Hard Done-by Lee-Speed

[nijalninja]

Seems that I have come into possession of what seems to be a Lee-Speed of some description, that has been butchered beyond recognition. Looks like the fore-end has been replaced with MKIII wood, the butt-stock has been cut down for cheek clearance, and now has a MKIII barrel. Its also coated in lots of dirt and grime and by the wearing on the bolt and cocking piece it has seen some use. I also can't id the nose-piece/mid-band that it has on it.

Either way I plan to restore it, but I know there are several variants of these rifles and I'm not sure which one this is. Any help would be appreciated.
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[henry r]

She needs some love, but lee speeds are beautiful. My long term lee speed project is in about the same state.

I think the front band was once a smle nosecap.

Any chance of some more pics of the butt stock, butt plate and to top of the other side of the wrist?

If the top of the wrist on the other side is cut for a volley sight it was once a full stocked military patterned target rifle. If not it could have once been a factory sporter or an officers pattern rifle.

As lee speeds weren't military rifles any part with a government acceptance stamp (crown over number over letter) a broad arrow or a "WD" is a replacement. Excepting, I think there was some sort of stamp put on the receiver of some full stocked target rifles to show that they were of military pattern but i can't remember if it was the gov inspection stamp or not. Plus some saw service with home guard type units (and a very small amount were bought by the royal navy in ww1) so there could possibly be military stamps on the reciever.

[nijalninja]

She needs a lot of love frankly, like most of the old Lee rifles I have, but looking at these rifles in their original condition makes me want to look into it first. I also thought that the band looked like a SMLE nosecap, but why on earth would anyone cut the ears off, shorten it up and make a band out of it? I am just starting to remove the layers of gunk that are covering the inside surfaces of the receiver to see what markings there are in there.

[englishman_ca]

Uh huh. Somebody tinkered with it. Why was the nose cap cut down and the ears removed? Maybe one rainy Sunday afternoon in the shed Bubba had a bright idea as to how to make a custom nose cap!! There are all kinds of reworks done in the shed that would make one shake their head.

But you have an interesting project, a pretty cool old rifle. You appear to have a long Lee style receiver married to Sht.LE barrel complete with sights. The wood set is from wherever and whatever. Perhaps the modified butt is the only piece that is still original to the rifle.

Take more pics of the markings around the chamber areas please, so that we can figure out what components were used to put this one together.

[IMG][/IMG]
If the barrel fitted to the receiver checks out OK, you are halfway there to building a sporting rifle.

[green]

Does this arm have any South African marks. IIRC the SA had a number of private purchase Long Lees refitted with SMLE fore ends and barrels.

[nijalninja]

I am currently cleaning the reciever of its gunk so I can see the markings, but some genius decided to epoxy the rear sights to the top wood and the top wood to the barrel, so I can't get to the markings around the throat of the barrel. Who does this?

Also I am new to markings on these rifles, so I do not know what SA markings look like, but I'll clean it up and get some more pictures soon enough.

[englishman_ca]

Dont force it, get a bigger hammer!

Just kidding.

Get that junk wood off, it will make great kindling for starting the wood stove in the morning!

Maybe Bubba needed to use epoxy because the twist on the iron wire holding the hand guard down wasn't tight enough?

It will be interesting to see what the barrel markings are. I note the distinct step down in diameter of the barrel just back from the muzzle to fit the Sht.LE front sight ramp collar. This suggests to me what could be a modified long Lee unit or even opens the possibly of a heavy Lithgow target barrel.....

So as my grand mother used to say...Take your time, but hurry up!

[Salt Flat]

NIJ, If you can't find a buttstock I think you could repair that one. .I have repaired a few buttstocks that had similar abuse. I'll post a picture later today. Salt Flat

[Salt Flat]

OK, Here's a couple of similar repairs to damage similar to this Lee Speed. These are Arisaka T38 stocks. I tried to leave the surrounding wood unmolested but could refinish the whole stock if desired. The first one had a comb similar to your Lee Speed. I freshed it out on the mill and inset a piece of walnut. The second stock had a large piece broken out of the side of the action area. Again milled the area flat and bonded in a clean piece of walnut. Salt Flat

[englishman_ca]

Nice save!

Very neat workmanship, you have great skills. I had to enlarge the pics and look very closely to see what you had done.

What I see is are closely fitting patches with very tight joint lines, that along with careful selection of wood with matching wood grain and direction makes the repairs all but invisible.

The OP's butt stock could be patched. Nothing to lose if it doesnt turn out. Walnut makes great kindling.