Lincoln Jeffries / BSA 1906 Bayonet Under Lever Rifle

[gingernut]

I can swap it for an early model Light with two different serial numbers and a welded under lever.
Shoots well.

I don't specialise in selling dodgy guns.
But I do buy some.
I blame the poor lighting in Bisley Pavilion.
Hasn't happened at Kempton!

Was it really five years ago!

[Gareth W-B]

I can swap it for an early model Light with two different serial numbers and a welded under lever.
Shoots well.

I don't specialise in selling dodgy guns.
But I do buy some.
I blame the poor lighting in Bisley Pavilion.
Hasn't happened at Kempton!

Was it really five years ago!

Patric my good friend, I wouldn't dream of inconveniencing you, and I still hold you in the highest esteem, so there is no ill will here, whatsoever -- especially given that, yep, it was five years ago this coming Easter (lol), and the rifle -- bitsa or not -- has performed perfectly throughout. But as my others stack up as genuine, I feel I need to either buy bits and modify this lovely 1906/1907 rifle to original spec, or move it on as is (don't think I could bring myself to break it). Atvb and hope to see you at Binners next Bash.

[Gareth W-B]

If I elected to go for option 4) as above, what sort of price should I expect (will get some photos up to help with value via a hosting site just as soon as I set up an account with one ).

Following a couple of p-ms from a couple of folk 'in the know' (thank you Gents), I have now elected to go for my option four as above, and so said 1906/1907 .177 LIncoln Jeffries/BSA air rifle is now listed for sale in the BBS sales section, with photos at the recommended price of £225.

[JB101]

If it’s of any use I have serial Number 14925 which is all marked up as BSA air rifle with lincoln Jeffries on the underlever .

Regards
James

[Gareth W-B]

If it’s of any use I have serial Number 14925 which is all marked up as BSA air rifle with lincoln Jeffries on the underlever .

Regards
James

Wow! Thanks James. That reinforces completely the mix-n-match BSA/Lincoln Jeffries assembly techniques surrounding the scenario of when some bits became scarce, argument, that so many noted luminaries have proffered over the years. Cheers matey.

[Josie & John]

If it’s of any use I have serial Number 14925 which is all marked up as BSA air rifle with lincoln Jeffries on the underlever .

Regards
James

Hi James,

The markings on your rifle are period correct. The LJ reference on the underlever should refer to a patent and not that the rifle is a Lincoln. BSA originally marked the cylinder with details of LJ's patent, then moved the reference to the less prominent position under the underlever. Finally, when they acquired the rights to the patent, the reference to LJ was omitted completely and replaced by BSA patents.

Kind regards,

John

[gingernut]

Gareth
My brain is working better today.
I thought this rifle was a second batch 1906 BSA.
I never thought it was an LJ.

Searches and a look at Garvins Gallery seem to confirm this.
The Piled Arms Mark is just behind the rear sight and the words on the cylinder are what I would expect.

Am I missing something?

[JB101]

Hi John
I was aware of that as it’s mentioned in knibbs book, my thoughts on the Original rifle posted was that it’s had a bsa receiver & stock put on a LJ action whether that was done at the factory or after is the interesting question🙂
ATB
James

[Gareth W-B]

Gareth
My brain is working better today.
I thought this rifle was a second batch 1906 BSA.
I never thought it was an LJ.

Searches and a look at Garvins Gallery seem to confirm this.
The Piled Arms Mark is just behind the rear sight and the words on the cylinder are what I would expect.

Am I missing something?

Hi Patric, cheers for the further thoughts, but don't stress over this my friend, coz I certainly ain't -- it's all just part of the intrigue and fun that is air gun collecting.

The serial number definitely relates to a 6th batch BSA production run rifle circa 1907 however, and yes there is a piled arms logo between the rear sight and the loading tap also, but the action cylinder definitely reads as quoted in post No.6 as above, so the quandary continues ... Where is Lakey when you need him (lol )? Atb: G.

[gingernut]

That's how those BSAs were marked.

If you search the cylinder wording it will take you to Garvins Gallery and examples of your BSA rifle.

If it was an L J it would still be in the Gingernut collection.

[Gareth W-B]

That's how those BSAs were marked.

If you search the cylinder wording it will take you to Garvins Gallery and examples of your BSA rifle.

If it was an L J it would still be in the Gingernut collection.

Wow! That is SUPERBLY interesting and that is really reassuring information, too, as it suggests the chap who first alerted me to the fact that this rifle may be a BSA bitsa (as well intentioned as I believe his information was), has got it quite wrong, and has jangled the alarm bells unnecessarily?

Will put a temporary hold on the sale at £225 then, and dig a little deeper, here. Many thanks for the heads-up. Still finding this fun though, as "every day is a school day" as I may have said once or twice in the past?

[Gareth W-B]

Wow! That is SUPERBLY interesting and that is really reassuring information, too, as it suggests the chap who first alerted me to the fact that this rifle may be a BSA bitsa (as well intentioned as I believe his information was), has got it quite wrong, and has jangled the alarm bells unnecessarily?

Will put a temporary hold on the sale at £225 then, and dig a little deeper, here. Many thanks for the heads-up. Still finding this fun though, as "every day is a school day" as I may have said once or twice in the past?

Okay, stage one -- and seemingly quite conclusive -- digging deeper done. It would appear then that according to the wealth of info accessed via that there wibbly.wobbly.interweb, that the rifle being discussed here, is indeed a 100% genuine 6th batch BSA .177 Mod H circa 1907 featuring a factory fitted straight-grip shotgun style stock (an available option at that time).

Now to the interesting and very relavent bit. Apparently at that time (the first decade of the 1900s), the Lincoln Jeffries group owned the patent to this style of air rifle, and as we know, LJ paid BSA as sub contractors to manufacture these rifles for them in their BSA factory in Birmingham.

BSA also wanted to produce their own branded versions of this style of under lever air rifle at that time, too, so they struck an agreement with The Lincoln Jeffries Company where by they (BSA) could manufacture such rifles under licence in a separate part of the BSA factory at Broadheath, Birmingham.

As a caveat to the license issued by LJ to BSA to manufacture said rifles being badged as BSA, LJ insisted that The Lincoln Jefferies air rifle company was duly credited with the rifle design in question via the aforementioned clear and concise wording on top of each BSA's action tube/cylinder shown at post no.6 on this thread.

Wow! What a wonderful information gathering ride this has been, so yep, every day is a school day, and thank God for it. Will still wait to have my findings as detailed here rubber stamped by Lakey and Garvin before I bill my rifle as being a completely authentic and genuine BSA however, just in case (so watch this space ). Atb: G.

[Binners]

Not Chinese then

[Gareth W-B]

Not Chinese then

Nope -- nor Turkish.

[gingernut]

Not Chinese then

Stop it Pete.

I think that’s right Gareth.
I’ve had a few of these H models.
But never an L J.

My mate had an L J which was a joy to hold and shoot.
He used to hang it on his dining room wall and refuse to sell it to me!