"Pre" topic question- Remington Lees

[Peter Laidler]

As a matter of interest, at Warminster, we have the actual LEE purchased in order to ascertain the suitability of the bolt action, magazine feed and trigger mechanism. It's in a glass case now, a bit battered and worn but it's the actual rifle.

It's together with the last service Lee Enfield in service with the British Army. And suprisingly, it's not a No4 or L42 but a No1 Mk3*. I suppose ther are still LEE's, in the form of thousands of No8's still in service but......

I tell visitors that being a hallowed name, they should gently genuflect when they pass by........... and to the mighty Brens of course!

[ireload2]

Does the hammer also lower the breech block on the Lee Vertical breech rifle?
I see no lever to operate the breech block and the hammer is disproportionately long.

[jmoore]

The Lee vertical breech is unlike anything else on the planet. If the hammer is cocked it won't open , otherwise just push down the front. The take down pin is a safety. Pulling the trigger locks the breech, because the rear of the trigger IS the lock. Sounds insane but it works! It would probably keep you up all night working out the load paths and inherent strength of the action!!!!

[ireload2]

The Lee vertical breech is unlike anything else on the planet. If the hammer is cocked it won't open , otherwise just push down the front. The take down pin is a safety. Pulling the trigger locks the breech, because the rear of the trigger IS the lock. Sounds insane but it works! It would probably keep you up all night working out the load paths and inherent strength of the action!!!!

Sounds like a very interesting design. I need to find section view drawings or patent drawings of that one. What lever or feature provides actuation of the extractor and ejection if any? Seems that every idea for action design was tried more than 100 years ago.

[jmoore]

Your thumb mashing down on the front of the breech block works everything. Just don't hold the trigger back whilst doing it or it won't open. Don't know at this time about pics, its a pricey rifle!

If there are pics, might be best moved to the Milsurps general forum.

[ireload2]

Your thumb mashing down on the front of the breech block works everything. Just don't hold the trigger back whilst doing it or it won't open. Don't know at this time about pics, its a pricey rifle!

If there are pics, might be best moved to the Milsurps general forum.

Ok but it is interesting. Looks like someone crossbred a Remington Rolling block with a Peabody.

[jmoore]

nevermind what I said above just two more pics

Lee breech block and pin


inside the working bits

[ireload2]

It is really interesting.
I can't figure out the lock up but the extractor has a long round about actuator.

I guess the trigger keeps the block propped up and the pin takes most of the the firing load. It would be fun to document that one.

What is the asking price on that one?

[jmoore]

Out of circulation for now! (price was multithousand)

Extractor extention short but really wide.

The firing loads are NOT taken by the takedown pin/ safety but by the rear of the breech block. How the locking surfaces in the receiver were cut I'm not sure but I believe it took a very fancy bit of dedicated tooling. I've something in my head about it which might be doable, but hideously expensive for a short run project.

The trigger is forward pivoted so most of its loads would be fore/aft under firing pressure.

[ireload2]

It took a while but think I finally figured out how the single shot works.
This has been an interesting thread.