If I had your skill to do a professional photo shoot & write up I would put a few of mine up, but alas !
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 21/01/17 12:55 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Congrats Roy!
I too cannot wait to see the photos and read your write up.
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 21/01/17 03:31 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Matt & Sarg,
Thank you for your kind words, very generous and much appreciated.
Just back from a nice meal, so aside from one more last run around the show in the morning, we will start our long drive home. I know I will be keen to get this in front of the camera next week, so it won't be too long until I can share a few photos.
On a related note, I made a really great connection with the gent I purchased this off and hope the more nice examples can be 'teased' away from him in the future. He has an old Speed collection and occasionally parts with the odd example, so we have promised to keep in touch. So as said, I'm hopeful to have made a stella connection.
Cheerio for now,
Roy
| AlanD |
| (.275 member) |
| 22/01/17 04:12 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Watson Bros are still going and do have one ledger book with details of some of the guns that made or sold.
I have looked through this ledger book on a visit there a few years ago.
May be worth contacting them through their website and letting them have the serial number, you never know your luck!
Regards
AlanD
Sydney
| mehulkamdar |
| (.416 member) |
| 23/01/17 04:19 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Congratulations!
And + 100 for the pictures of your new treasure when you find time!
Good hunting!
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 23/01/17 12:54 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Gents,
Thanks again, great to share this new find with like minded chaps.
Alan, I did write them yesterday, so hopefully will hear something back this week.
We have just arrived back home after a long drive and I'm already drooling over my new treasure. I will do my best to get a few initial photos done tomorrow, so watch this space.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 03:37 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Greetings Chaps,
Okay here are a couple of initial photographs of my recent find. My apologies for the quality, just a couple of quick snaps but promise to get some nice detailed images later today.
I will also write up a short note of my experience at the show and some details of more Lee-Speeds seen there and how I ended up with this one.
Enjoy for now and watch this space!
Cheerio,
Roy
| 93x64mm |
| (.416 member) |
| 24/01/17 07:06 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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You're a blood hound Roy....once you're on the trail of a Lee, it's curtains!
Lovely find mate!
| Sarg |
| (.400 member) |
| 24/01/17 07:24 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Top model & example & yet with the bolt saftey, can never tell on these, the bolt saftey is really very nice to use & properly cost more to manufacture !
Can't wait to see & read the good stuff .
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 08:06 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Gents,
I'm sorting out some close-up images now, so will post shortly.
The Las Vegas Antique Arms show didn't disappoint. It was my second time there and for the second time I came home with a No1 Lee-Speed. I walked past this cased example as the dealer was not there and along with another rifle both cases were closed, so I felt it best not to tamper. A few steps past this one, something told me to go back, so I did and this time I read the label. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read it was a .303 Lee-Speed. Needless to say the dealer and I eventually met up and we struck a deal.
Assuming the case and rifle are original to one another then the initials and address embossed on the the front have been identified (by a friend) as William Harold S Peters, born 1867. The 1901 census has him at this address. He was a lawyer and with no connection to the military, one would presume this was a private purchase (or gift) for his sporting interests.
Some pics in a moment.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 08:10 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Right side of action strap showing the patent details etc.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 08:12 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Left side of action strap showing the retailers engraved details - Watson Brothers 29 Old Bond Street London.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 08:14 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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And two more pics.
Enjoy,
Roy
| lonewulf |
| (.300 member) |
| 24/01/17 08:41 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Wow! What a great find. Thanks for the photos.
| Claydog |
| (.375 member) |
| 24/01/17 09:13 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Thats about as good as it gets I would say.
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 24/01/17 11:04 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Oh.....that's very nice!
Lovely rifle!
| henry_r |
| (.224 member) |
| 24/01/17 09:11 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Truely a thing of beauty. You are building a very nice collection.
Great photos as well.
Thanks for sharing.
| AlanD |
| (.275 member) |
| 11/02/17 10:42 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Did you hear back from Watson Bros ?
Regards
AlanD
Sydney
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 12/02/17 05:06 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Hi Chaps,
Thanks for all your kind words gents, very much appreciated. We are not a bid group, so it's always really great to share these rifles with like minded folk.
Alan 'no' I did not hear back. I've been embroiled re-building my website recently, so somewhat distracted. I will get back on to them and if I still hear nothing then I will have to enlist one of my UK friends to call in personally.
Cheerio,
Roy
P.s. here is a new link to the Lee-Speed section of my website. I still have a huge amount to do but slowly making progress.
http://wilkinsonfscollection.com/wilkinsonfscollection.com/The_Lee-Speed_Rifle.html
| Waidmannsheil |
| (.400 member) |
| 12/02/17 08:52 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Looking good Roy, can't wait to see it finished. Well done.
Waidmannsheil.
| Rule303 |
| (.416 member) |
| 12/02/17 09:30 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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What a great looking lee Speed and in very good condition. Well done on obtaining it. Sure would be interested in its history.
| henry_r |
| (.224 member) |
| 12/02/17 05:37 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Nice work on the website. I know what I'll be doing tonight.
| Roy |
| (.300 member) |
| 13/02/17 01:36 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Thanks for all your kind words chaps,
Due to my website re-build and all the work that is taking, I have had to shelve my Lee-Speed projects for the time being. Including of course my research on my new Watson Bros rifle, my range trip on my 8mm and of course my development on my section of the site dedicated to the Lee-Speed.
That said, I will get back to all these projects as time allows, so promise some more pics/info extra throughout the year.
I must confess I keep the Watson rifle where I can walk past it (about a hundred times a day) and it never gets old..:) My wife says I'm like a kid with a new toy! I don't think she's wrong on that one.
Cheerio,
Roy
| Levallois |
| (.300 member) |
| 04/08/18 06:29 AM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Sorry folks - my research was not on this rifle. My only excuse is that I have a new daughter that is keeping us up as only a newborn can. Please see the Williams Evans post.
| AlanD |
| (.275 member) |
| 05/08/18 12:40 PM |
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Re: Cased Watson Bro's No1 Lee-Speed
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Excellent research!
Regards
AlanD
Sydney