Did BSA use walnut stocks on the S models?

**look no hands** · 19-02-2017, 02:59 PM

All "S" models had Walnut stocks but Challengers came with the Deluxe Beech stocks (but not all of them had highly figured Beech stocks) which were better quality with proper pistol grip checkering (not the pressed in type on the standard models) and a higher more pronounced cheekpiece (like the ones fitted to Superstar/Goldstars), the Walnut on "S" models can either be bland as hell or really nicely figured, I have read that the later Airsporter "S" before the RB2's came in, had the Challenger style Beech stocks fitted (not sure if this is true so don't hold me to it) not sure if this was a BSA cost cutting exercise, I've never seen a Challenger with a Walnut stock in the same style as the Deluxe Beech but who knows what's rolled out the BSA factory in the past, in the U.S. they even did an Airsporter RB2 crown grade which had a laminate stock but was never offered over here in the U.K.

Pete

**SRV1** · 20-02-2017, 01:57 PM

My two Mercury S and Airsporter S have very nice walnut stocks. Curious, AGW October 1985 Gun Test by David Linaker of the Challenger suggests walnut stock. Of the two standard Challengers I have, the grain, which looks very good and different from the usual beech stocks would suggest possible walnut? My Carbine Challenger stock seems to suggest a good quality beech?

All he best....

**look no hands** · 20-02-2017, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by SRV1

My two Mercury S and Airsporter S have very nice walnut stocks. Curious, AGW October 1985 Gun Test by David Linaker of the Challenger suggests walnut stock. Of the two standard Challengers I have, the grain, which looks very good and different from the usual beech stocks would suggest possible walnut? My Carbine Challenger stock seems to suggest a good quality beech?

All he best....

Like I said, you never know what came out the BSA factory, all it takes is a bit of Walnut to get put in the pile for the Beech Deluxe style stock and before you know it you may well have a Walnut Deluxe style stock without the machine operator knowing about it, I've had a few "S"s in the past of both models and a couple have been very plain stocked and two I have now have very nice figured stocks and another has a "nothing to write home about" stock, in fact I'm just refinishing my Airsporter S carbines stock as I did it a few years ago when I first got it but felt I could do better, so far it's even better after a proper rub down with boiled Linseed oil, looking forward to oiling it properly this time over a period of a few weeks instead of trying to rush it like last time, just so I could get it finished and back together.

Pete

**maximus** · 20-02-2017, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by look no hands

All "S" models had Walnut stocks but Challengers came with the Deluxe Beech stocks (but not all of them had highly figured Beech stocks) which were better quality with proper pistol grip checkering (not the pressed in type on the standard models) and a higher more pronounced cheekpiece (like the ones fitted to Superstar/Goldstars), the Walnut on "S" models can either be bland as hell or really nicely figured, I have read that the later Airsporter "S" before the RB2's came in, had the Challenger style Beech stocks fitted (not sure if this is true so don't hold me to it) not sure if this was a BSA cost cutting exercise, I've never seen a Challenger with a Walnut stock in the same style as the Deluxe Beech but who knows what's rolled out the BSA factory in the past, in the U.S. they even did an Airsporter RB2 crown grade which had a laminate stock but was never offered over here in the U.K.

Pete

The last Airsporter S's had a Challenger style beech stock and a maxigrip rail. I still have mine bought new from JSR in the 80's. The This, the Challengers and Superstars had what I think was described as "cross cut" beech stocks which displayed more grain and were finished nicer than the plain stocked versions. The older S models were walnut of varying quality, my mk2 airsporter S is quite nice though.

**look no hands** · 20-02-2017, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by maximus

The last Airsporter S's had a Challenger style beech stock and a maxigrip rail. I still have mine bought new from JSR in the 80's. The This, the Challengers and Superstars had what I think was described as "cross cut" beech stocks which displayed more grain and were finished nicer than the plain stocked versions. The older S models were walnut of varying quality, my mk2 airsporter S is quite nice though.

I thought the later Airsporter S's had the Deluxe style stock http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/a...Airsporter.jpg , I bought one off of a mate but foolishly sold it on, their is no excuse for these stock makers to produce bland Beech stocks as all they have to do is put the wood in the duplicator the right way and the grain pattern will show, my mate told me once it was called "slab cut" but probably the same as "cross cut", my Airsporter S which is the later mk2 with the rounded off forend has the best bit of Walnut I've seen on any air rifle (it even beats the Walnut stock on my Prosport) I just can't get over how lovely it is, I'm actually enjoying rubbing it down at the moment because I can't take my eyes off it, I'm going to do my Mercury S stock next as that has a nice bit of Walnut as well.

Pete

**charlie350** · 25-02-2017, 09:13 AM

Pete i was looking at your photobucket and on your challanger lighting is very close to my mercury challanger. you just have a bit more figger on the right side of the butt. did you say that was beech or walnut?? i will have to look for a lighting barrel for mine!! do the breech blocks exchange? is the lighting just a pin like my supersport? or have the breech bolt like the mercury challanger? also i have found a cobra strike 635. whats your thoughts on it? i know it was made by BSA and is the same gun as the BSA 635 and would think its a bit rarer?

**junglie** · 25-02-2017, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by charlie350

Pete i was looking at your photobucket and on your challanger lighting is very close to my mercury challanger. you just have a bit more figger on the right side of the butt. did you say that was beech or walnut?? i will have to look for a lighting barrel for mine!! do the breech blocks exchange? is the lighting just a pin like my supersport? or have the breech bolt like the mercury challanger? also i have found a cobra strike 635. whats your thoughts on it? i know it was made by BSA and is the same gun as the BSA 635 and would think its a bit rarer?

Your cobra strike 635 may be a bitsa as the 635 has no markings on the cylinder & the cobra strike has a black stock with slightly longer barrel than the 635 with countersink in the end of bore like most bsa's. The 635 barrel does not have this & comes with a dummy plastic silencer(cocking aid like the bsa scorpion pistol) Oh & if i were you I'd very carefully test the accuracy of ANY lightning barrel before swapping & keep your barrel as every lightning i've shot didn't come anywhere near the challengers barell on mine. hope this helps.

**johnbaz** · 25-02-2017, 05:27 PM

My Challenger has a beech stock, The Airsporter S is walnut allbeit very bland and plain walnut

Challenger is the centre gun, Airsporter is first on left..

John

**look no hands** · 25-02-2017, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by charlie350

Pete i was looking at your photobucket and on your challanger lighting is very close to my mercury challanger. you just have a bit more figger on the right side of the butt. did you say that was beech or walnut?? i will have to look for a lighting barrel for mine!! do the breech blocks exchange? is the lighting just a pin like my supersport? or have the breech bolt like the mercury challanger? also i have found a cobra strike 635. whats your thoughts on it? i know it was made by BSA and is the same gun as the BSA 635 and would think its a bit rarer?

The Challenger stocks were Beech, mine is but luckily highly figured, I have another challenger stock that is bland as hell, the Lightning barrel and breech block will just swap straight over, the only problem you may encounter is the slot in the bottom of the breech block where the cocking lever pins into can be a different size sometime and may either need a small washer in there to pack it out or may need the links closing up, the barrel pivot pins are the same size whether it is the bolt or pin, the Lightning is basically just a a Supersport with a shorter barrel and silencer and a Maxigrip scope rail.

I've never handled a Cobra strike or any older .25 barreled BSA's, I've only ever had .177/.22 Mercs or Challengers, the older .25's have really tight barrels as they are .243.

Pete

**Muskett** · 25-02-2017, 05:53 PM

**johnbaz** · 25-02-2017, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Muskett

Hi Muskett

Webley had their moments with the Mk3, The early ones i've seen have been rather bland but the later ones were usually much nicer

Mk3's

And again..

One more!

John

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we have almost the same stock Pete

Did BSA use walnut stocks on the S models?

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