Checking In From Vegas..! - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Roy · #1 22-01-16, 07:41 PM

Greetings Lads & Lasses,

Well I just thought I would check in with you all from the big Antique Arms Show here in Las Vegas. Just a steady four hour drive up from our home in Arizona to get here, so a pleasant journey.

As expected very little in the way of British & Commonwealth insignia but lots of Axis badges/patches (which I'm not into personally).

I did just buy myself a cracking BSA Lee-Speed rifle, so will share some pics at a later date. Later on we are off to 'Gordon Ramsey Steak' a treat for my wife and to sweeten the deal now I have confessed how much I spent on the rifle...

Cheers to all,

Roy.

Tigerlily · #2 22-01-16, 07:59 PM

Have a fantastic time Roy!

yorkstone · #3 22-01-16, 08:24 PM

Roy
Glad your having a good time, last time I made a gun show in Georgia I traded a few items and came back with some nice Japanese items also a bag of bronze US Marine corps cap and collar badges.

Finding items in the U.S. Is a great hunt and hope to be stateside later this year and will take a bag of trade items withe me again.

Hope your visit continues well.

Stephen

GregN · #4 23-01-16, 06:22 PM

Hey Roy, how was the show for Imperial German/Commonwealth edged weapons? You probably weren't looking for swords but was there any? I've been meaning to make the trip down from Canada - it's on my bucket list but with the Canadian $ diving, I don't think I could afford it!

Greg

Roy · #5 24-01-16, 01:08 AM

Greetings All,

After a nice easy five hour drive, we are back home safe and sounds. First thing I did was make a cracking cup of tea and opened a fresh packet of digestives..

A truly wonderful show all around and I came home with my number one on my wants list - a beautiful turn of the century BSA Lee-Speed rifle to complement my small collection. To sooth my wife Deborah from the shock of how much it cost me, I too her out to Gordon Ramsey Steak for dinner, now she need to comfort me on how much that cost....

A totally stunning experience though make no mistake.

Greg, there was some cracking Axis daggers there, a number of vendors were specializing in Nazi insignia and other items, not my thing but some really cracking stuff there. There were swords too but as you guessed I wasn't paying attention. Planing on going again next year, so happy to keep my eyes more 'peeled' if that help.

Overall a truly splendid show with some stunning items. If you can appreciate fine British sporting guns there were some 'to die for' examples but starting at $20,000 and up far to out of my reach but a joy to see nonetheless.

As for insignia; as one would expect, not a great showing but I did spot some lovely US items here and there.

On arriving home I had some lovely buttons waiting for me, so will be thrilled to share them very soon.

Cheers, Roy.

Roy · #6 25-01-16, 07:54 PM

Okay Chaps,

As promised here is the first pic of my buy at the Vegas show - a BSA No1 Lee-Speed rifle. This one dates from 1898 to 1904 which I'm really pleased with as it places it right around the Boar War period. Although I have no history as yet on this particular rifle, it is well know that such rifles were used in that conflict on both sides, a topic that has often interested me, so I'm pleased to have a representative from that period now in my collection.

Of course it help that she is an absolute beauty too

Cheers, Roy.

Tigerlily · #7 25-01-16, 08:00 PM

Ha! I wondered when pics would surface!
She is an absolute stunner, well done Roy, I'm jealous as ever

And great photo's too.

Alli

Roy · #8 25-01-16, 08:01 PM

Thanks Alli,

Next stop the range for this beauty, if she shoots as good as she looks I will be on a winner!

Drop in any time you're in the area and you can find out yourself..

Cheers, Roy.

Tigerlily · #9 25-01-16, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy

Thanks Alli,

Next stop the range for this beauty, if she shoots as good as she looks I will be on a winner!

Drop in any time you're in the area and you can find out yourself..

Cheers, Roy.

I'll definitely do that next time I'm passing

Look forward to hearing how she performs.

Sunray9 · #10 25-01-16, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy

Thanks Alli,

Next stop the range for this beauty, if she shoots as good as she looks I will be on a winner!

Drop in any time you're in the area and you can find out yourself..

Cheers, Roy.

Just out of interest Roy, how many rounds does the magazine hold please.

Ritchie.

Roy · #11 25-01-16, 10:54 PM

Hi Ritchie,

Thanks for your question. This latest rifle has it's original 'five' round (.303) magazine.

However the Lee-Speed was offered with both ten round and five round mags (see photo attached). I have rifles with both. I must confess just for my personal taste I prefer to see them with five round mags, to me it just looks nicer. Also the five round seems much more rarer, so one would think more desirable.

I'm always on the lookout for spare mags of any pattern and caliber.

Cheers, Roy.

Les 546 · #12 27-01-16, 03:32 AM

Beautiful weapon Roy! you need to stop buying and get them to the range and let us know how they perform.

Roy · #13 27-01-16, 03:43 AM

Hi Les,

You're not wrong my friend. I have a couple that need to get shot now, so a range trip will be on the cards soon. Still a little chilly first thing in the morning here but warming up nicely, so it won't be long now. I will be sure to report back.

Cheers, Roy.

Sunray9 · #14 27-01-16, 11:55 AM

Thanks for that Roy ... an iconic rifle indeed.

Ritchie.

Roy · #15 29-01-16, 07:22 PM

Greetings all,

here is an updated image of my Las Vegas show find which I have just added to my album.

I have been in contact with the original retailer of this rifle (William Evans) and they notify my the original ledger records have survive, so I'm awaiting details and will update as soon as I hear anything.

Cheers, Roy.