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Thread: BSA First Pattern valuation please

  1. #1
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    BSA First Pattern valuation please

    Hi,

    I won a First Pattern BSA Lincoln jeffries with a straight stock at auction recently.
    sn. 1399 makes it 1905, and its in nice used condition.
    Pretty much brown throughout, stocks good but has some lettering lightly scratched into one side, link pivot screw is a replacement as is the catch block (dovetail fitted) sights are original and in great condition. screws are original but some show signs of use. compression is good.
    Overall a lovely used rifle. Pics here:

    https://flic.kr/s/aHsmnPV35h

    I have a friend who collects 1905 first patterns specifically so will probably do a swap or part exchange with him for a very nice original condition 1908 light pattern that he has.

    I got this for £250 including fees (bit of a gamble as their was only one 3/4 pic)
    I understand the straight grips are rarer than the pistol grips. can anyone give me a rough estimate of value please?
    It'd be nice to have an idea before maybe coming to an arrangement with my mate.

    Thanks,

    Matt.



  2. #2
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    I got this very clean one a few months ago for £200. The guys who know say it is worth 250-300.

    Baz

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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Benelli B76 View Post
    I got this very clean one a few months ago for £200. The guys who know say it is worth 250-300.

    Baz

    [IMG][/IMG]
    Ok, not the end of the world.
    Has that one been refinished?

  4. #4
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    To be fair, I think you paid a fairly high(ish) ( all of the money)price for the gun, in the condition it is in. I would be happy if it was mine and I got 250.00 for it in the current market.
    First patterns are nice but are not as user friendly as the later Imp D's and Standards. There is often more wear in the underlever, which can make the lock up a bit hit and miss - yours looks good, but, as you say, the catch block is a replacement. Also the early loading tap is a bit of a fiddle to get the pellets in.
    You are right about the straighthand stocks being rarer that the pistol hand stocks, but rarely do they command much of a premium.

    The first series are really of interest to specialist collectors, and they may well pay a premium if they have been waiting a while for one. I especially like the long tang cast trigger guards, but again a lot of people dont even seem to notice. First patterns are not that common.

    Nice thing.....

    Lakey

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lakey View Post
    To be fair, I think you paid a fairly high(ish) ( all of the money)price for the gun, in the condition it is in. I would be happy if it was mine and I got 250.00 for it in the current market.
    First patterns are nice but are not as user friendly as the later Imp D's and Standards. There is often more wear in the underlever, which can make the lock up a bit hit and miss - yours looks good, but, as you say, the catch block is a replacement. Also the early loading tap is a bit of a fiddle to get the pellets in.
    You are right about the straighthand stocks being rarer that the pistol hand stocks, but rarely do they command much of a premium.

    The first series are really of interest to specialist collectors, and they may well pay a premium if they have been waiting a while for one. I especially like the long tang cast trigger guards, but again a lot of people dont even seem to notice. First patterns are not that common.

    Nice thing.....

    Lakey
    Thanks,
    as I said my friend is a specialist collector of first series BSA's and is quite excited about this rifle, so I think he appreciates it more than most!
    It is a lovely thing, I would keep it for Vintage HFT but I find the light pattern easier to shoot as it's not so front heavy.

    Cheers,
    Matt.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by ptdunk View Post
    Ok, not the end of the world.
    Has that one been refinished?
    Ditto. The stampings are clear, but the bluing looks too good and not quite right.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ptdunk View Post
    Ok, not the end of the world.
    Has that one been refinished?
    All original, except I have now cleaned up all the screw heads that were burred (hate that). You can see by the checkering this has been cared for.

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  8. #8
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    Ditto what Lakey said. My thoughts exactly. Baz's rifle looks original to me. Bargain!
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  9. #9
    micky2 is offline The collector formerly known as micky
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    Quote Originally Posted by Garvin View Post
    Ditto what Lakey said. My thoughts exactly. Baz's rifle looks original to me. Bargain!
    And l would go along with the above reply. l have only sold one BSA over £200 and that was a Light patt with all the clear etching for £240 last year, and all my other ones for less and l have sold quite a few over the last 4 years through downsizing.

  10. #10
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    The Baz Rifle is original finish.
    You just don’t see them in that condition normally.

    The price paid by ptdunk is pretty good for an auction.

  11. #11
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    The three who have backed me up are people whose opinions I trust and would be the only ones I would sell this rifle to. Especially Lakey if it included some Scottish smoked trout.

    Baz
    BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER, DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD

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