A very unusual, modified vintage BSA.

[Leonardj]

I had the opportunity to examine this particularly interesting old BSA over the weekend. Permission was obtained from the owner to post the following pictures of the gun in an effort to perhaps glean some information with regard to who may have built it, or if there are any others like it out there. The gun was claimed by the previous owner to be a BSA factory prototype, but through correspondence with Mark Knibbs, this claim it would seem, is incorrect.

The gun is a BSA Standard, mated to a very unusual trigger mechanism that can be set manually, or automatically. The sliding bar in front of the trigger block sets the trigger. As the end of the cocking stroke is reached, the intermediate cocking link contacts the sliding bar, and pushes it rearward, setting the trigger. The trigger can also be set, independent of the cocking stroke by simply pushing in the sliding bar, perhaps for practicing trigger control without actually firing the gun.

The trigger uses a hammer-strike mechanism to trip the sear, thus the trigger pull remains the same whether in "dry fire" mode, or if it is used with the gun properly cocked, and firing a pellet. The trigger feels like a match grade unit - smooth, predictable, and breaks like glass. The small button that passes through the receiver (trigger block) is a safety.

The base of the rear aperture sight is integral to the receiver/trigger block, which was meticulously machined from a single piece of steel. The elevation/windage portion of the sight is a commercial unit, which I believe could possibly be made by Parker-Hale. The windage adjusting screw has a Torx head, so is obviously a later repair or replacement to the sight. The front sight is not a typical BSA sight, but looks to have been modified (raised) to work with the rear aperture unit.

The large hex-head bolt allows the rifle to quickly and easily be taken down.

Any information on the gun would be most appreciated.


http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-01.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-02.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-03.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-04.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-05.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-06.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-07.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-08.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...teryBSA-09.jpg

[edbear2]

Sorry have no idea about this gun, but some superb engineering there!...Probably someone just trying to improve the standard trigger, with a lot of time, patience, skill and thought on their hands. Really hope you can find out more!

ATB, Ed

[isobar]

very interesting indeed,looks excellent and with the trigger as you descibe should be a real pleasure to shoot.with engineering like that i would like to know who is responsible for it. atb