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

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 351
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Finally ready for Tsavo
#383618 - 25/03/24 05:19 AM

I have been hunting for a Lee-Speed for some time and finally ran across this one yesterday at a gun show in Sioux Falls SD. It was made by WW Greener on a BSA Lee-Speed. It is quite nice with all the neat attributes including a full rib on the barrel. The best part is the bore and chamber are near mint.

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fjrdoc
.300 member

Reged: 20/05/22
Posts: 212
Loc: United States

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: LRF]
#383619 - 25/03/24 06:07 AM

Congrats on your acquisition. She's beautiful.

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4199
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: fjrdoc]
#383620 - 25/03/24 06:55 AM

Amazing pick up!
I'd say this old girls been carried a lot & not fired too often - hope that's about to change for you LRF!

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: 93x64mm]
#383628 - 25/03/24 07:34 AM

Very nice.

--------------------
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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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 351
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: 93x64mm]
#383634 - 25/03/24 08:12 AM

Quote:

Amazing pick up!
I'd say this old girls been carried a lot & not fired too often - hope that's about to change for you LRF!

Thanks and I hope to take it out soon. (we are having a major snow storm today so I will pass until better weather LOL

)
There are a few scraps and bents but the overall rifle is in good condition. I believe that it was probably re-blued during it's life and a little finish has been wiped on the stock. Checkering is good so stock wasn't sanded.

Interestingly I had never seen a LS at any gunshow before and at this show there were 2 of them. The other was also nice looking on the outside and the only maker marks was the BSA. It was the version with no safety at all. Also the bore was badly pitted and would have to be freshed out and re-rifled to say maybe 35 cal. I was considering it and then I saw the one I bought. I was a bit blown away.

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Hunter4752001
.300 member

Reged: 25/01/10
Posts: 133
Loc: Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: LRF]
#383635 - 25/03/24 09:14 AM

Congratulations. A lovely rifle and a great acquisition.

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bwanabobftw
.375 member

Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hunter4752001]
#383636 - 25/03/24 09:17 AM

Congrats on a beautiful rifle !!!!!!!!!!

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Hendo
.224 member

Reged: 23/05/18
Posts: 44
Loc: South Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hunter4752001]
#383637 - 25/03/24 09:30 AM

A lovely rifle, It looks like the No 1 Pattern as per the 1908 BSA catalogue. AS you have no doubt discovered, they have a great feel, very pointable, like a well made shotgun.
I have a no 2 Pattern BSA with a shotgun style safety in similar condition to yours and a BSA No 4 Sporting carbine style Lee Speed that has the safety like yours but has a charger bridge fitted. It has seen plenty of work, but still has an excellent bore and shoots very well. The stories they could tell.

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

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hendo]
#383643 - 25/03/24 11:22 PM

Quote:

A lovely rifle, It looks like the No 1 Pattern as per the 1908 BSA catalogue. AS you have no doubt discovered, they have a great feel, very pointable, like a well made shotgun.
I have a no 2 Pattern BSA with a shotgun style safety in similar condition to yours and a BSA No 4 Sporting carbine style Lee Speed that has the safety like yours but has a charger bridge fitted. It has seen plenty of work, but still has an excellent bore and shoots very well. The stories they could tell.

Was your rifle one of the four "club" Lee Speed .303 rifles used at the Naval Military Club/SASG SA Sporting Guns "Try Day"?

--------------------
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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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 351
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hendo]
#383648 - 26/03/24 12:59 AM

Quote:

A lovely rifle, It looks like the No 1 Pattern as per the 1908 BSA catalogue. AS you have no doubt discovered, they have a great feel, very pointable, like a well made shotgun.
I have a no 2 Pattern BSA with a shotgun style safety in similar condition to yours and a BSA No 4 Sporting carbine style Lee Speed that has the safety like yours but has a charger bridge fitted. It has seen plenty of work, but still has an excellent bore and shoots very well. The stories they could tell.

I am no expert and if you disagree please educate me as needed. Now having said that I would believe my rifle was probably sold as a barreled action of the No. 3 pattern to Greener. Then Greener stocked it and added the rib and sights. IMHO
Can you post a pic of your safety? I see the patent drawing for it but can't find a good pic.

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lancaster
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9034
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: LRF]
#383659 - 26/03/24 07:00 AM

nice rifle, you did not mention it - its 303 Brit?

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

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Waidmannsheil
.400 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2443
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: lancaster]
#383662 - 26/03/24 07:19 AM

Very nice rifle, great to hear its got a good bore. Lee-speed's appear occasionally here in Australia at auctions but many have bores that are completely shot out. Looking forward to hearing a range report.

Matt.

--------------------
There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 351
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: lancaster]
#383665 - 26/03/24 09:59 AM

Quote:

nice rifle, you did not mention it - its 303 Brit?

Yes, 303. It's marked on the left side of barrel in front of receiver: 303 2.22 18.5 tons. Also a number of proof marks

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TH44
.375 member

Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 734
Loc: West UK

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: LRF]
#383667 - 26/03/24 10:47 AM

Not sure whether Greener would have modified it or not, (the wide ribs are the deluxe??)

My Westley Richards is almost identical with a similar wide rib but a tang safety (which works back to front - off is back)

Enjoy your shooting with it

TH

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Hendo
.224 member

Reged: 23/05/18
Posts: 44
Loc: South Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: TH44]
#383670 - 26/03/24 03:08 PM

To answer JOhns question, yes, I think both of mine were there. I had two tho others they've been sold. These two are keepers. they seem to shoot best with 175 grain woodleighs or Bertrams. neither like the 215 grain projectiles.

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

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degoins
.333 member

Reged: 28/02/06
Posts: 435
Loc: SC, USA

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hendo]
#383679 - 27/03/24 10:26 AM

Super nice.....congrats!!!

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Rule303
.450 member

Reged: 05/07/09
Posts: 5061
Loc: Woodford Qld

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: degoins]
#383680 - 27/03/24 11:56 AM

Sweet. very good pick up there. Enjoy using it.

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Ahmed577
.333 member

Reged: 13/06/13
Posts: 334
Loc: Western Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Rule303]
#383688 - 27/03/24 11:16 PM

Have a rigby similar, 303 perfect for all game With proper shot placement. Only wish I could post photos.

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Ahmed577]
#383689 - 27/03/24 11:19 PM

Quote:

Have a rigby similar, 303 perfect for all game With proper shot placement. Only wish I could post photos.

Post them up on your Facebook account. I'll have a lookmforbthem and copy, edit, upload and post on THE NE forums for you. My email account is near full at the moment so don't email. Will get to it over Easter if they are on FB.

--------------------
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: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: NitroX]
#383724 - 29/03/24 10:38 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Have a rigby similar, 303 perfect for all game With proper shot placement. Only wish I could post photos.

Post them up on your Facebook account. I'll have a lookmforbthem and copy, edit, upload and post on THE NE forums for you. My email account is near full at the moment so don't email. Will get to it over Easter if they are on FB.

Colin, email them tome if not too many MBs.

--------------------
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: 39881
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: Hendo]
#383730 - 29/03/24 07:19 PM

Quote:

A lovely rifle, It looks like the No 1 Pattern as per the 1908 BSA catalogue. AS you have no doubt discovered, they have a great feel, very pointable, like a well made shotgun.
I have a no 2 Pattern BSA with a shotgun style safety in similar condition to yours and a BSA No 4 Sporting carbine style Lee Speed that has the safety like yours but has a charger bridge fitted. It has seen plenty of work, but still has an excellent bore and shoots very well. The stories they could tell.

Hendo's Lee Speed rifles.

My two Lee Speeds, both BSA, bottom is a No 2 Pattern with the “shotgun style safety and the other is a No4 Sporting Carbine pattern but with the charger bridge fitted. Both have the Lee Speed stamped on the but socket.

The other photo is the No2 Patterns’ safety .

--------------------
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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PCC600
.224 member

Reged: 27/02/24
Posts: 3
Loc: Queensland Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: NitroX]
#384716 - 07/05/24 01:52 PM

I am a big fan of Lee Speed rifles and the 303 in particular. I have a BSA & M Co. Pattern No1 rifle with the optional 10 shot magazine. It was made circa 1897, and like the military Magazine Lee Metford II rifles has no safety at all. Barrels are Metford rifling . Happily shoots 215 grain pills.
I also purchased an Army & Navy CSL 303 Pattern No1 in the UK last year. This has the 5 shot magazine and a shotgun style safety on the stock . It was made circa 1904.
All Lee Speed rifles were made by BSA or LSA. There is no difference in the finish of both my rifles which suggests that firms like H&H , Westley Richards , Greener etc did nothing more than engrave their names on the barrels and dust cover.

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LRF
.333 member

Reged: 28/03/11
Posts: 351
Loc: minnesota ,usa

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: PCC600]
#387383 - 23/10/24 09:35 PM

Always worth bringing up a thread about Lee-Speed's. However I have another motive.

I am very much in the search to acquire a box of collector's grade ammo to go with my Speed. I am looking for a Red & Yellow box of Kynoch 303 British cartridges. If there is a chance you could assist please let me know. Thanks.

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4199
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Finally ready for Tsavo [Re: LRF]
#387384 - 23/10/24 09:56 PM

LRF
you might be able to contact Kynoch in the US via these guys.
https://www.kynochusa.com/Order.html

As to a vintage box that will be a another story altogether!
Hope you find a good example to add to your case.....if you have one that is!
Might have sent you down another rabbit hole!

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