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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Lee Speed Forum & Archive
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CharlesHunter
.224 member


Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA
      #356978 - 23/09/21 05:09 PM

Went to my local gunshop last week and on their counter was a Lee Speed they were in the process of buying. I expressed an interest and came home with it the next day (lucky enough to have a dealers licence so no waiting for purchase approvals). Limited knowledge so far but it is a BSA with Army & Navy CSL on the dustcover and is in the No.2 pattern. Serial in the 26### range an has the grip/top safety and probably has about 60 to 70% original finish. Can anyone tell me what the alpha numeric code (4 digits) under the BSA name on the right hand receiver strap means? Will put some pictures up once I work out how to do it. Steve.

Lee Speed

Ok worked out how to post a link to the pictures I think. Steve

Edited by CharlesHunter (23/09/21 08:23 PM)

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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4200
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #356980 - 23/09/21 07:59 PM

Welcome to the forum CH.
Sorry I can't help you on the code, but there are quite a few Lee Speed aficionados here, hopefully they'll chime in soon! A photo or 2 will help immensely for your identification purposes.
Lovely pick up by the way, what calibre is it in?

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264
.375 member


Reged: 15/02/11
Posts: 615
Loc: NT Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #356982 - 23/09/21 09:07 PM

Nice pick up welcome to the forum Cheers Mick

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39883
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #356983 - 23/09/21 11:18 PM

Welcome Steve. Any connection to the old Charles Hunter gunshop?

Good time to be in the local gunshop, when it was being purchased.

--------------------
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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degoins
.333 member


Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 435
Loc: SC, USA
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: NitroX]
      #356984 - 23/09/21 11:46 PM

Welcome and congrats on a lovely rifle!!

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 26998
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: degoins]
      #356989 - 24/09/21 02:11 AM

Welcome Steve - what a lovely rifle.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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lancaster
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Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9034
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Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: DarylS]
      #356992 - 24/09/21 03:55 AM

here it is



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

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CharlesHunter
.224 member


Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: NitroX]
      #357013 - 24/09/21 10:29 AM


Good morning, yes indeed that is the connection and where the name comes from ( Dad's old business) and it was a fortunate happenstance. To interesting to pass on and price was reasonable and obviously acceptable.

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CharlesHunter
.224 member


Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357015 - 24/09/21 10:44 AM

Thanks Lancaster for putting the picture up!

Now that people can see it I will point out that it is not the original barrel but the sights, sling eye and barrel profile match the original (no woodwork was modified) and is now in 303/25. No other refinishing has been done all of which was done maybe 30 odd years ago.

The rifle came with one box of Super Brand ammunition with 4 rounds being fired and I am confident that this is all that has been put through the new barrel. Will be fun to shoot once I get some dies and ammo loaded up. Steve.

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lancaster
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Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357023 - 24/09/21 02:16 PM

who ever did it made a good work, thinking now that it happen its an extra to have a lee speed in 303/25.
maybe its the only one for this cartridge worldwide.

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

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93x64mm
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Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4200
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357043 - 25/09/21 06:15 AM

Quote:

Will be fun to shoot once I get some dies and ammo loaded up. Steve.


Try SIMPLEX here mate
forming dies
https://simplexreloading.com.au/4-photo-layout/simplex-master-dies/
Die lists
https://simplexreloading.com.au/die-list/
Whoever did the work certainly did a good job, even if it's in 303/25 it will be still a good round, with good shot placement & good projectiles they will drive deep if needed, so any good red deer will be in serious trouble if you get the chance to do so!

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Hunter4752001
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Reged: 25/01/10
Posts: 133
Loc: Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: 93x64mm]
      #357059 - 25/09/21 05:51 PM

Any chance of posting a photo of the markings on the right hand side of the receiver wrist?

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lancaster
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Reged: 06/05/08
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Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: Hunter4752001]
      #357070 - 26/09/21 03:44 PM

btw, the reason for this 303/25 barrel was probably a shot out and cordite ruined 303 barrel so it a happy end

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

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CharlesHunter
.224 member


Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: lancaster]
      #357104 - 27/09/21 08:41 AM

Hunter4752001, can't seem to get the hang of posting photos on here as yet, but this link should take you to a picture Speed Wrist

Edited by CharlesHunter (27/09/21 08:42 AM)

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2152hq
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Reged: 20/05/12
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Loc: USA
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357173 - 01/10/21 10:07 AM

I think the 'code' on the wrist is the Army & Navy CSL (serial) number.
Often found on the trigger guard bow instead.

Nice rifle for sure.

I think the records from the A&N CSL are available yet. Do a search and I'm sure some info will appear.
Seems to me a University in Scotland had the records and would search them for a small price and photo copy the page or part of the page that contained your request.

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Hunter4752001
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Reged: 25/01/10
Posts: 133
Loc: Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: 2152hq]
      #357182 - 01/10/21 12:53 PM

Thanks Steve. The bolt seemed the wrong shape for a Lee Speed however the wrist confirms the rifle as a genuine Lee Speed. From memory, the the university in Scotland holding the firearm records for the Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd is the University of Glasgow. Maybe worth getting in touch with them. Congratulations on a great find.

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CharlesHunter
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Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: 2152hq]
      #357183 - 01/10/21 01:48 PM

The number on the dust cover and the guard is the Army & Navy number (and they match) and from my limited research the number stamped on the underside of the bolt handle is the BSA number. I have found pictures of other rifles with the 4 digit alpha numeric code but no explanation as yet. I have an enquiry in with Glasgow University who apparently have the Army & Navy CSL records (Through the House of Fraser). Will be interesting to see what may come back. Thanks

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CharlesHunter
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Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357624 - 26/10/21 05:16 PM

Got some answers back from Glasgow University who hold the archives for Army Navy CSL stock/sale books . My rifle, originally 303 was sold on the 17th September 1899 to a Capt. Baynes. The 4 digit alpha numeric number is the manufacturers number from BSA.

As advise in an earlier post, the rifle has been re-barrelled to 303/25. I located some dies (Simplex) and have started to develop loads and I can advise that it is an absolute joy to shoot. Minor issue is that the original sights were placed back on the new barrel and, unsurprisingly, it shoots high given the faster lighter projectile. I can live with this but need to convince a Fallow Deer to stand still and be close enough not to worry about the rising trajectory!

Finally, I managed to find an original leather Winchester sling (off an 1885 Highwall) in my collection that has the appropriate hook/sling swivels for the sling studs on the rifle. Not quite correct but period correct enough for the 303/25 Lee Speed.

Cheers

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bwanabobftw
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Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: CharlesHunter]
      #357762 - 01/11/21 12:53 AM

Congratulations Steve on a beautiful rifle !!!!!!!!!! Really cool you were able to get the info on the original buyer, have you looked him up? Might be interesting to see what he did and where he might have taken your rifle.
Robert

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CharlesHunter
.224 member


Reged: 20/09/21
Posts: 46
Loc: South Australia
Re: New member and a new to me Lee Speed BSA [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #362470 - 21/02/22 09:42 PM

Been a while since I have posted anything in regard to this fine rifle.

Firstly, it shoots well, if I do my part it will shoot under an inch at 50yrd using Speer 87gr, S&B cases, Win LR primers and AR2206H. Down side is that it shoots quite high, but this makes sense when you think about it. The barrel size, shape etc matches the original .303 Brit. and it has the original sights, probably set for heavy .303 pills. So I will be making up a new front sight to suit the 303/25s higher velocity and lighter bullet.

Secondly, I managed to find an original mid 1910's Winchester leather sling in the collection which has the appropriate sling hooks and is somewhat contemporary with the rifle and looks correct.

Did take it on a deer hunt late last year and managed to carry it for miles, never got a shot off as the deer were just to clever and stayed well out of range.

I have recently tried some lead bullets ( from one of my Stevens single shot rifles) 87gr and AP70N - which is similar to Unique. Initial load testing showed some promise but then I got kicked in the teeth by Covid and have only been able to get back to the range this last week where I shot my Model 71 Mauser single shot in 9.5x47R in our local Ring Target 100M offhand competition.

Every thing about this Lee Speed BSA just feels right so might look to build one in the near future in .375 or even 8 x 57R and have started to accumulate parts..lol

Cheers
Steve

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