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British, Volunteer, Lee Speeds Patents, Long Lee Enfield MK I* Rifle By BSA Co (Birmingham Small Arms Company), with Long Range Volley Sights, Magazine Cut Off, 1910 Conversion to Charger Loading & Leather Sling, Retailed by Alex Martin of Glasgow. - D 6041 The Long Lee-Enfield .303 was introduced into the British Army in the late 1800’s. It replaced the Lee-Metford, which had been the standard issue firearm since 1889. The latter was a magazine-fed repeating rifle, but it fired cartridges using black powder which emitted smoke when fired that gave away the rifleman's position. In 1891, the British first produced cordite a propellant that burned cleanly without emitting smoke. It also generated more heat, however, which wore out the Lee-Metford's rifling system of seven shallow grooves. A new rifling system was developed at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, consisting of five deep grooves that could withstand the intense heat generated by the cordite. The result was the .303 Long Lee-Enfield rifle. The new rifle saw service in the Boer wars and beyond. A Lee-Speed rifle is a commercial version of the military Lee-Enfield rifle, built by companies like BSA and LSA and marked with Lee Speed Patents to acknowledge the inventors James Paris Lee who developed the action and Joseph Speed who refined it. These rifles, produced primarily between 1890 and 1914, featured higher-quality wood and finish compared to military versions and the models were based on the military rifle's familiar action and .303 British calibre and were usually privately bought by volunteer soldiers. This .303 calibre Long Lee MK I* rifle made by BSA & Company for Alex Martin of Glasgow. The action is crisply stamped on the left hand side LEE-SPEEDS PATENTS BSA & M.CO (Birmingham Small Arms and Metals Company). The top of the breech is stamped LEX MARTIN GLASGOW. Alex Martin was a high class gunsmith on the Clyde in Glasgow. The only difference from the Mk I and the mark I* was the addition of protective wings for the front sight and the addition of a windage adjustment for the back sight which this rifle retains. The use of cleaning rods on .303 arms was abolished in 1899 resulting in the elimination of the hole for it in the bayonet boss and the small change to Mk I* standard. The Pattern 1888 bayonet was also modified to remove the hole for the cleaning rod in the end of the handle resulting in the Mk II bayonet. In 1910 these rifles were converted to charger loading and is correctly stamped on the left side of the strap. The gun retains most of its original high gloss blued finish and the original woodwork is in excellent condition with only minor marks form service use. The rifle has the correct has stepped blade fore sight with protective wings, 1800 yard ramp and ladder rear sight with windage adjustment, 2800 yard long range volley sights, bayonet bar without hole for the cleaning rod, the correct offset sling swivels and leather sling, magazine cut off and charger loading bridge. The original woodwork is excellent condition. the rifle carries the serial number 8796 which is stamped on the right hand side of the breech and the rear of the bolt. The rifle has its original brass butt plate with trap with its cleaning kit. The deactivated rifles bolt moves, the safety catch on the rear of the bolt works correctly, the magazine cut off moves as it should and the magazine can be removed. The price includes UK delivery and the deactivation certificate. D 6041 £1,200.00
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