Lee Sporter

[Mlb6363]

Hello all, I am new to this forum and hope someone can help me. A year ago I bought a Lee Enfield I am trying to find out what exact model of Lee Enfield I own, here is the catalogue description, "B.S.A. CO. LTD FOR F. BEESLEY
> A .303 'LEE-SPEED' BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 7015,
> 24in. nitro reproved barrel with raised matt rib, open sights with two folding leaf sights with white metal inlaid sight lines and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, with folding adjustable tangent sights marked up to 1000 yards, dovetailed bead fore-sight with protecting ears, rib with circular plugs at breech and muzzle, bolt shroud engraved 'F. BEESLEY. 2. ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON', magazine cut off, butt socket with border engraving and marked 'LEE-SPEED PATENT. B.S.A. & CO. 7015', border engraved detachable box magazine, pistolgrip stock with horn pistolgrip cap and fore-end finial, sling eyes, the right side of the stock inset with a circular brass plaque inscribed 'PRESENTED TO R.F. THORP. by friends on the G.W.R. 1898', 14 3/8in. pull including steel buttplate and I need to fit a scope to it. It shoots about 12" high at 100 yards with the iron sights with modern ammunition. Here is the auction catalogue description of the rifle I bought. Can anyone recommend a scope mount, thank you, Mike Bailey

Information

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[henry r]

from the description it sounds like a no1 pattern lee speed sporting rifle.

they were a commercial sporting rifle based on new commercial lee enfield actions, it is not a modified ex military rifle.
it is a very desirable and collectable rifle in its own right.

i would put some serious thought into if you really need a scope on it.

i doubt there is a no drill option for a mount and drilling an original un-butchered lee speed... i can't express the horror... personally I'd rather put my testicles in a hydraulic press. seriously.

a perfect copy of period mounts (with a suitable 100+ year old scope) might not totally slaughter the value but it is still very easy to get it wrong.

it was built and sighted pre mk7 ball spitzer amunition, so perhaps try some custom loads based on a 210ish grain round nose at a lower velocity... more like the mk2/mk6 military amunition.
if that gets you close you could have an addition soldered on the top of the foresight to dial it in.

basically i would strongly recommend doing no permanent modifications to it.

btw i think the "friends at the G.W.R" inscription refers to the Great Western Railway in england. as a new lee speed was not a cheap gift he was quite possibaly someone of note in the railway that could be researched.

[NORTHOF60]

Mike:
I concur with henry r. You haven't provided pictures, so it is hard to judge the subject rifle, short of the description you've provided. If you just want a "shooter", I suggest you sell the rifle and buy a modern sporting rifle.

[Daan Kemp]

I agree, don't do anything until you have determined the real value of the rifle. No drilling or tapping, no cutting anything, no sanding, no reblueing, no nothing; just oil and gentle cleaning. Could be worth much more than you paid for it.

Photos of course would help the experts here to give you a very good answer.

[henry r]

as above, please post some pictures.


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...ftq51J4aogWG3Y

fredrick beesley was a london gunmaker with a fairly low output.

afaik the rifles were made by BSA (& LSA) and either sold direct or sold to various gunsmakers/retailers who marked them up (+ maybe finished them to thier standards???) and on sold them.

there is a book on lee speeds approaching completion, hopefully the author (jc5 on here) will stop by and add to/correct the information.

[Alan de Enfield]

Hello all, I am new to this forum and hope someone can help me. A year ago I bought a Lee Enfield I am trying to find out what exact model of Lee Enfield I own, here is the catalogue description, "B.S.A. CO. LTD FOR F. BEESLEY
> A .303 'LEE-SPEED' BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 7015,
> 24in. nitro reproved barrel with raised matt rib, open sights with two folding leaf sights with white metal inlaid sight lines and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, with folding adjustable tangent sights marked up to 1000 yards, dovetailed bead fore-sight with protecting ears, rib with circular plugs at breech and muzzle, bolt shroud engraved 'F. BEESLEY. 2. ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON', magazine cut off, butt socket with border engraving and marked 'LEE-SPEED PATENT. B.S.A. & CO. 7015', border engraved detachable box magazine, pistolgrip stock with horn pistolgrip cap and fore-end finial, sling eyes, the right side of the stock inset with a circular brass plaque inscribed 'PRESENTED TO R.F. THORP. by friends on the G.W.R. 1898', 14 3/8in. pull including steel buttplate and I need to fit a scope to it. It shoots about 12" high at 100 yards with the iron sights with modern ammunition. Here is the auction catalogue description of the rifle I bought. Can anyone recommend a scope mount, thank you, Mike Bailey

Don't know what you paid for it, but if it turns out to be not what you want, & If you want an accurate 303, I am open to talking trade with you. (subject to meeting up, having a 303 slot on your FAC, both parties being happy, etc etc)


I have a 'very good condition' Savage manufactured Lee Enfield No4 Mk1* in full military trim that can achieve under 1 MoA with the original iron sights, and for which there are no-drill scope mounts available.

[englishman_ca]

This one was sold at auction last summer. I found a picture of it.

Realized prices Barnebys.com

It appears to be a No.1 Lee Speed Sporting rifle in VERY nice condition.

Yours to do with as you wish, but realise that the value will take a big hit should you drill and tap for a scope.
There are zero aftermarket 'no gunsmith' scope mounts available for this receiver that I know of, past or present. A D&T side mount would be the way to go.

[Alan de Enfield]

This one was sold at auction last summer. I found a picture of it.

Realized prices Barnebys.com

It appears to be a No.1 Lee Speed Sporting rifle in VERY nice condition.

Yours to do with as you wish, but realise that the value will take a big hit should you drill and tap for a scope.
There are zero aftermarket 'no gunsmith' scope mounts available for this receiver that I know of, past or present. A D&T side mount would be the way to go.

As I "don't do" Farcebook I cannot see the price - can you post it ? (please !)

[RobD]

I agree. I would far rather see henry r's testicles in a hydraulic press than see you tap that rifle for a scope. A lot of 1890s rifles shoot high with 1940s or later ammo, and if you reload rounds to replicate Mk II .303 ammo it will likely shoot exactly as sighted.

[Mlb6363]

Hi Chaps I did do a bit of research on the bloke who worked at Great Western Rail. I paid £700 for it which isn't a lot so any "plunge" in value is effectively minimal. It is finding some period mounts for it and getting the gunsmithing done that is vexing me. Thank you for the input by the way, regards, Mike Bailey