Inside the 1912 BSA Improved D

[TonyL]

Thank you for sharing. This really emphasises the fine build and quality of these rifles. Excellent. If that old seal works fine, I might be tempted to just freshen it up a little with some neatsfoot and dress that screw. Having said that, if the replacement was to enjoy as long a life as the original, it's probably tempting to replace, safe in the knowledge that it will, hopefully, be good for another 100+ years.

Tough choice.....

[BRYAN3]

Is it possible to get the original spring re tempered?

[keith66]

The old seal looks like a replacement cut from a flat piece of leather belting or similar & looks too thin, I would replace it.

[Garvin]

Unusually, I disagree with Tony and like Keith I think you should change the seal for a parachute-type one based on the original pattern although that new seal you have looks a bit cracked.

[BC312]

Cupped seal or parachute seal is better for the gun. Usually the leather breaks down over time and you end up with a flat washer.

[45flint]

Couldn’t get the washer screw to break free easily so I kept the old for now. Fear of a screw that couldn’t be used again and not sure I can get a replacement? Getting about 9.5 fp. Agree the cupped seal would be better, will change out if I really want to shoot it regularly. But for now it’s a collectable that works.

[Josie & John]

Couldn’t get the washer screw to break free easily so I kept the old for now. Fear of a screw that couldn’t be used again and not sure I can get a replacement? Getting about 9.5 fp. Agree the cupped seal would be better, will change out if I really want to shoot it regularly. But for now it’s a collectable that works.

That's a sensible course of action and would have been my choice too.

Looks like performance is excellent too for a hundred year old rifle.

John