Inside the 1912 BSA Improved D

[45flint]

Thanks for all the comments. The rifle is back together after a good cleaning and lubing. I kept it as is, just peening the screw head lightly to push back the metal a little. I lubed the leather several times with neatsfoot oil letting it soak in. The leather seemed to revive and certainly there was a lot left as it was very difficult to get it back into the tube. Once in it sealed very well as I put my finger over the barrel pulled the cocking lever a bit and it recreated a vacuum that popped when I took my finger off. To me it was fascinating to experience the actual pull necessary to cock the rifle with an original spring. (My 1914 had a broken spring) It was a substantial pull. My first shot into my paper target was dead on. These were a beast of a rifle for the times!

Sorry with the rifle together I can’t measure the spring right now.