Make: Birmingham Small Arms & Metals Company (B.S.A. & M Co.) of England

Model: Lee Speed

Serial Number: A 902

Year of Manufacture: 1890s to 1904

Caliber: .303 British

Action Type: Bolt action, 5 round detachable magazine

Markings: The right side of the stock collar is marked, “LEE-SPEED PATENTS B.S.A. & M Co. A 902”. The left side of the collar is marked, “H.P.” which matches the belly plate on the stock. The barrel is marked with several proof marks. The extractor housing is marked, “PATENT 19145/90”. There is fine engraving throughout. The bolt handle is marked, “3028” and the bolt dust cover is marked, “COX & CLARKE 28 HIGH ST, SOUTH HAMPTON”.

Barrel Length: 24.5” Enfield Rifled

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a raised base fixed to the barrel with protective wings. The rifle has a rear barrel sight block with a flip-up V-notch ladder sight marked out to 10, two flip-up and one fixed V-notch sights behind it. The entire barrel length is fixed with a raised serrated rib.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a two piece checkered wood set with a align loop on the barrel, capped forend, capped semi-pistol grip, straight fluted comb, and steel buttplate with a hinged door for storage. There are scratches and pressure dents throughout along with some minor chips. The checkering is worn and smooth in spots. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 14 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall the stock rates in about Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is very shallow. There is heavy erosion and moderate spots of pitting throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at a 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about none of its metal finish. There is moderate thinning throughout with all finish having turned to patina. There are scratches, impact marks, and small pricks of pitting throughout. The action has moderate wear. The screw heads show signs of moderate use. The markings are mostly legible with some being quite faded. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements. There is a magazine cutoff on the right side.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a 10 round detachable magazine that is not original to the rifle.

Our Assessment: The Lee-Speed rifle was the finest commercial adaptation of the military Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield series, offering sportsmen and officers a high-grade sporting rifle based on the same robust action that armed the British Empire. Manufactured by the Birmingham Small Arms & Metals Company during the height of Victorian and Edwardian imperial reach, these rifles were prized for their accuracy, craftsmanship, and smooth handling. This example, made between the 1890s and 1904, showcases that pedigree with engraved metalwork, a raised serrated rib, and a multi-sight system indicative of the rifle’s sporting intentions. Rifles like this were favored by British officers and colonial hunters alike, often purchased privately for use in Africa, India, and the far reaches of the empire. This Lee-Speed retains the hallmarks of BSA’s commercial excellence—checkered wood, a semi-pistol grip stock with a fluted comb, and a full-length rib running atop the barrel. The barrel retains the original Enfield rifling pattern, although the bore shows heavy erosion and wear, rating 5/10. The bluing has entirely faded to a smooth patina, with scattered pitting and wear indicative of field use and age. However, the original engraving, “LEE-SPEED PATENTS B.S.A. & M Co.” and serial markings remain partially legible, and the “COX & CLARKE” retail stamp on the bolt cover adds a desirable layer of provenance. Despite its worn exterior, the mechanics remain functional, and its original sporting magazine is still present—an uncommon inclusion for rifles of this era.

For collectors of British sporting arms or those drawn to the unique intersection of military engineering and civilian refinement, this BSA Lee-Speed rifle offers genuine historic appeal. It captures the ethos of late 19th-century Britain, when finely made rifles accompanied explorers, officers, and adventurers into the far corners of the world. While its bore and finish reflect its age and use, the rifle remains an evocative piece of British gunmaking history—worthy of preservation, restoration, or respectful display as a relic of empire-era craftsmanship and sporting heritage.