bsa standard

[jjjl]

hi anybody got any info on this
.22cal standard 45 inches long
fold down peep sight milled into trigger block
serial no 47173

thanks

[Lakey]

Welcome to the collectors section.
You have an iconic gun, made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company.
It sounds like your gun has a number 12 aperture rearsight. It should either have an 'S' or 'T' prefix before the serial number. The 45.5 inch length is often called he 'Long' or 'Sporting' Pattern and is in No.2 Bore (.22). This design started in 1919, and went on in production until around 1939. It will have a push button to the underlever, and with have a long narrow foresight mounted in a dovetail in the barrel, combined with a 'tower' rearsight with a central elevation screw, acting on a slide witha wide 'v' cut in it. The number 12 peepsight, was an optional extra available at extra cost that could be ordered from the BSA agent when the gun was bought, or it could have been added at a later stage by returning the gun to BSA in order to get the trigger block machined. You could also swap your trigger block over for a milled one and if so, BSA would pay you for your old triggerblock if it was traded in.
Has your gun got a rounded area around the loading tap, or does it look like it is flat on the top (just behind the rearsight)? If it is flat it will just have the number 2 impressed into the metal, and if it is rounded it should have the words 'Load 2' on the gun. The flattened area indicates it is a later gun 1932+, and if so it should also have the letters BSA impressed into the chequering of the stock?

Lakey

[jjjl]

thanks for info
it has 2 then load behind sight
has no bsa logo on stock and the
underlever has a side push button

thanks again

[edbear2]

Welcome to the collectors section.
You have an iconic gun, made by the Birmingham Small Arms Company.
It sounds like your gun has a number 12 aperture rearsight. It should either have an 'S' or 'T' prefix before the serial number. The 45.5 inch length is often called he 'Long' or 'Sporting' Pattern and is in No.2 Bore (.22). This design started in 1919, and went on in production until around 1939. It will have a push button to the underlever, and with have a long narrow foresight mounted in a dovetail in the barrel, combined with a 'tower' rearsight with a central elevation screw, acting on a slide witha wide 'v' cut in it. The number 12 peepsight, was an optional extra available at extra cost that could be ordered from the BSA agent when the gun was bought, or it could have been added at a later stage by returning the gun to BSA in order to get the trigger block machined. You could also swap your trigger block over for a milled one and if so, BSA would pay you for your old triggerblock if it was traded in.
Has your gun got a rounded area around the loading tap, or does it look like it is flat on the top (just behind the rearsight)? If it is flat it will just have the number 2 impressed into the metal, and if it is rounded it should have the words 'Load 2' on the gun. The flattened area indicates it is a later gun 1932+, and if so it should also have the letters BSA impressed into the chequering of the stock?

Lakey

Again welcome to the best (IMHO) section of this site!

Cant add anything to this comprehensive answer except to say you have a nice item from the sound of it.....hopefully its been well cared for over its life......and thanks Lakey for the loading area info......will be in the attic later to have a butchers

[Garvin]

If it has a side button to the cocking lever it will be a "sporting pattern" Improved model D, made between Dec 1911 and Feb 1912. Quite a sought after model and with a no.12 even more desirable.

[Lakey]

Hmmmmm,

The side button cocking lever would indicate that the gun is a pre-WWI gun dated around 1912 In order for the side button cocking lever to work it should have a ring shaped block dovetailed into the underside of the barrel. The stock should also have a pistol grip configuration with hand cut chequering, and the BSA piled arms logo stamped into the left hand side of the walnut stock. The later post 1919 guns has heat impressed chequering.Does the cylinder have any inscriptions on ( like for example BSA Air Rifle Improved Model D, or BSA Standard Air Rifle No2 Bore)? The early BSA Standard's started in 1914, however your gun sounds like an Improved model D from around 1912.

Any chance you could post some pictures ? That should then clear up ID of the rifle fairly quickly

Lakey

[jjjl]

many thanks lakey

the lever catch looks like someone has replaced with small bolt
theres no logo on straight stock
logos on cylinder have worn off also some areas of
surface rust/pitting

i will try to add detailed photos tommorow to give you
a good look

thanks for the help

jim

[jjjl]

many thanks lakey

the lever catch looks like someone has replaced with small bolt
theres no logo on straight stock
logos on cylinder have worn off also some areas of
surface rust/pitting

i will try to add detailed photos tommorow to give you
a good look

thanks for the help

jim

having trouble with photos ill master it soon:

[edbear2]

Good morning Jim........This section does not host photos, so many on here use photobucket, flikr etc. etc. type websites........ and then copy and paste the URL on to here......If this is your problem, I can host the photos for you....I have done this before for other BBS members.Just email me the photos (large file size no problem), and I will do it for you.

Guys who may be interested in this gun;......I have 5 projects on the go at the moment, and already have a nice .22 model D, so have no hidden agenda to get first dibbs.I just want to help out a new BBS member.

[Lakey]

Here are jims photo's

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa001.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa002.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa004.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa007.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa008.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa005.jpg

http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/bsa006.jpg

Lakey

[Lakey]

A nice original example of the Improved Moel D, in the rarer .22 calibre. The No.12 peep sight milled into the trigger block makes it aspecially desireable as these are uncommon. They were an expensive extra, which did not sell that well at the time - most people settling for the standard sighting arrangement.

The straighthand stocks are also less common than the pistolhand stocks by about 8 to 1 ( if my collecting experience is anything to go by).

There does seem to be a replacement dome headed screw under the keyhole shaped tap retaining plate, also the locking screw missing, however these could easily be replaced, with spares being obtained from John Knibbs or Chambers.

The gun looks like it could benefit from a rub down with 000 grade wire wool and oil, however apart from that a full service should get it firing a treat. The sporting length (45.5inch) guns packed a punch in the .22 calibre, and were increasingly popular for small game and vermin control, after their launch in mid to late 1908. Your gun can be dated to the end of 1911-early 1912.

Great guns the old BSA's

Lakey

[jjjl]

Good morning Jim........This section does not host photos, so many on here use photobucket, flikr etc. etc. type websites........ and then copy and paste the URL on to here......If this is your problem, I can host the photos for you....I have done this before for other BBS members.Just email me the photos (large file size no problem), and I will do it for you.

Guys who may be interested in this gun;......I have 5 projects on the go at the moment, and already have a nice .22 model D, so have no hidden agenda to get first dibbs.I just want to help out a new BBS member.

thanks for the offer and all your help
as you may see lakey has done me this great service .cheers guys....

[edbear2]

Thanks mate.......no problem at all, and whatever you decide to do, I hope you either get the price you want for it if you ever sell it, or a lot of enjoyment out of owning / shooting a classic bit of airgun history

[jjjl]

A nice original example of the Improved Moel D, in the rarer .22 calibre. The No.12 peep sight milled into the trigger block makes it aspecially desireable as these are uncommon. They were an expensive extra, which did not sell that well at the time - most people settling for the standard sighting arrangement.

The straighthand stocks are also less common than the pistolhand stocks by about 8 to 1 ( if my collecting experience is anything to go by).

There does seem to be a replacement dome headed screw under the keyhole shaped tap retaining plate, also the locking screw missing, however these could easily be replaced, with spares being obtained from John Knibbs or Chambers.

The gun looks like it could benefit from a rub down with 000 grade wire wool and oil, however apart from that a full service should get it firing a treat. The sporting length (45.5inch) guns packed a punch in the .22 calibre, and were increasingly popular for small game and vermin control, after their launch in mid to late 1908. Your gun can be dated to the end of 1911-early 1912.

Great guns the old BSA's

Lakey

grateful for all your help and info lakey cheers.. jim

[mowerman]

I passed one of these up at an arms & millitaria fair recently same spec as yours Jim, a bit better condition and straight hand stock but without the lovely peep sight (serial No.46###), the guy wanted £250 (£50 more than I had on me!) and he wouldn't haggle Oh well....
Enjoy yours Jim, it'll look great after a bit of TLC.
Paul.