Speed-Lee markings

[Jc5]

Thanks to Terry and Rowdy for your posts!

EnfieldNutt,

A few things:
1) If you send me the photos--no matter how large--I will shrink them and post them here on the forum for everyone to see. Just send me a PM.

2) We don't know that BSA fulfilled any contracts to Ethiopia, and if they did, it's unlikely that it would be for this model. If anyone has evidence for this, please share. It could be that this was a private purchase by someone in Ethiopia.

3) You mentioned several times the "No. 4." This is not a No.4 ---neither a No.4 Lee Enfield service rifle from the 1940s (obviously), nor a BSA Trade pattern No.4, which had entirely different furniture. It was set up more like a sporter. Looks nothing like this one. Your rifle looks most like a BSA trade pattern No. 3, but it could be a No.1 (is there any checkering on the wood? You mentioned "original wood cutting grooves"--do you mean checkering?). It might also be a No. 2 Trade pattern whose nose cap has been replaced. It is not a No. 4 of any kind.

4) You said , "The SN is located in front of the sear on the receiver left side." I still do not understand what location you're talking about. Is this number up toward the breech end of the barrel, or back near the trigger? And it is 1575?

5) Do I understand you correctly that 1575 appears in only TWO places on this gun; on the bolt handle, and also on the left side of the receiver?

6) Where is the BSA stamp? On the barrel or on the butt? Does it say "BSA Co." (exactly those letters and nothing else) on the wrist strap?

7) When I asked about the "Lee Speed Patents" stamp, I meant a stamp that says exactly those words: "Lee Speed Patents." I will assume there is no such stamp or you would have mentioned it.

8) Where is the Sold out of Service stamp? On the wooden butt stock, or on the rifle? Is it two inward pointing arrows, or something else?

9) Is there a Crown over BM stamp?

10) Regarding the "UV" mark--is it on the brass buttplate tang, or on the wood?

11) The very curious thing about this rifle (apart from the Ethiopian stamp) is the nose cap. It is not the kind usually offered, and seems like a replacement---just where it came from I cannot tell without seeing a better picture.

12) You mentioned that it came with two butt stocks...obviously only one is original to this rifle, but you seem to suspect that the one that is unattached might be the original, because of the matching color of the wood. Do I understand you correctly?

It is a very interesting rifle---thank you for posting it! I hope we can figure out its story.