BSA Centenial

[harry mac]

I have a BSA Centenial rifle which I bought new in 1983 for the then huge price of £230. I can still hear my dad's words now "wot tha spendin' that much on a bluddy air rifle for?". The rifle came with a 4x40 scope, PH mounts, an arrestor block(?), Deluxe padded gun case and the usual BSA target holder, pellets and oil bottle.
Over time the plastic handles on the gun case seem to have "perished" for want of a better word, and have gone brittle and snapped off. My 2 questions are,
a) Has anyone else noticed this happening?
and
b) Will it adversely affect the collector value of the gun?

[rookie2767]

hi harry it will affect value but i may be able to help when i come over in october! i work with a company that makes this type of handle and will see if i can get you direct replacements. Bw matthew

[harry mac]

hi harry it will affect value but i may be able to help when i come over in october! i work with a company that makes this type of handle and will see if i can get you direct replacements. Bw matthew

That's good news indeed. The case is up at my dad's at the moment so I won't have it to show you what I mean.

[Gareth W-B]

Hi. Sold mine, mint, with intact vgc bag, scope, mounts, certificate, black and gold sew-on patch, original pell-pack, lube tube, targets and target holder for £450 secure posted, and have seen examples without the extras, other than the Centenary scope and certificate go for £300. If you can get the Centenary bag/slip professionally repaired then, I would do, but if you can't, leave as is, rather than do a Heath Robinson . The handles splitting is not an uncommon problem. Atb: G.

[rookie2767]

hi totally agree with gareth. See if you can get the case down as i can take it to'a master saddler i know well who is superb be about 15 pounds. In the meantime i will match handles off my own centenary case to save time. Perhaps gareth can help me as mine is'missing the oil, pellet trap, instructions and targets - any ideas where i can get these please! Thanks matthew

[Gareth W-B]

Perhaps gareth can help me as mine is'missing the oil, pellet trap, instructions and targets - any ideas where i can get these please! Thanks matthew

Hi Mathew, no ideas where to get them unfortunately, other than maybe via J.Knibbs/Airguns International, but will have a dig and see if I have a photo of the complete kit that I could post, so as to give you a guide as to what to look out for on your travels . Atb: G.

[harry mac]

hi totally agree with gareth. See if you can get the case down as i can take it to'a master saddler i know well who is superb be about 15 pounds. In the meantime i will match handles off my own centenary case to save time. Perhaps gareth can help me as mine is'missing the oil, pellet trap, instructions and targets - any ideas where i can get these please! Thanks matthew

The oil bottle, pellet trap and targets were the standard items that BSA included with all their guns at that time, so should be common enough. When did BSA stop issuing these items as standard?
Opening the box on a new BSA was always an experience, they were really well presented.

[harry mac]

Hi. Sold mine, mint, with intact vgc bag, scope, mounts, certificate, black and gold sew-on patch, original pell-pack, lube tube, targets and target holder for £450 secure posted, and have seen examples without the extras, other than the Centenary scope and certificate go for £300. If you can get the Centenary bag/slip professionally repaired then, I would do, but if you can't, leave as is, rather than do a Heath Robinson . The handles splitting is not an uncommon problem. Atb: G.

Don't worry Garreth, if it can't be done properly it will be left as is. I'm surprised yours didn't fetch a bit more than £450. I'd have thought the sheer rarity of them would have elevated the value a bit more than that. I think the only accessory mine's missing is the oil bottle.
Can you remember if the authenticity certificate on yours was embossed with the company stamp on the gold circle? Mine isn't.

[Gareth W-B]

I'm surprised yours didn't fetch a bit more than £450. I'd have thought the sheer rarity of them would have elevated the value a bit more than that ... Can you remember if the authenticity certificate on yours was embossed with the company stamp on the gold circle? Mine isn't.

Hi Harry. Yes, could've got more, but was selling to a known good guy and (without wanting to sound like a tart ), felt it was worth dropping a few quid to see it go to a good home . Think your certificate may be a replacement mock-up unfortunately, as yes, mine was as described . Atb: G.