Lee Speed

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PeterN2
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Lee Speed

Post by PeterN2 » Thu May 13, 2010 5:06 pm

I have been waiting for this to become available for some time now, as I knew the owner was planning on selling it sometime as he is giving up shooting due to ill health and he said I could have first refusal. I got the call last week that it was mine if I want it. I thought long and hard for about 2 seconds before I said I will be over to collect it which I did on Monday evening. It is a commercial Lee Speed BSA. I think it is the equivalent to the military MLE Mk I* though I stand to be corrected on that. The history of it is that it had been in the same family from new until sold to a dealer who then sold it to the chap I bought it from. I see the now ex firearms dealer on the range from time to time so I will ask him about it to see what information he can give me about it. I think it is in good nick for a 100ish year old rifle, the bore is bright and shiney with no rust. It has 'Rigby Patent 88' stamped on the nose cap. What is that about? Anyway, a few pics.

LSactionright.JPG
LSactionleft.JPG
LSbuttsocket.JPG
LSactiontop.JPG
LSrearsight.JPG
LScorditemark.JPG
LSrightmarks (1).JPG
LSsightleft.JPG
LSvolleysight (2).JPG
LSLeftmarks.JPG
LSLeftmarks.JPG (29.15 KiB) Viewed 4639 times
LSfront.JPG
LSmuzzle.JPG
I am very pleased to have this rifle and am looking forward to shooting it. He has a very nice Longbranch No4 MkI* dated 1944 that he will be selling later this year. I have first refusal on that also :)

Regards
Peter
Last edited by PeterN2 on Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
KCLRPC
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by KCLRPC » Thu May 13, 2010 6:23 pm

If I remember correctly, Rigby patent refers to J. Rigby, who was superintendent (?) of Enfield and designed the bayonet bar. It's somewhere in Skennerton, and I'll try to dig out the reference tomorrow

Looks very pretty though

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Re: Lee Speed

Post by DuncaninFrance » Fri May 14, 2010 4:28 am

Very nice Peter, what a lucky chap you are :D
John Rigby MA was Superintendent of the RSAF from 1887 to 1895. He patented (No: 16,321 of 10 Nov 1888) his combination nosecap/sword bayonet bar design which fitted the 1888 Pattern bayonet.
He also proposed a Safety Trigger was not adopted.
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by oldironsights » Fri May 14, 2010 4:22 pm

That is an incredibly beautiful rifle!
Thank you for posting photos of it.
These peacetime Lee-Enfields seem to be of the highest quality.
I hope I get to see one firsthand one day.
Will you give us a range report?
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by Jc5 » Sat May 15, 2010 2:34 am

Beautiful rifle!

Are there any numbers stamped on the bolt handle?

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Researching Lee Speeds and all commercial Lee Enfields. If you have questions or data to share, please send me a PM.
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by PeterN2 » Sat May 15, 2010 4:41 am

Jc5, the number 13536 is stamped on the rear of the bolt handle.
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bradtx
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by bradtx » Thu May 27, 2010 9:58 am

PeterN2, Thanks for sharing. While I can guess, I've never seen the "For Cordite Only" stamp, any info about that?

Brad
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by PeterN2 » Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:43 pm

It only let me do the update on twelve photos so I will add the other two here.
LSfullright.JPG
LSfullright.JPG (29.61 KiB) Viewed 4639 times
LSfullleft.JPG
LSfullleft.JPG (28.62 KiB) Viewed 4639 times
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:57 pm

Now that is one piece of kit that I would love to have Peter. Thank's for the update..... :GBR:
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Re: Lee Speed

Post by englishman_ca » Sun Apr 12, 2020 9:55 am

Just to add to the story of the nose cap.

Rigby actually had to sue BSA for royalties. Rigby won in court, BSA had then to acknowledge the patent and mark it on the nose cap.
RIGBY PATENT 88.


The FOR CORDITE ONLY was a legal disclaimer. In the early days of smokeless powders, there many new propellants being loaded for sporting use. RIFLEITE being one for example.

Apparently there had been some problems with BSA rifles blowing up in Africa. Investigation showed that some propellants become unstable at high temperatures, if for example left out in the African sun.

Cordite, although not an ideal propellant hot and erosive, is very stable at all temperatures. Hence its longevity with the British WD.

FOR CORDITE ONLY marked on the rifle was simply BSA covering their butt.
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