Hello all! Happy to be part of this forum.
I am researching the commercially made Lee Metford and Lee Enfield ("Lee Speed") rifles manufactured from 1890 to 1939, especially the purpose-built sporting rifles, but also the military pattern rifles that were privately sold to target shooters. These were usually in .303, but can also be found in .375 Nitro Express, 8x50R, and .22 LR. My plan is to publish a comprehensive work on this subject that will be useful to collectors and historians, with information on how to identify and date these rifles.
What I need from gentlemen such as yourselves are pictures and data from any Lee Speed rifles that pass through your hands, or any other info or tips that might be useful. Please send me a private message for my Lee Speed survey form. It is only through your help that I can do this. I am also happy to offer any information I can about any such rifles, including identifying markings or establishing a place and date of manufacture. For the past several years, I have examined a large number of Lee Speeds.
Please note: I'm interested in data from any private (not government) Lee Enfield or Lee Metford rifles, regardless of whether they are stamped "Lee Speed." This would include any rifles with a simple "BSA&M," "BSA Co.," or "LSA Co." stamp on the butt socket. You won't see any military markings, only private proofs. You might see gunmaker or retailer markings, such Greener, Army& Navy, Jeffery, H&H, Westley Richards, etc. I am not interested in sporterized ex-service rifles---only rifles that were purposely built for commercial and civilian sale. There are a good many of them out there, but they often go unnoticed.
Of course, if you have any first-hand (or second-hand) hunting tales of the .303 British, I would love to hear them!
Thanks very much!
jc5
I am researching the commercially made Lee Metford and Lee Enfield ("Lee Speed") rifles manufactured from 1890 to 1939, especially the purpose-built sporting rifles, but also the military pattern rifles that were privately sold to target shooters. These were usually in .303, but can also be found in .375 Nitro Express, 8x50R, and .22 LR. My plan is to publish a comprehensive work on this subject that will be useful to collectors and historians, with information on how to identify and date these rifles.
What I need from gentlemen such as yourselves are pictures and data from any Lee Speed rifles that pass through your hands, or any other info or tips that might be useful. Please send me a private message for my Lee Speed survey form. It is only through your help that I can do this. I am also happy to offer any information I can about any such rifles, including identifying markings or establishing a place and date of manufacture. For the past several years, I have examined a large number of Lee Speeds.
Please note: I'm interested in data from any private (not government) Lee Enfield or Lee Metford rifles, regardless of whether they are stamped "Lee Speed." This would include any rifles with a simple "BSA&M," "BSA Co.," or "LSA Co." stamp on the butt socket. You won't see any military markings, only private proofs. You might see gunmaker or retailer markings, such Greener, Army& Navy, Jeffery, H&H, Westley Richards, etc. I am not interested in sporterized ex-service rifles---only rifles that were purposely built for commercial and civilian sale. There are a good many of them out there, but they often go unnoticed.
Of course, if you have any first-hand (or second-hand) hunting tales of the .303 British, I would love to hear them!
Thanks very much!
jc5
