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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Lee Speed Forum & Archive

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4337
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: lancaster]
#390966 - 05/04/25 07:23 AM

Very British indeed, crown & all!

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 449
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: 93x64mm]
#390968 - 05/04/25 08:38 AM

Thanks lancaster for posting the pics

It doesn't look like it has been refinished or re-blued to me. A friend pointed out that the front sight looks like it has been reworked and/or a replace for easier windage adjustment.

Wish they had commented on the bore condition.

Overall if bore is good a real keeper.

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superbee
.224 member

Reged: 09/05/20
Posts: 21
Loc: canada

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: LRF]
#390993 - 05/04/25 11:19 PM

In one of the pictures it shows a test target. It seems to shoot really well.

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Hunter4752001
.300 member

Reged: 25/01/10
Posts: 146
Loc: Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: superbee]
#391014 - 06/04/25 07:09 PM

Only guessing, but I doubt the 'crown' was done by the rifle builder - if done commercialy would be a breach of Crown copyright It looks very much like a British Amry Major's pip, possibly afixed to the rifle by a previous owner.

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superbee
.224 member

Reged: 09/05/20
Posts: 21
Loc: canada

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: Hunter4752001]
#391015 - 06/04/25 07:35 PM

.375 nitro express on gunbroker.

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1098886079

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4337
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: superbee]
#391029 - 07/04/25 06:00 AM

No grooves for a dust cover?
I think they stuffed that up!
Great calibre to have the .375 2 1/2".

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yumastepside
.375 member

Reged: 25/10/15
Posts: 502
Loc: Tasmania Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: 93x64mm]
#391036 - 07/04/25 08:09 AM

The dust cover rode on the bolt, not the action...those two little square protrusions on the bolt are where it attached.
Thats a very skinny barrel for a .375 FNE....

Roger

--------------------
If you live for a thousand years, you still only have one life, don't waste it.

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 449
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: yumastepside]
#391037 - 07/04/25 10:50 AM

Did the 375's have a dust cover? They didn't have a mag cut off but I thought I heard they also didn't have a dust cover. Maybe onr of the much more learned exporters could comments. Or it is just loss.

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40502
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: LRF]
#391046 - 07/04/25 04:35 PM

I do like it though. Some officer has personalised their rifle. Or adding some Empire appeal.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40502
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: lancaster]
#391047 - 07/04/25 04:37 PM

Quote:

Quote:

this picture of the german africa explorer Carl Peters https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Peters
is interesting because he have a borchardt pistol with shoulder stock on his side but the rifle he have is looking like lee speed to me

Borchardt C 93

The good old days.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40502
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: NitroX]
#391048 - 07/04/25 04:42 PM

Is this a Teutonic Lee Speed .303 ?

Very different.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40502
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: NitroX]
#391049 - 07/04/25 05:02 PM

With the death of Val Kilmer, his movies have been much on the internet and social media.

He played Colonel John Henry Patterson of Man-eaters of Tsavo fame in the excellent movie "The Ghost and the Darkness". In the movie Patterson uses a Lee Speed .303.

I haven't read Patterson's books for some time. Did he actually use a Lee Speed .303? I think so? I seem to remember at least one other firearm used. After the bridge, a long walk on a plain, maybe a 12-bore double? I forget.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (07/04/25 07:28 PM)

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 449
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: NitroX]
#391050 - 07/04/25 07:02 PM

Here is a little about Patterson's story, "From his book, The Man-Eaters of Tsavo, Patterson says of his firearms, “the battery, to be sufficient for all needs, should consist of a .450 express, a .303 sporting rifle, and a 12-bore shot gun; and I should consider 250 rounds of .450 (50 hard and 200 soft), 300 rounds of .303 (100 hard and 200 soft), and 500 12-bore shot cartridges of say, the 6 and 8 sizes, sufficient for a three months’ trip. Leather bandoliers to carry 50 each of these different cartridges would also prove very useful.” In the book He says he killed the first Lion with a heart shot but doesn't mention the gun. The second lion, he got six hits. "The first three were from the .303 rifle. The next shot he fired from the .450 from a tree, and the final two he fired head on into the lion’s head and body, also with the .450, during its final charge. He said the rounds that killed it were loaded with Martini bullets."

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NitroX
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40502
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: LRF]
#391051 - 07/04/25 07:35 PM

Quote:

“the battery, to be sufficient for all needs, should consist of a .450 express, a .303 sporting rifle, and a 12-bore shot gun; .....

In the book He says he killed the first Lion with a heart shot but doesn't mention the gun. The second lion, he got six hits. "The first three were from the .303 rifle. The next shot he fired from the .450 from a tree, and the final two he fired head on into the lion’s head and body, also with the .450, during its final charge. He said the rounds that killed it were loaded with Martini bullets."

Sounds familiar. The .303, a 12-bore shotgun and a .450 Express. I'm guessing a .577/450 MH.

I remember none being spectacular DG choices. More what a British officer without great family wealth might have. At the time.

A Lee Speed in .375 2 1/2" would have been much better for lion and larger plains game.

Interesting as well the volume of solids in the ammunition. The unreliability of soft points at the time meant solids were often preferred.

I must reread the books by Patterson and about Patterson.

Someone needs to make them into audio books.

LRF, thanks for the reply.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (07/04/25 07:40 PM)

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yumastepside
.375 member

Reged: 25/10/15
Posts: 502
Loc: Tasmania Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: NitroX]
#391054 - 07/04/25 10:54 PM

LRF...The 375's had a dust cover but no magazine cut off...not even a slot cut...a 4 round mag and the sights only went to 300 yds.

Roger

--------------------
If you live for a thousand years, you still only have one life, don't waste it.

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lancaster
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9434
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: yumastepside]
#391067 - 08/04/25 04:32 AM

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1098886079

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4337
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: lancaster]
#391068 - 08/04/25 05:57 AM

Definitely see where the dust cover attaches to the bolt!
Thanks Yuma for making it all makes sense.

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Hunter4752001
.300 member

Reged: 25/01/10
Posts: 146
Loc: Australia

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: 93x64mm]
#391076 - 08/04/25 11:42 AM

At the time, a 303 Sporting Rifle may have been preferred due to the availability of ammunition in any area under British colonial control. Likewise it would have served double duty as a suitable arm should there be trouble of the two legged variety. Rember we are talking about a very diferent time with very diferent priorities.

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Claydog
.400 member

Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1107
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...

Re: Lee Speed at Auction [Re: Hunter4752001]
#391088 - 09/04/25 07:39 AM

Some of us still prefer a 303 sporting rifle.

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