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

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Old_rifle_nut
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Reged: 13/12/06
Posts: 100
Loc: Manitoba, Canada
New (To Me) Army & Navy Lee Speed with a Famous PO
      #261520 - 03/03/15 09:58 AM

Well, finally got around to photographing my latest Lee Speed & thought I would share some details on it.

It is a fairly straight-forward Lee Speed #1 H.V.S.R., made by B.S.A.Co. & retailed by Army & Navy. A check with Army & Navy's record holders, the U. of Glasgow, reveals that Major (later Major-General) Henry Charles Barwick Hopkinson C.M.G., C.B.E. (a descendant of Alexander the Great, according to Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage) ordered it in 1904.

While the wood is nothing spectacular, at least compared to some Lee Speeds I have known, it is pleasantly figured. I do, however, enjoy the BSA patent stalking safety. Countering this, however, is the extra weight of the rifle, due to the barrel rib, that I have come to object to as I continue to age. I much prefer the #2 without rib, but especially the carbines, which are a sheer joy to carry in the Shield where I hunt.











I apologize for the poor quality of my photographs.

Edited by Old_rifle_nut (04/03/15 08:40 AM)


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Iowa_303s
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Reged: 22/03/13
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Loc: Iowa, USA
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Old_rifle_nut]
      #261521 - 03/03/15 11:06 AM

Nice rifle you have there!
Thanks for sharing.

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"


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Caprivi
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Reged: 30/09/08
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #261527 - 03/03/15 12:37 PM

" Countering this, however, is the extra weight of the rifle, due to the barrel rib, that I have come to object to as I continue to age. I much prefer the #2 without rib, but especially the carbines,"


Understood entirely, and as a concerned friend, I will volunteer to take the wretched thing off of your hands............:)

--------------------
To live life as it is handed to me from God


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Claydog
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Caprivi]
      #261528 - 03/03/15 01:23 PM

May be heavier but man they look good with that full length rib.

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Ash
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Reged: 10/05/11
Posts: 1653
Loc: Australia
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Claydog]
      #261547 - 03/03/15 08:53 PM

Absolutely! That rib is to die for!

Gorgeous rifle!

--------------------
.


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Old_rifle_nut
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Reged: 13/12/06
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Ash]
      #261569 - 04/03/15 03:05 AM

Thank you all for the kind responses.

As regards the rib, you may not think its weight is much, but when comparing it to a svelte carbine, which also brings length into the ease of use & portability equation, it is quite noticeable.

If I remember, I'll post photos and details of my last remaining #1 later today (if the scheduled power outage does not occur) or tomorrow, and then after that I'll see about posting photos of my absolute favourite #2 (which is why it is the only one I have left) and then my Lee Speed carbine.

I've sold my other 3 #1's, 3 #2's, 6 #3's & 2 #4's as they were just more of the same, not to mention they didn't shoot as well or look as nice as my remaining sporting Lees and I have decided to spend quality shooting time with many different toys (think Rook rifles, Farquharsons, other British magazine rifles, maybe even a double rifle, &c., &c., &c.) in whatever time I have left, so their sale funded the purchase of the latter.







Edited by Old_rifle_nut (04/03/15 11:00 AM)


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Old_rifle_nut]
      #261571 - 04/03/15 03:17 AM

Very nice rifle. I love the rib too.

Quote:

A check with Army & Navy's record holders, the U. of Glasgow, reveals that Major (later Major-General) Henry Charles Barwick Hopkinson C.M.G., C.B.E. (a descendant of Alexander the Great, ....




Ha ha, I would like to know how he proved he was a descendant of Alexander the Great! Considering a lot of knowledge today has come from archeological digs! I doubt births, marriages and deaths registers existed back then.

I'm descended from Odin btw.

--------------------
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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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: NitroX]
      #261572 - 04/03/15 03:19 AM

BTW what is the calibre/chambering?

--------------------
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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Old_rifle_nut
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Reged: 13/12/06
Posts: 100
Loc: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: NitroX]
      #261601 - 04/03/15 10:17 AM

Chambering is for the .303

The information is from volume 1, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, as well as Oxford University.


Oops, I'm a klutz. It is William the Conqueror. Doh!!!


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Old_rifle_nut]
      #261636 - 04/03/15 09:07 PM

Quote:

Chambering is for the .303

The information is from volume 1, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, as well as Oxford University.


Oops, I'm a klutz. It is William the Conqueror. Doh!!!




Ha ha, now that I can believe!

Thanks, thought the cartridges looked like .303.

--------------------
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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A10ACN
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Reged: 30/01/05
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: NitroX]
      #261926 - 08/03/15 11:47 PM

Don't hold out on us! You can't tease with pics but no info on the others.

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Old_rifle_nut
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Reged: 13/12/06
Posts: 100
Loc: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: A10ACN]
      #261942 - 09/03/15 07:33 AM

A10ACN:

Well, what would like to know, other than what is already in the other threads?


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Sarg
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Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Old_rifle_nut]
      #261946 - 09/03/15 09:32 AM

Fantastic collection & display of rifles here, all very much to my taste !

I do wish the photos were a bit sharper (hate to complain) as I would like to keep them in my files !

Have you shown the Carbine Lee Speed, as I have only ever seen one short barreled Lee Speed before ?

I must admit the shorter & lighter Carbine or SMLE profile barreled rifles feel a little livelier in the hand .

Thank you again for posting yours, I feel bad now & when I get time I will try to post some of mind to .


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Ash
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Loc: Australia
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Sarg]
      #261957 - 09/03/15 01:48 PM

Would love more details on the Martini and Farquharson! (Calibers?)

--------------------
.


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Old_rifle_nut
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Reged: 13/12/06
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Loc: Manitoba, Canada
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Ash]
      #262009 - 10/03/15 10:15 AM

Sarg:

Sorry again for the poor quality photos. I will try to remember to bring my tripod back with me in the fall.

I haven't taken photos of the Lee Speed carbine yet.

Ash:
Not sure what you are looking for, but here goes:

The small-frame Martini was retailed by George Bate of Birmingham. (I'm trying to find one of their catalogues that show it) An email to the firm last year resulted in the information that the rook rifle was, in fact, bought in, from an un-named firm in Belgium, but all of Bates' records were destroyed in the Blitz in the Second World War. The barrel is a file-cut flat-topped ovate shape, 26" in length. Rear sight is a W.W.Greener cadet pattern sight. It is simply a joy to carry in the woods. It feels like you have a long well-balanced screwdriver in your hand, and mounts & points wonderfully. The cartridge reminds me of a miniature .43 Mauser, or baby .450 B.P.E. It is chambered for the .298 Minex caliber. (0.295 lands, 0.300" grooves) with Pre-1904 Birmingham proof marks. I use sized down .32-20 Star-line brass to hand-load for it. I designed an Accurate Molds RNFPPBTL 5 gang mould for it. Water quenched wheel weight bullets come out at 0.30095" so they are only lubed, with mineral spirits diluted liquid alox. I use a neck-sizing button to initially size down the necks, but thereafter do not have to do anything other than to crimp the bullets in after being seated as there is not enough pressure to expand the cases. Other than working up a load for it (8.0 gr. Nobel Magnum 6 in front of RWS SP primers in the above-mentioned Starline brass), I get to shoot it very seldom as my wife has taken it as her own. (I get to load for it & clean it after range time!) It is one of very few of my rifles she likes & can use. The other is a Francotte-Patent small-frame Martini that was retailed by Robert Hughes & Sons, Birmingham, which has been sleeved for .22 Long sometime in its life. The barrel carries Post-1904 Birmingham proof marks. An email to the firm last year resulted in the information that the rook rifle was also bought in, from Francotte in Belgium, but all of their records were destroyed in the Blitz in the Second World War.

The second is a J. Burrow #3B (Trade-Pattern) Farquharson in .375 Flanged Nitro Express 2 1/2" that I picked up a few years ago, along with dies, 2 boxes of original ammunition, 200 bullets, & 50 new brass, in trade for a new Browning Citori Hunter, a Stephan Grant L.S.A.Co.Ld. carbine, a Ruger #1A in .30-06, a Ruger #1A in .303 & a Kahles ZF84 scope. It is just so much nicer to hold & carry than a Ruger #1 & I daresay, has a whole lot more history to it! I've turned some of the old Hornady .375 275 grain RNSP IL bullets into the old Soft-nose split type using my trusty dremel tool with a cut-off wheel. Boy, do they expand on whitetail!!! When it's at the range on a hot day (+37 C with 90% humidity), I think it most fitting that I wear my old pith helmet with it.

;-)

The third is my Holland & Holland rifle.

Time for dinner!

If I missed any information or specific details you would like, just let me know & I will provide them, if I can.


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Ash
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Reged: 10/05/11
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Loc: Australia
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Old_rifle_nut]
      #262809 - 26/03/15 08:42 PM

That was perfect thank you! Sorry for taking so long to reply!

But you realise now i'm going to ask: What caliber is the H&H?

They are all absolutely beautiful rifles, and your collection is an inspiration.

--------------------
.


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thetexasrifleman
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Reged: 05/09/15
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Loc: Stephenville, Texas
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: Ash]
      #270632 - 18/09/15 12:31 AM

Absolutely amazing collection with an awesome story. Gives young men like me something to aspire too!

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VonGruff
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Reged: 08/02/09
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Loc: South Otago, New Zealand.
Re: New (To Me) Lee Speed & A Famous P.O. [Re: thetexasrifleman]
      #270649 - 18/09/15 09:44 AM

class in every sense of the word. You have certainly kept the cream of the crop.

--------------------
Von Gruff.

Exodus 20:1-17

Acts 4:10-12


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