Lee Metford? Lee Speed? Old Lee, what is this one?

[louthepou]

Hi folks,

An acquaintance of mine has this older Lee rifle. I tried to identify it but I got lost in the numerous variations of early Lee rifles. Help!

Information

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[5thBatt]

LSA Lee-Speed MkII* Magazine Lee Metford

[Army Issue]

On the stock it has this stamp as well, .U.V.F. For God and Ulster.
Can you enlighten me?

[RobD]

UVF = Ulster Volunteer Force.

Don't confuse the modern group
Ulster Volunteer Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

with the earlier one which yours belonged to
BBC - History - 1916 Easter Rising - Profiles - Ulster Volunteer Force

Rob

[boltaction]

What you have is a commercially sold Lee-Metford Mk II* made by London Small Arms Co under Lee-Speed patents. So, it is both a Metford and a Speed. I'm not sure of the history of that Ulster force, but they may well have contracted with LSA to make them their rifles. If it were a Metford made for the British military (gov't contract) it would have on the buttsocket the model, date, LSA Co and the appropriate crown for the ruler at that time. Looks like a very nice old Metford, and the bolt matches too! Is the bore decent? Remember Metford rifling often looks worn because we're used to seeing the deeper Enfield rifling. Having said that, Metford rifling often IS worn! Very nice.

Ed

[Beerhunter]

"Lee-Speed" appears to be a relatively modern term for a commercial British Lee type rifle because, unlike military production, early ones are marked "Lee-Speed Patents". In other words, in reality a Lee-Speed cannot really be nailed down to a type because the marking can be found on many different variants of rifle - as in this case.

[Bindi2]

Is it not the design patents owned by Mr Lee and the stamp indicates a legal use of the patents.

[Beerhunter]

Is it not the design patents owned by Mr Lee and the stamp indicates a legal use of the patents.

In a word - yes.

[Surpmil]

Ulster Volunteers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "In April 1914 the UVF smuggled 25,000 rifles into Ulster."

Probably what were then obsolete rifles like this one. Interesting piece!

[Simon P]

The front barrel band with bayonet bar may even have the "Rigby Pattern" mark as well.