The Britannia

[trevor1]

Thank you Lakey, Trevor and Mick.

Lakey, can you tell me if the Ramsbottom markings are on the top of the breech flat on 1340 or on either side of the breech flats? I'm guessing standard 21 inch barrel?

Trevor, thank you for including 1581. Is the rifle marked Britannia or Anglo Sure Shot? Also, I'm guessing it has the see-saw sight but could you confirm?

Mick, I'm not sure if I have your old ones listed but if you can confirm SN, sight type, calibre, markings and barrel length, I'll gladly add to the database.

Thanks all.

John

Britannia and it has the seesaw sight. best wishes,Trev

[trevorj]

Britannia Anglo Sure Shot - Ramsbottom etc. Serial Number 1013. 177 cal. Pics below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...57618942595781

[micky2]

Hi John, l will find the se/nos sights out tomorrow and send them on.
ATB
Mick.

[micky2]

Hi John, here are the se/nos of mine that l still have 715 .177 marked with cox britannia with flip-up rear sight, 1st patt 172 .177 only se/no stamped just v notch rear. anglo sure shot 891 .177 no rear sight stamped both sides. the ones that l have sold 2725 .177 rocker type rear, .25 wrong rear sight, 457 .177, rear sight ? but not rocker type.

ATB
Mick.

[Josie & John]

Thanks you Trev, Trev and Mick - Database now has 109 examples thanks to your generosity with sharing details.

Kind regards,

John

[gingernut]

And I have Brittania shoulder.
Quite rare.
Affects around 109 people a year.
Usually comes on after reading a thread like this and actually shooting one!

[trevorj]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

[micky2]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

Hi Trevor, nice guns, and a nice see saw sight with the flip-up peep sight fitted on one of them not many of those about, what is it with the cut-out bit on the cocking arm on the reblued one?.
Regards,
Mick.

[trevorj]

Hi Mick
Thanks for the question. Three images added, see attached.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...57618942595781

Regards
Trevor

[slow_runner]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

What, no rabbit??

[micky2]

Hi Mick
Thanks for the question. Three images added, see attached.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...57618942595781

Regards
Trevor

Hi Trevor, many thanks for the extra photos, that explains the cut out bit, it looks like someone has done that as some sort of lighter trigger addjustment?, a novel way of doing it.
Regards,
Mick.

[micky2]

Hi John, l have come across some more se/nos that is written on a piece of paper so must be from guns sold at auction possible last year so you may already have these. as far as l know they are all Cox's Britannias. they are all in .177 rear sights not noted, 467,2027,2386.
ATB
Mick.

[Josie & John]

Forgot to mention I also have sn 2771 with 'see saw' style rearsight - with flip up/down aperture (pic link below); plus sn 2519 with 'see saw' rearsight without the aperture. The latter was purchased as parts only and recently had new internals made by master craftsman Jeff J. It shoots 695 consistently +/- 5fps with Superdomes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjm_45...15761902401457

Regards
Trevor

Thanks Trevor,

The folding peep element on 2771 is certainly unique and the only such sight known to me. Aperture sights were banned under Bisley Service Rifle rules until aperture elements on the rearsight only were permitted in 1908. Most competitors found this gave no advantage at all and the following year, the NRA relented and allowed aperture sights to be used in their natural position immediately in front of the eye. 2771 may well have been commissioned by a Bisley competitor who wanted to keep his eye in with the Britannia!

Thanks for sharing details of 2519, as I did not have that one listed - I'm guessing .177 Britannia rather than Anglo Sure Shot?

Kind regards,

John.

[Josie & John]

Hi John, l have come across some more se/nos that is written on a piece of paper so must be from guns sold at auction possible last year so you may already have these. as far as l know they are all Cox's Britannias. they are all in .177 rear sights not noted, 467,2027,2386.
ATB
Mick.

Thanks Mick,

I had these listed - all noted on a certain militaria dealer's website!

Anybody have one numbered over 3400?

Kind regards,

John

[slug-gun]

Here are a few more to add to the list; in no particular order:

551 422 2141 1757 3094 1257 749 1798 159 747 944 3379 558 768 2005 1147 1019 982 888 18 59 198 1437

2655 3332 48 1101 1014

I can provide specific info on any if it is important.

In the 'Sporting Guns Review' it was reported that "nearly 4000 Britannias were now in production" - slight paraphrasing but the figure is right.

Probably an over estimate, I would guess much nearer to 3,500 judging by those I have handled?