The Britannia

[trevorj]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

[micky2]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

Hi Trevor, nice guns, and a nice see saw sight with the flip-up peep sight fitted on one of them not many of those about, what is it with the cut-out bit on the cocking arm on the reblued one?.
Regards,
Mick.

[trevorj]

Hi Mick
Thanks for the question. Three images added, see attached.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...57618942595781

Regards
Trevor

[micky2]

Hi Mick
Thanks for the question. Three images added, see attached.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...57618942595781

Regards
Trevor

Hi Trevor, many thanks for the extra photos, that explains the cut out bit, it looks like someone has done that as some sort of lighter trigger addjustment?, a novel way of doing it.
Regards,
Mick.

[micky2]

Hi John, l have come across some more se/nos that is written on a piece of paper so must be from guns sold at auction possible last year so you may already have these. as far as l know they are all Cox's Britannias. they are all in .177 rear sights not noted, 467,2027,2386.
ATB
Mick.

[Josie & John]

Hi John, l have come across some more se/nos that is written on a piece of paper so must be from guns sold at auction possible last year so you may already have these. as far as l know they are all Cox's Britannias. they are all in .177 rear sights not noted, 467,2027,2386.
ATB
Mick.

Thanks Mick,

I had these listed - all noted on a certain militaria dealer's website!

Anybody have one numbered over 3400?

Kind regards,

John

[slug-gun]

Here are a few more to add to the list; in no particular order:

551 422 2141 1757 3094 1257 749 1798 159 747 944 3379 558 768 2005 1147 1019 982 888 18 59 198 1437

2655 3332 48 1101 1014

I can provide specific info on any if it is important.

In the 'Sporting Guns Review' it was reported that "nearly 4000 Britannias were now in production" - slight paraphrasing but the figure is right.

Probably an over estimate, I would guess much nearer to 3,500 judging by those I have handled?

[slow_runner]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

What, no rabbit??

[Josie & John]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

Thanks Trevor,

The folding peep element on 2771 is certainly unique and the only such sight known to me. Aperture sights were banned under Bisley Service Rifle rules until aperture elements on the rearsight only were permitted in 1908. Most competitors found this gave no advantage at all and the following year, the NRA relented and allowed aperture sights to be used in their natural position immediately in front of the eye. 2771 may well have been commissioned by a Bisley competitor who wanted to keep his eye in with the Britannia!

Thanks for sharing details of 2519, as I did not have that one listed - I'm guessing .177 Britannia rather than Anglo Sure Shot?

Kind regards,

John.

[trevorj]

Thanks Trevor,

The folding peep element on 2771 is certainly unique and the only such sight known to me. Aperture sights were banned under Bisley Service Rifle rules until aperture elements on the rearsight only were permitted in 1908. Most competitors found this gave no advantage at all and the following year, the NRA relented and allowed aperture sights to be used in their natural position immediately in front of the eye. 2771 may well have been commissioned by a Bisley competitor who wanted to keep his eye in with the Britannia!

Thanks for sharing details of 2519, as I did not have that one listed - I'm guessing .177 Britannia rather than Anglo Sure Shot?

Kind regards,

John.

Hi John

Yes, 2519 is a .177 Britannia, with 'see saw' rear sight.
Very interested to see your comments regarding the folding aperture on sn2771. Its more unique than useful - with my eyesight anyway.

Regards
Trevor

[Lakey]

Hi John,

Sorry its taken a while to come back to you. Been snowed at work lately. Here are a few quickly taken snaps of the markings on my gun

http://s547.photobucket.com/user/Lak...0Shot%20Mk%201

Regards

Lakey

[Josie & John]

Hi John,

Sorry its taken a while to come back to you. Been snowed at work lately. Here are a few quickly taken snaps of the markings on my gun

http://s547.photobucket.com/user/Lak...0Shot%20Mk%201

Regards

Lakey

Thanks Lakey and no problem - I've been busy too! Nice example you have there.

I think Gingernut was right in that a thread like this urges us to shoot these classics, as I resprung and re-breech washered one of mine last night. A BSA Light Pattern spring will result in .177 velocities between 500 and 600 FPS, which is ample and does not place too much strain on the internals.

Kind regards,

John

[Josie & John]

Hi John

Yes, 2519 is a .177 Britannia, with 'see saw' rear sight.
Very interested to see your comments regarding the folding aperture on sn2771. Its more unique than useful - with my eyesight anyway.

Regards
Trevor

Hi Trevor,

I have a Jean Marck Target Model with a peep rear rather than aperture sight and agree, it is more unique than handy. It is OK in reasonable light but not so, when light starts to fade. This shortcoming is much more apparent on the peep rearsight than a standard aperture, which can also be difficult to use in poor light.

I still like yours though!

Kind regards,

John

[Huttles94]

Thanks Trevor,

The folding peep element on 2771 is certainly unique and the only such sight known to me. Aperture sights were banned under Bisley Service Rifle rules until aperture elements on the rearsight only were permitted in 1908. Most competitors found this gave no advantage at all and the following year, the NRA relented and allowed aperture sights to be used in their natural position immediately in front of the eye. 2771 may well have been commissioned by a Bisley competitor who wanted to keep his eye in with the Britannia!

Thanks for sharing details of 2519, as I did not have that one listed - I'm guessing .177 Britannia rather than Anglo Sure Shot?

Kind regards,

John.

I have recently bought a .177 Britannia serial number 926

I don't have it yet but it is from the recent Adam Partridge auction. Apparently the lots were from a huge collector.

Ill make a post about it when I get it.

[walnutfarmmick]

Hi John,

No. 2087 in at least 3 places. .177". Cox's Patent. C G BONEHILL SOLE MANUFACTURER on top of barrel.

THE BRITANNIA, TRADE MARK on side of breech. Barrel length 21". Seesaw backlight. There is a nut on the

pivot bolt. Repatriated from Downunder.

I have another elsewhere. Details to follow when I prepare for MM.

I've never had a Sureshot. What, if any, are the differences?

Hope this is of use.

Carry on the good work.

ATB, Mick