Improved model D

[AC99]

The presence of soft (tin/lead) solder in the air chamber tends to suggest that at some time in its life this rifle suffered from some disastrous attempt to reseal the joint between barrel and receiver.
It seems that someone has removed the barrel/receiver from the air chamber but this can only have been done by melting the original high melting point braze material and unscrewing the barrel. This may account for the grip marks on the chamber wall. On re-assembly and attempting to re-seal the joint soft solder (low melting point) has been used and has simply run through into the air chamber; a tin/lead solder would not have alloyed with the steel unlike the original filler braze material used by BSA. All this is pure speculation of course!
However,the photos show a nice looking rifle with potential so good luck with your repair/renovation.
Aubrey

[battyone]

I've only separated one, but it was definitely a lead type solder. Being as the joint is threaded, the solder is only acting as a thread lock and sealer.
Not like a push fit breech and cylinder, which definitely would need brazing.

Do the sporting models just have a longer cylinder? Or is it a larger diameter too? It almost looks tapered at the breech thread area, rather than just bulged. Is the cylinder wall thicker than the .177 s ?

Certainly looks like someone intended to fix this one, maybe when they couldn't get the cylinder to turn, they tried heat not realizing that the joint was soldered???
Shame that the trigger parts have been lost, but at least it has a full complement of sights.

[edbear2]

The presence of soft (tin/lead) solder in the air chamber tends to suggest that at some time in its life this rifle suffered from some disastrous attempt to reseal the joint between barrel and receiver.
It seems that someone has removed the barrel/receiver from the air chamber but this can only have been done by melting the original high melting point braze material and unscrewing the barrel. This may account for the grip marks on the chamber wall. On re-assembly and attempting to re-seal the joint soft solder (low melting point) has been used and has simply run through into the air chamber; a tin/lead solder would not have alloyed with the steel unlike the original filler braze material used by BSA. All this is pure speculation of course!
However,the photos show a nice looking rifle with potential so good luck with your repair/renovation.
Aubrey

Hi Aubrey, they were all soldered, I have done ones that have never been apart;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...57624319794343

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...57616789686347

For various reasons, either to replace a damaged cylinder, or to build specials. If indeed there was solder inside it may be as you say that a repair or heating has been carried out.

No problem to solder steel using an aggressive acid type cleaner / flux and lead solder, years ago I was building car fuel tanks from lead coated steel (old stock) so I know it sticks ...And Webley Mk3 front sights are often held in place with solder...I have seen people trying to use rosin type electrical stuff which obviously will not "take", you must use an acid flux!

You only need a canvas strap wrench and the breech in a vice, heat gently and it will come apart easily.

The sporting had the same cylinder / wall thickness (ie. same CDS tube used), the only difference is the length of the cylinder / piston / cocking levers.

ATB, Ed