My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Other Firearms
User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by butlersrangers »

Last week at the MAAC show, I picked up a nice .30-40 caliber rifle for $350.

It is a converted model 1899 Lee Military Model that was altered and restocked.

At first, I thought it was a cut-down Michigan National Guard rifle. (I bought it mainly for parts, the magazine and bolt alone being worth $300).
When I got it home, I found that the receiver never was serial numbered. (???)
(Possibly a gunsmith got the parts from Remington, when they were clearing out discontinued stuff)?

The rifle was ignored by many people at the show. (Some of my friends rolled their eyes, when shown my acquisition).

A very tall Weaver mount holding an ugly Chinese air-rifle scope did the rifle no favor!
The bore was dirty and looked rough. White spacers disfigured the quick-detachable sling studs.
The left-side has plugged holes and the stock notched for a long-gone receiver sight.

Once 'home', the bore cleaned up quite good. When off the rifle, it was obvious the stock and push-button Safety were the work of a skilled gunsmith.
The bolt operates smoothly and headspaces properly.

I put a more contemporary Weaver scope and mount on the rifle for more of a 1930's to 1940's appearance.

A bit of cosmetic work on the left-side should give me a nice period 'Range rifle' in .30-40, with a more robust stock than the Remington original.
The gunsmith, who stocked this rifle and fashioned a safety, IMHO addressed some of the weaknesses in the factory design.

In the last photo, I have paired it with a MNG rifle to show this sporter's original configuration.
Attachments
IMG_9141.JPG
IMG_9141.JPG (377.96 KiB) Viewed 1307 times
IMG_9140.JPG
IMG_9140.JPG (537.25 KiB) Viewed 1307 times
IMG_9152.JPG
IMG_9152.JPG (480.27 KiB) Viewed 1307 times
IMG_9144.JPG
IMG_9144.JPG (518.55 KiB) Viewed 1307 times
IMG_9146.JPG
IMG_9146.JPG (631.46 KiB) Viewed 1307 times

User avatar
Culpeper
Posts: 1520
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:01 am

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Culpeper »

What a great find! That is a cool looking rifle.
Deacon in the Church of the Mighty Krag. Member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals).  Liberty Works Radio

Ned Butts
Site Admin
Posts: 1257
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 5:02 am
Location: Western Catskills NY

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Ned Butts »

Wish I could stumble one something like that! Very nice

Doubly Reincarnated
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 1:51 am

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Doubly Reincarnated »

Both are very interesting. I've quit acquiring, just too old, but I'd make an exception for either of those.

User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by butlersrangers »

A Buddy and I had a table at the MAAC show.
We both were trying to downsize our collections by selling some 'peripheral interest' or redundant guns and items.

I sold four guns, but ended up buying three: the converted m-1899 Remington-Lee, an altered Danish Krag artillery carbine that begs restoration, and a 'sported' U.S. Krag.

It is not easy to downsize, when you are still interested in tinkering and shooting guns.
IMHO - Gun Values are very inflated right now and the Dollar is unstable.
A big wad of cash will just end up being worth less or get spent on something else.
It is good to come home with a bit of money and some less expensive items of interest and play value.

User avatar
Local Boy
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:03 pm

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Local Boy »

You've done well BR!!! Very handsome rifle.

Knute1
Posts: 1077
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 3:22 am

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Knute1 »

Yeah, but where are the feet?

User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by butlersrangers »

Maybe I'll show some 'foot' when I take the model 1899 Remington to the Range?

User avatar
Local Boy
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:03 pm

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by Local Boy »

Here ya go Knute Baby! You asked for it!
Attachments
Krag Da Feet.jpg
Krag Da Feet.jpg (539.31 KiB) Viewed 1213 times

User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: My "new" .30-40 Lee-sporting rifle

Post by butlersrangers »

Looks like my gun picture has been "Photo Hopped". (Not my feet btw).

Post Reply