improved model B with some history

[greasemonkey]

hi all ,just like to share with you some details and poor photo's of my latest addition to my collection of old BSA's, an improved model b.i think its a model b but i canot be sure because the only significant corrosion is on the address on the air cylinder, strange that as the rest of the gun is patinated brown with only some very light areas of pitting.gun was retailed by walter locke of calcutta.the stock is stamped 2 LEIN.REGT then underneath C.COY.i have established that means 2 LEINSTER REGIMENT an irish regiment raised in 1885 and disbanded in 1922 when southern ireland gained independance.C.COY was not a mans name as i first thought but a unit in the regiment.beyond that i know nothing more about the guns history.the gun is a lovely old thing with a patina of use not abuse.the stock has is lovely bit of wood with beautiful figure.the rear sight is an obvious but well made replacement also the cocking link looks to have been replaced.to top it all it shoots like a dream after a few drops of neatsfoot oil on the washer,perhaps some kind and knowledgable soul could please date it for me ,the serial no is No 16936 ,also any other info would be much appreciated..cheers..greasemonkey http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1bdc79n8.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psxdb2lbjx.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psbaewszft.jpghttp://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7gi0nxv2.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0rmyjr5b.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psmjncmxqr.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psl0dwfrux.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psj9xeb1zk.jpg http://i1278.photobucket.com/albums/...psusag20rl.jpg

[Abasmajor]

Hello,

What a lovely example of a BSA Improved Mod B. I must say, I prefer the 'straight hand stock' over the 'pistol grip stock ' on these rifles. The dealer stampings also add significant interest and provenance to this example.

The John Knbbs bible dates your rifle manufactured July / September 1907 and dispatched July 1907 / February 1908.

Regards

Brian

[silva]

That is a fine old Bsa, seeped in history ! What a wonderful retailers stamp, regimental markings and figured walnut. If you don't mind, do you fancy sharing the tale of finding it ?

[shabee]

hi there "C COY" as you say is not a mans name and unless it refers to something else it would normally mean "C COMPANY" so possibly a gun bought by the war dept ? or certainly bought for or donated to but certainly owned either by a company or someone in C Company at the time , very nice and very interesting.
eric

[Josie & John]

What a lovely example. As Eric has said, C Coy is C Company, so this was probably a rifle used for practice or pest control in India by said Company. The British Army is made up of Sections, Platoons, Companies, Battalions, Regiments, etc. Walter Locke imported a number of British arms during the first half of the 20th Century and I have one of their catalogues somewhere. I think my catalogue dates from between the wars and it includes pre WW1 BSA air rifles.

The serial number of your rifle is correct for am Improved Model B and Brian has provided approximate dates of manufacture. Besides, the cylinder is clearly marked B.

Well done - I'm jealous, as I'm sure are many others!

John

[greasemonkey]

thank you gentlemen for your kind words and your knowledge, much appreciated.its nice to know its age and the meaning of C.COY.i aquired the rifle from an old friend,i will ask him if he knows any more of its history.one more question if i may,did all BSA's of this age have such nice figured stocks?,cheers..greasemonkey

[Garvin]

Great find, Kevin! No, not all BSAs of this era had figured stocks. Quite the opposite in fact. This mod D of Eddie's has one of the best stocks I've seen. Very unusual though.

More pics of it here.

[Josie & John]

Interesting to see the 2nd Battalion on the Leinster Regt deployed to India in 1907 (Wikipedia), when this rifle would have been made, so it would have been newly manufactured when C Company probably acquired it.

John

[Garvin]

Interesting to see the 2nd Battalion on the Leinster Regt deployed to India in 1907 (Wikipedia), when this rifle would have been made, so it would have been newly manufactured when C Company probably acquired it.

John

I've also done some research on this rifle, which you can see here.

[greasemonkey]

hi all ,shot this gun at the club last night,shot respectable groups [respectable by my humble standards]i also spoke to my old friend and previous owner of this model B.he coudnt shed much light on the guns recent history apart from the chap he bought it from found it in an old shed!.thanks again all for sharing your knowledge with me,cheers..greasemonkey

[shabee]

everything looks right about this gun, i cannot understand why you suspect it might not be a model b
it has what looks like the flat shouldered dovetailed front sight, cocking lever without side strengthening and its clearly impressed "B"
interesting the mix of Bsa impressed Markings and the engraving of locke's
eric

[Abasmajor]

I've also done some research on this rifle, which you can see here.

Hi Danny,

Thanks for taking the time to provide some very and interesting and informative background to this lovely old rifle which make a great addition the BSA forum.

Regards

Brian

[greasemonkey]

everything looks right about this gun, i cannot understand why you suspect it might not be a model b
it has what looks like the flat shouldered dovetailed front sight, cocking lever without side strengthening and its clearly impressed "B"
interesting the mix of Bsa impressed Markings and the engraving of locke's
eric

hi eric,its was just my lack of knowledge of these early BSA models and the inscription is not so clear to my naked eye as it appears in the photo.until i aquired this gun the earliest pre-war BSA in my humble collection was a 1922 light model.i was much impressed with Danny's article on my gun, really informative.i shall with his permission print a copy and keep it with the gun,cheers..greasemonkey

[Garvin]

hi eric,its was just my lack of knowledge of these early BSA models and the inscription is not so clear to my naked eye as it appears in the photo.until i aquired this gun the earliest pre-war BSA in my humble collection was a 1922 light model.i was much impressed with Danny's article on my gun, really informative.i shall with his permission print a copy and keep it with the gun,cheers..greasemonkey

Thanks Brian and Kevin for the kind words. I've now updated the article with some scans from John's 1923 Walter Locke catalogue.

[Binners]

Great find, Kevin! No, not all BSAs of this era had figured stocks. Quite the opposite in fact. This mod D of Eddie's has one of the best stocks I've seen. Very unusual though.

More pics of it here.

He had this nice one too

http://www.network54.com/Forum/67044...rial+no.+17741