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Gentlemen:
The BSA Lee Speed rifles seem to have quite a following on NitroExpress.com, so I guess it's time
I tossed up a few pics of the best example in my collection.

This rifle is a particularly fine BSA No.1 Pattern sporter retailed by the Army & Navy
Co-operative Society, London. It has all the usual hallmarks of the standard No.1 pattern,
viz engraving, horn forend tip and grip-cap, tang safety, and that marvellous
full-length engine-turned barrel-rib with retailer's name and cordite banners.
What really distinguishes this particular example however, is the Harris Patent magazine filler,
sometimes referred to as Punchard's magazine charger.

Here's a pic of the rifle in profile:

This photo shows a close-up of the RHS of the action:

This pic shows the maker's (or rather, retailer's!) name in a banner on the rib:

...and the marvellous cordite banner! (Can't you tell? I just love this stuff!)

This photo shows the tang safety-catch, a BSA & C.Proctor patent which referred to the
device as a 'grip safety'. That term now has another meaning of course with the
development of military pistols like the 1911 Colt.

Here is the LHS showing the lever which operates the magazine platform or follower.
When the lever is pushed forward, the platform drops to the floor-plate and a handful of .303
cartridges can be dumped into the magazine through the action with the bolt open.
The lever is then released to 'rack the cartridges up' in the magazine. The Harris patents
were Nos. 10,239 and 16,284 of the year 1900, and 14,640 and 17,870 of 1901.
The system became obsolete almost immediately with the adoption of clips and the
incorporation of a clip-loading bridge on the Lee Enfield action.

This particular rifle featured in a "Rifles at Random" 2-page article in the international
magazine 'Arms & Militaria Collector' No.22, when in the hands of the previous owner.
Funny thing is, he doesn't recall the photos ever being taken, even though he is
quoted in the article!

I won't worry about posting photos of my other Lee Speeds. Although they are both quite
different, they are nevertheless bog-standard No.3 Pattern rifles with no outstanding features.
I love them dearly just the same!

Edited by CptCurl (08/10/08 11:34 PM)

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