BSA Standard Advice

[Lee5159]

I recently shot my mates BSA Standard, I'm unsure what version it was but really enjoyed it. I'm now thinking of buying one to add to my very modern collection of air rifles, and to hopefully try out a bit of vintage airgun shooting at my local club.
Is there much difference between the versions? And what should I be looking for in terms of condition, common problems and power? And what should I be paying for one in good condition (just to give me a ballpark idea).

Any help would be appreciated as I'm planning to go to Kempton arms fair and hopefully pick one up.

VAG have some really useful info https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....e-bsa-airguns/

[andrewM]

I think this is the thread you need to read, from the vintage gallery:

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....sas/#post-2664

This will tell you what you need to know before buying. The author, Lakey, is a very decent and helpful fellow who is a member here.

I dare say he will be attending Kempton too!

Rgds
A

[harvey_s]

In very, very simplistic terms there are two models : the light pattern and the standard.
The light pattern is just perfect for bell target work, they are slightly shorter overall (but with full length stocks usually), a little lighter and run about 5.5~6 ft/lbs and all are .177 I believe.
The standards are longer overall, heavier and more powerful and come in .177 & .22 flavours
Within this there are all kinds of variations especially in the triggers and stocks with premiums for Lincoln Jeffries models, fitted peep sights, .25 calibre, etc
Decent complete standard ones start at £150 if you're lucky with nice examples fetching over £250.

Others more knowledgeable than I may disagree...

[edbear2]

In very, very simplistic terms there are two models : the light pattern and the standard.
The light pattern is just perfect for bell target work, they are slightly shorter overall (but with full length stocks usually), a little lighter and run about 5.5~6 ft/lbs and all are .177 I believe.
The standards are longer overall, heavier and more powerful and come in .177 & .22 flavours
Within this there are all kinds of variations especially in the triggers and stocks with premiums for Lincoln Jeffries models, fitted peep sights, .25 calibre, etc
Decent complete standard ones start at £150 if you're lucky with nice examples fetching over £250.

Others more knowledgeable than I may disagree...

I disagree in reality there are a few more lengths, but excluding the really rare stuff like Milpats (longest) and the real tiddlers (Shortest Juvi and juniour) I would say actually the 3 "middle" remaining lengths are "common", 45 inch, 43 inch and 39 inch.

No point getting wrapped up in the "standard" moniker as it can be confusing as was applied to several models and lengths, ie BSA Standard Air Rifle (Light Pattern) etc.

Basically as above the 39 inch guns are the Light / Ladies / L and later A prefix guns are .177 around 6 foot pounds and shorter in size

The 43 inch guns are the original Lincoln, the "BSA Air Rifle", the Improved B's and D's. plus some 1930's C and CS guns..these are a bit more powerful, doing 700 and a bit fps in .177.

The 45 inch guns (sometimes called Long Toms) are both .177 and .22 and very rarely .25....the size came out as a 22 in the first 1905-19 period and was called the Sporting Model, post 1919 it was re-introduced with an S prefix and later a .177 version was made with a CS prefix. but there was a T prefix as well at the end of production which was a simplified gun.

These 45 inch guns can shoot hard as per previous posts.

It's easy to get confused but the bare bones are they are all basically the same gun from start to finish, and as the years went by they made longer and shorter ones, fiddled with the sights and triggers, and made them gradually simpler and cheaper to make

The later guns had a seperate trigger and sear compared to the early guns where the trigger acted directly on the piston rod, which may be a selling point, but the early guns are nicer IMHO with hand cut chequering and nice little touches like keeper screws / metal buttplates.

I am sorry I can't make it easier, but honestly they are all pretty much the same to the layman, and when in the past I have shown someone say a model B and D next to each other and explained the difference, they just roll their eyes like you are bonkers, it's a collector thing!

So just decide on how big a gun you want and waht size bore and go from there!.....If you wade though this link and jot down the prefix letters for 1905-39 it may help;

https://www.airgunspares.com/whats-my-bsa

ATB, ED

[WebleyWombler]

It's easy to get confused but the bare bones are they are all basically the same gun from start to finish, and as the years went by they made longer and shorter ones, fiddled with the sights and triggers, and made them gradually simpler and cheaper to make

The later guns had a seperate trigger and sear compared to the early guns where the trigger acted directly on the piston rod, which may be a selling point, but the early guns are nicer IMHO with hand cut chequering and nice little touches like keeper screws / metal buttplates.

Your whole post was well written and informative Ed but I would add that the most obvious changes made were to the cocking lever locking system and for the layman, make it reasonably easy to tie the guns age to an era of production. A spring locking catch = pre late 1911, a side lever release button = 1911-1919 and an end release button put the gun between the wars. not infallible , but a general, easy to recognise guide

[philthespringer]

That's a whole lot of information, but it clears a lot up as far as BSAs I've seen advertised.
I think going to Kempton will give me a selection and I'm going to go with what I like aesthetically as much as anything. I've already started to look at other pre WW2 airguns, so this may become an expensive hobby
How easy is it to get spares for them, and who stocks them? In case I have to replace seals at some point, it's not always possible to fire or chrono a gun especially at a fair.

[Josie & John]

That's a whole lot of information, but it clears a lot up as far as BSAs I've seen advertised.
I think going to Kempton will give me a selection and I'm going to go with what I like aesthetically as much as anything. I've already started to look at other pre WW2 airguns, so this may become an expensive hobby
How easy is it to get spares for them, and who stocks them? In case I have to replace seals at some point, it's not always possible to fire or chrono a gun especially at a fair.

Hi Phil,

Protek Supplies in Bognor Regis usually carry a good selection of spares. My advice would be to buy a rifle in the best possible condition you can find/afford. That way there is less likelihood of something going drastically wrong or ending up with non original or period incorrect sights (which would bug me!).

I'll be walking around the show tomorrow taking pictures, so feel free to say Hi if you see me.

Kind regards,

John M