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l remember one of them coming up at Weller&Duftys auction not long after they came out. it was complete, it sold for £90 hammer price. with hind sight l should have bought it. 
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Binners
They were £235 RRP when new , I bought mine in January 1983, still have it boxed .
I wrote to Ken White of BSA some years later to ascertain the number of .177 and .22 produced but after 2 house moves have mislaid his reply
The .177 numbers were around 230 from memory with the balance .22.
HTH
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£200 in 1982 would purchase you something valued £670 or so today according to one of the calculators I used (which factors in inflation etc, etc), that appears to be quite low when you consider what people pay for equivalent rifles today, so a bargain maybe? 
I didn't buy one at the time because I wasn't aware of them as I wasn't in air rifles at the time, having left them for a number of years as other things took up my time and interests. (although still had my Airsporters I bought when I was a lad)
As soon as I saw one, I wanted one but I accept they are not as good as an early Mk1 Airsporter (Imo) nor a number of other quality rifles by different manufacturers.
I know that a lot were sold/bought as investments and a lot of 'minters' turn up from time to time with all their accessories still sealed in bags etc. The price asked for these can be quite staggering for an air rifle (when you consider what you can pick up a rim firer for) but frankly, I am staggered for what some people will pay for say PCP rifles, kit and caboodle.
I guess it's all down to personal choice etc.
I don't think a Centenary will shoot any better than a standard 'S' model on which they are based - but if like me, you like their look and level of quality (BSA) then alls good! 
Its one of those rifles that always going to be desireable to others if the price is right!
I bought mine despite the price - I doubt I will lose money on it as I have no intention of selling it, so investment doesn't really factor, pride of ownership - definately - but no more so than most of my (small) Airsporter collection, most of which I have had for many years!
Each to their own and all that!
ASM
I am a Man of La Northumberlandia, a true Knight and spend my days on my Quest (my duty nay privilege!) and fighting dragons and unbeatable foe, to right the unrightable wrongs, to bear with unbearable sorrow and dreaming my impossible dreams. 
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Had a brief look at info stored on my other computer (I believe the info came from an Ex employee of BSA ?) but not entirely sure of the source.
During a game fair at Tatton Park,(Knutsford) 1982, BSA launched a commemorative rifle (The Centenary rifle) to commemorate 100 years of their 'Piled Arms' trademark that was launched in 1882. (not the start of the company/ production which was in 1861.)
Numbers of rifles were 'strictly controlled' to 1000, all were manufactured in 1982 and had the etched 'One of a Thousand' on top of the air cylinder, the rifle came with a number of extras and a signed certificate bearing the serial number of each rifle. The serials were C0001 through to C1000.
264 in .177 calibre
736 in .22 calibre
This will be information I picked up from the internet, there is probably more out there!
ASM
I am a Man of La Northumberlandia, a true Knight and spend my days on my Quest (my duty nay privilege!) and fighting dragons and unbeatable foe, to right the unrightable wrongs, to bear with unbearable sorrow and dreaming my impossible dreams.
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A late friend claimed that in the eighties .177 accounted for about 5% of overall air rifle sales for the company.
Last edited by piggy589; 12-06-2018 at 10:18 AM.
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I had two consecutive numbered guns in each calibre
Sam
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In 1996 I was originally given figures of 200 in .177 and 800 in .22 by a 'Mr.Reeves', during a phone call to BSA, but these figures were amended in 2008 during a phone call to Chris Dunn and taken from factory records, to 736 in .22 and 264 in .177, as quoted above in post #7.
Production started 14/06/1982, and numbers C0001 & C1000 were originally retained by BSA but have since been sold.
I had C0002 in .22, the first one retailed, followed by several other boxed examples, only one of which C0225 was .177, and all have now been sold.
I have seen and heard of some extremely ambitious pricing for pristine boxed examples offered on the second hand market, but don't know what the final figures realised have been.
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I brought one secondhand Vmac kit but the barrel had been cut and threaded for a silencer, I paid £300 the gun was mint.
Last edited by Jenny Dipple; 12-06-2018 at 01:27 PM.
Reason: mistake
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