Knibbs - BSA a golden century

[harvey_s]

Nowt to do with me, but might interest some on here... A copy on that well known auction site, item no.252182665819 currently sitting at £50.99 so will end up being too rich for me.

[Abasmajor]

Hi,

I must admit to having been slightly disappointed with this particular publication, especially compared with the earlier LJ book, but would be surprised if it fails to make at least £100 maybe a bit more.

Regards

Brian

[Lakey]

Hi,

I must admit to having been slightly disappointed with this particular publication, especially compared with the earlier LJ book, but would be surprised if it fails to make at least £100 maybe a bit more.

Regards

Brian

Ah .... But there are some REALLY good photographs in it - especially the pictures of early BSA's

[Josie & John]

Ah .... But there are some REALLY good photographs in it - especially the pictures of early BSA's

Trust you Lakey!

Your No 4 is among the better pics in there though. They are a nice rifle BTW, particularly with that No 22 peep sight.

I like the Golden Century for what it is. An insight of BSA production from a salesman who was there during the 1960s. Agreed we would probably like to have seen more air rifle content but the shotguns and rimmies are also part of the BSA story.

John

[Blackrider]

A great book and a Must for anyone interested the BSA Company !
I bought mine some years ago from Knibbs and got a great deal out of it however it set me off collecting Beezaz and eventually, I had a cabinet full !
So Beware !

[Abasmajor]

Trust you Lakey!

Your No 4 is among the better pics in there though. They are a nice rifle BTW, particularly with that No 22 peep sight.

I like the Golden Century for what it is. An insight of BSA production from a salesman who was there during the 1960s. Agreed we would probably like to have seen more air rifle content but the shotguns and rimmies are also part of the BSA story.

John

Hi John & Lakey ,

I guess by slightly disappointing I meant while still well worth owning, it is in my opinion a bit too light on air rifles, especially given the lack of a specialist book relating to the post-war BSA products. Although I thought the re-issued LJ/BSA book was also well worth buying for the additional photos and updated Ser No register alone, it contained quite a few typographical and printing errors which was also a little disappointing.

Regards

Brian

[zooma]

I have both of the BSA books mentioned in this thread, both in "as new" condition (mainly because I never read them) so I should find out what they are worth and put them up for sale on here so somebody that would appreciate them can make better use of them.

[Garvin]

Hi John & Lakey ,

I guess by slightly disappointing I meant while still well worth owning, it is in my opinion a bit too light on air rifles, especially given the lack of a specialist book relating to the post-war BSA products. Although I thought the re-issued LJ/BSA book was also well worth buying for the additional photos and updated Ser No register alone, it contained quite a few typographical and printing errors which was also a little disappointing.

Regards

Brian

I know what you mean, Brian. While the air rifle bits are excellent, there aren't many of them and most of the book is about BSA powder burners. While they are undoubtedly a huge part of the BSA story, it's not the bit we're really interested in! But what superb (if rather small) pics...

The reissued first book on pre-WW1 air rifles was also a little disappointing, for different reasons, especially after such a long wait for it to come out. The errors were avoidable and while the new pics were great, the printing quality left something to be desired. A missed opportunity, perhaps.

But we mustn't be too hard on Mr Knibbs, I think. Without his scholarship and unparalleled sources, we would be so much the poorer. And the books he wrote have stood the test of time remarkably well - a testament to the high quality of the original manuscripts.

[Abasmajor]

I know what you mean, Brian. While the air rifle bits are excellent, there aren't many of them and most of the book is about BSA powder burners. While they are undoubtedly a huge part of the BSA story, it's not the bit we're really interested in! But what superb (if rather small) pics...

The reissued first book on pre-WW1 air rifles was also a little disappointing, for different reasons, especially after such a long wait for it to come out. The errors were avoidable and while the new pics were great, the printing quality left something to be desired. A missed opportunity, perhaps.

But we mustn't be too hard on Mr Knibbs, I think. Without his scholarship and unparalleled sources, we would be so much the poorer. And the books he wrote have stood the test of time remarkably well - a testament to the high quality of the original manuscripts.

Hi Danny,

I fully agree that warts and all, both of these titles must be considered essential to any serious BSA enthusiasts library. At least John Knibbs changed the title of the second edition LJ / BSA book to correctly reflect the respective importance in the partnership that created this iconic air rifle.

Regards

Brian

[Lakey]

I thinks the books are really great and have fueled my appreciation/fascination/obsession with these guns ever since. We owe John a huge debt of gratitude for all the information he has made available. That said, I too, was a bit disappointed with the revamped Lincoln Jeffries Book, with its accidentally repeated text and errors, but it is still a GREAT reference book. I shoot firearms as well, so for me the "Golden Century" fed my BSA interest in both airguns and firearms,

I have a wonderful book called " The Other Battle" by Donovan M Ward, which chronicles the wartime production of all the BSA companies. I dont think it overstates things to suggest that BSA was one of the main reasons that we won the second world war. When you consider that every other rifle and machine gun used by british forces in WW2 was made by BSA, that in itself is awsome. BSA was a byword for quality volume mass production,using top quality materials, which has rarely been achieved by any other makers in the UK,perhaps with the exception of Webley. Fabulous Guns, and a great company. Whats not to like? BSA was one of the companies which helped to establish Britain as the global manufacturing powerhouse in the early part of last century.

Lakey

[zooma]

[QUOTE=Lakey;6850198)

I have a wonderful book called " The Other Battle" by Donovan M Ward, which chronicles the wartime production of all the BSA companies. I dont think it overstates things to suggest that BSA was one of the main reasons that we won the second world war. When you consider that every other rifle and machine gun used by british forces in WW2 was made by BSA, that in itself is awsome. BSA was a byword for quality volume mass production,using top quality materials, which has rarely been achieved by any other makers in the UK,perhaps with the exception of Webley. Fabulous Guns, and a great company. Whats not to like? BSA was one of the companies which helped to establish Britain as the global manufacturing powerhouse in the early part of last century.

Lakey[/QUOTE]

That sounds like a book I would find very interesting - I just found a copy available on Amazon and have sent away for it tonight.

Thanks for the "heads-up".

[shabee]

That sounds like a book I would find very interesting - I just found a copy available on Amazon and have sent away for it tonight.

Thanks for the "heads-up".

May i ask? did you manage to get an original copy or did you buy a reprint? 1st editions are quite uncommon Mr Zooma!
eric

BTW i would personally be conservative bidding on the original thread article, i cant see any advantage to sellers cloaking or hiding bidders identities unless they intend bidding on it themselves?
eric

[harvey_s]

May i ask? did you manage to get an original copy or did you buy a reprint? 1st editions are quite uncommon Mr Zooma!
eric

BTW i would personally be conservative bidding on the original thread article, i cant see any advantage to sellers cloaking or hiding bidders identities unless they intend bidding on it themselves?
eric

You cannot bid on your own item AFAIK, but there's nothing stopping you having a second account or asking a friend to up-bid it anyway if the seller is that way inclined and I don't suppose thats any different to any online auction is it?

[zanes]

Bloody hell, that (£87 as I write) makes the free copy I got (a relative worked at the printers when they were being printed) look like rather a bargain.

Got to ask though- is that a real price or "that famous auction site" ( ) inflation/buying idiots/shill bidding?

Certainly an interesting book but I wouldn't price it ahead of many of my other technical books.

[zooma]

May i ask? did you manage to get an original copy or did you buy a reprint? 1st editions are quite uncommon Mr Zooma!
eric

BTW i would personally be conservative bidding on the original thread article, i cant see any advantage to sellers cloaking or hiding bidders identities unless they intend bidding on it themselves?
eric

Hi Eric,

Amazon had two first edition (1946?) copies of "The Other Battle" for sale at £99.00 (plus postage) when I checked yesterday but I bought a new edition for £17.00 (plus postage) from a UK supplier.

The original edition looks really nice (and is always tempting) but the funds wont stretch that far so I bought a new book with delivery for about £20.00.

I did not know it was possible to actually "bid" on anything being sold on Amazon - I thought you paid the advertised price if you wanted to buy it.

Best regards,

Bob.