BSA Light pattern, what year is is please?

[watchsapart]

I bought a light pattern yesterday. Will get some pics of it on here, hopefully tomorrow. Its a joy of a thing, so beautifully engineered and shoots great.
Its serial number is L38169 - cheers Paul

[Oldandshaky]

Hi Paul, wonderful little rifles yours is 1938, my favourite backyard shooter and so accurate, I love em...Dave...

[Gareth W-B]

Hi Paul, wonderful little rifles yours is 1938, my favourite backyard shooter and so accurate, I love em...Dave...

... Ditto x5.

[watchsapart]

Many thanks Old and Shaky for that - just before ww2!
cheers Paul

[dogsbody]

Hi all,
Thought the 'L' models were last produced in 1935 and were replaced by the 'A' models. Hiller, 4th edition dates L38169 to 1932, but not sure whether this is so. I think you would only get an accurate date by reference to the factory records, if they still survive.
atb
dogsbody

[Garvin]

Hi all,
Thought the 'L' models were last produced in 1935 and were replaced by the 'A' models. Hiller, 4th edition dates L38169 to 1932, but not sure whether this is so. I think you would only get an accurate date by reference to the factory records, if they still survive.
atb
dogsbody

The 'A' series replaced the 'L' series at the beginning of January, 1936, according to John Knibbs. He has the factory records but hasn't published a table of inter-War serial numbers. I think Lakey said a while ago that the numbering during this period wasn't consecutive and so can't be completely relied on like the pre-WW1 serial numbers.