Not too sure I'm going to be shooting it for quite a while.
Most all the components such as altered brass, repro stripper clips or dies, are out of stock.
Did a preliminary search for the unique ammo belt, bayonet and scabbard and weighted pull-through cleaning brush that goes into the butt trap to complete it. Yoikes!
They're just not found and no one makes reproductions. S & S Firearms (nice gentleman who has a personal interest in the Lee Navy) told me that the bayonet is very hard to find and to expect to pay $600.00 or so. And to be careful, because there are a lot of ones that are sold that are confusing and not the original one meant for the Lee Navy.
Downloaded a reprint of the government manual for the Lee Navy, so have something to go by. Even right there in the manual it says that you could load the magazine well with five loose rounds without a stripper clip. (It's as if they'd read the Battle Rifle rules . . .
) Fortunately S & S Firearms does sell quite a few original parts.
Anyone know of some resources for these items, please let me know.
I will bring it to the Grand Muster to play with, but I plan on shooting my Vetterli and Open Top.
And don't get all solicitous about my health and well being, Drydock. My wife has already informed me that she's burying all my guns with me in the coffin. She also thinks the Vetterli has enough length to make an interesting floor lamp.
RCJ