Videos tagged with James Paris Lee

This video explores the early development of British bolt-action rifles, focusing on James Paris Lee's designs that predated the official 1888 Lee-Enfield. It details the 'Improved Lee' or 'Lee Henry' prototypes, their rejection by governments, and the crucial 1882-83 trials that led to the adoption of magazine-fed rifles. The discussion highlights experimental features like the relieved stock and the evolution through different calibers and rifling methods.

This comprehensive review of the Lee Metford MkI, Great Britain's first repeating magazine rifle, highlights its historical significance and technical features. Expert Ian McCollum details its development from the single-shot Martini-Henry, the impact of smokeless powder leading to the .303 British caliber, and the rifle's unique design elements like the 8-round detachable box magazine, dust cover, and volley sights. The review emphasizes the rifle's evolution and its place in British military firearms history.

The 1895 Lee Navy Rifle, designed by James Paris Lee, was a significant advancement for the US Navy, featuring a unique straight-pull action and the 6mm Lee Navy cartridge. Despite its innovative en-bloc clip system and high-velocity round, its service life was short due to standardization on .30 caliber cartridges.

This video details James Paris Lee's early venture, the Lee Single-Shot Carbine, patented in 1862. Despite initial military interest during the Civil War, a caliber miscommunication led to rejection and financial ruin for his Milwaukee-based company. The carbine featured a unique swing-open breech action and a three-position rear sight.

The Lee-Speed rifle is a commercial variant of the British military Lee-Enfield/Metford, named after James Paris Lee and Joseph Speed. It features improvements like a detachable box magazine and a safety on the cocking piece. Commercial models were made by BSA and LSA for affluent buyers and officers, offering high-quality sidearms.

The M1895 Lee Navy, a 6mm straight-pull bolt-action rifle adopted by the US Navy, featured a high-velocity cartridge intended for anti-torpedo boat and Marine landing party roles. Despite its fast action and light trigger, it suffered from mechanical flaws like a difficult bolt removal and a fragile extractor, compounded by ammunition instability in humid naval conditions. Ultimately, the Navy reverted to the Krag-Jørgensen due to these issues and the era's technical limitations.

This entry details the Remington-Lee Model 1885, the final black powder iteration of the Remington-Lee rifle. It highlights improvements over earlier models, its adoption by the US Navy, and specific mechanical features like the cock-on-closing action and revised magazine. The information is presented with the authority of Ian McCollum, a recognized expert in historical firearms.

The Remington-Lee Model 1879 was James Paris Lee's first successful design, notable for its revolutionary detachable box magazine, a feature now standard on most modern firearms. This rifle marked a significant advancement in firearm safety and reloading efficiency. The US Navy adopted 300 of these rifles in 1879, with production later taken over by Remington after the Sharps Rifle Company's bankruptcy. The design incorporated a unique receiver hood that aided in primary extraction.

This review details the rare M1895 Lee Navy rifle, a Winchester-made bolt-action firearm adopted by the US Navy. It highlights the rifle's unique 6mm Lee Navy cartridge, straight-pull action, and its historical significance, particularly its connection to the USS Maine. The video showcases its mechanical operation, cartridge performance, and service history, contrasting it with the Army's Krag-Jorgensen.

This video delves into the extremely rare Lee 1875 Vertical Action Carbine, a falling block action designed by James Paris Lee. While 143 rifles were produced for trials, it was not adopted. The carbine features a unique loading trough and a rapid-fire technique involving a palm strike to the hammer for ejection, allowing for claimed high rates of fire.

This video offers a book review of 'The Winchester-Lee Rifle' by Eugene Myszkowski. It delves into the firearm designs of James Paris Lee, highlighting his significant contributions including four rifles adopted by the US military (M1879, M1883, M1885, M1895) and his influence on the Lee-Enfield family. The review specifically focuses on the M1895 Lee Navy rifle, noting its interesting straight-pull action and its 6mm caliber. The video points to the author's website for further details.