The Lee-Speed Carbine,Before World War I a British company called Birmingham Small Arms manufactured
The Lee-Speed Carbine,Before World War I a British company called Birmingham Small Arms manufactured these nifty little sporting rifles with a lee action. At the time Lee-Enfields were manufactured by Royal Small Arms Factory in the Enfield borough of London (thus Lee Enfield). However, many other companies saw a market for civilian hunting and sporting rifles that used a Lee type action.One such person was J.J Speed, a manager with the RSAF. It was not unusual for various managers with the RSAF to take the Lee design, improve upon it, and patent their own Lee actions. Speed’s patent was one of the most successful. The Lee Speed is much like the military Lee Enfield, however it has some key features that make the Lee Speed its own rifle. It was fitted with a more traditional sporting type stock, had a more simplified Lee type bolt for easier maintenance and cleaning, a dustcover over the action, a simpler front and rear tangent sight, and had an open barrel and crown, whereas the Lee Enfield had protective wood furnishings over the barrel. Instead of a ten round magazine the Lee Speed was fitted with a five round magazine. Finally it had a shotgun style safety catch, located on the top of the grip behind the bolt, much like many common shotguns have.A full sized rifle was also made by BSA, and both became a popular firearms for target shooters and hunters because of it excellent quality and workmanship. BSA would make their Lee Speed rifles up to WWI, then during the 1920’s and 30’s. -- source link
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