I was recently reminded that 20 years ago, I wrote a paper on how to convert a Lee-Enfield into the original Lee design, that was made by Sharps in 1879 and had a one piece stock. The two piece design was a British alteration and was not part of the original Lee rifle.
Anyway, here are two picture of one; I built a few of these and sold a bunch of the instructions. Just in case anyone wants to see what the original Lee Sporting rifle looked like. It is easy to convert either a #1 or #4, to fit. I do have the stock pattern and I should be selling stocks.....

will it matter if it's a 45-70 instead of a .303??....

Well, that's unexpected -- and fun!

I never built one in 303' way too boring. I built some 45-70s; and note that this one had the 7.62 magazine. I always machined the rims down so they would go through the receiver bolt opening. When navy arms built 45-70s, they reamed out the bolt opening so the big rim would fit; I will not do that. And the smaller rim still works in other 45-70 rifles. I think the one in the picture is a 444 marlin and is unfinished.
I make them in 444 marlin, 45-70, 38-56, and probably others I forgot; that was in the year 2000 to 2005.
In that thread about Enfield TDs; with this method you can make the TD like a mauser because it is a one piece stock.

what about schnoble-- cheekpiece - side panels

Ooooh -- .38-56 ...

This ain't a German rifle, so NO to all of those additions. The original Sharps 1879 Lee looked like mine in the picture so I won't change the pattern.

I have a Remington Lee Sporter (Model 1909?) that I'm patching up the cracked and damaged orig stock to use as a pattern for a new one.
It's in 30-30Win (orig) and I'll keep it that way but with a replacement 1/2oct bbl.

I'll shorten the forend a bit on my pattern I think and eliminate the finger grooves. But I want to keep the nice sleek lines of the orig factory sporters.
Maybe add a Lyman bolt peep site and a 2 leaf fold down bbl site.

One of the many on-going projects. Hope there's time..

Picture.
Yes, Bill, 38-56 is a great round; unknown by these young shooters.

I have an 1899 Remington Lee in 30-40 Krag. The action is clean and free of rust. The bore shines and looks decent.
The bolt design is quite unique in how it is removed from the action and how the bolt head is removed.
Thinking on a new stock for it, possibly a rebarrel depending on how well the original barrel shoots, I've never shot it.

38-56 sounds interesting, is that a viable cartridge for an 1899?

The 38-56 is a 45-70 necked down to 375 caliber. I reduce the rims for the Lee Enfield actions. I know nothing about the Remington-Lee.

Tom
I have a copy of your instructions on the build just never followed through. Made most of the 45-70 on the standard receiver.
I did solve the problem of magazines feeding. the stock was the only thing I ran across that would hold things up.

Another way of addressing the magazine is to make it single stack; line the sides with nylon or plastic sheeting and bend the tbs in more.

Remington-Lee

https://www.americanrifleman.o...e-ahead-of-its-time/

Sporter: https://gunsmagazine.com/wp-co...lus_svelte_oct18.jpg

Complete article: https://gunsmagazine.com/guns/...s/the-remington-lee/

From what I have been reading, the rifles had a bad reputation for splitting stocks, as there was no provision for recoil management. The Brits apparently solved the problem by adding a recoil plate at the rear of the receiver. Although there is substantially more wood behind the front lug in the SMLE. I'd be tempted to add a plate between the barrel and receiver ala Rem 700, Sav 110.

Look at the picture of the action above; I weld on a new recoil lug onto the rear tang; bed that, and the front lug for the front guard screw. It gives tree same surface area of contact as a Mauser. Stocks don't split on my design.

Oh yes, I lightened up the pic and see now it is a recoil block. When I first viewed it it appeared to be a screw bolster. Combined with the front one that is plenty.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Look at the picture of the action above; I weld on a new recoil lug onto the rear tang; bed that, and the front lug for the front guard screw. It gives tree same surface area of contact as a Mauser. Stocks don't split on my design.

Those pictures were taken with an actual camera; pre cell phone days and have been copied over and over. You can also bed the sear lugs for even more stock to steel contact.

That is also a perfect candidate for pillar bedding to lock in that trigger sear geometry. It is also gun "sexy" looking. I'd love to have one in original .303 Brit as I have an ass-load of projectiles! It would make a great stalking rifle based on a #4 with a 20 in bbl.

And just for an historical comparison (it's not my rifle and I have no connection to the shop), here's a link to pictures of an original 1882 Remington-Lee (1879 patent date) rifle chambered in 45-70. Several interesting features, one of which is the magazine with its intricate rim-handling grooves.

https://www.joesalter.com/cate...ee-Bolt-Action-Rifle

Looks like I better make some stocks.

Reading up on this rifle in Frank Sellers' "Sharps Firearms," it would appear there were several magazine designs and modifications. Hugo Borchardt was among the design modifiers.