Inside the 1912 BSA Improved D

[silva]

Great rifle. I see the original spring is 33 coils. Would it be possible for you to measure the length and diameter of the spring and guage of the wire when you have a moment please I'm always wondering about the perfect replacement spring for these 45" rifles. Many thanks.

[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.

[45flint]

The spring had no preload when I took apart the rifle, is that normal?

[Lakey]

The spring had no preload when I took apart the rifle, is that normal?

Not ideal but perfectly understandable with the original spring. I think 1-1.5" of pre-load is normal for these rifles.

But if you are just shooting in the back yard, why stress the 100 year old metal by trying to get every last foot per second out of it


Lakey

[TonyL]

Not ideal but perfectly understandable with the original spring. I think 1-1.5" of pre-load is normal for these rifles.

But if you are just shooting in the back yard, why stress the 100 year old metal by trying to get every last foot per second out of it


Lakey

100% agree and enjoy this lovely rifle for what it is and represents.

[Benelli B76]

Not ideal but perfectly understandable with the original spring. I think 1-1.5" of pre-load is normal for these rifles.

But if you are just shooting in the back yard, why stress the 100 year old metal by trying to get every last foot per second out of it


Lakey

Andy, I thought all these rifles had a two flat cross section springs in. Mine have, when did they switch to a one piece round section ordinary spring ?

[jirushi]

Interesting thread, and congrats with your purchase.

I hope it's ok to write the following, as I do not want to hijack your thread, but I thought it is related to your question.
I recently bought a lovely Light Pattern from Binners.
This morning I worked on a new piston seal. The leather washer on the inside of the cup is now a bit thinner, so that the metal washer and screw head are sunk in a bit.
I should have asked if this is the right thing to do first, but it felt so.

Power is up with 1 ft/lbs, to 5 ft/lbs. I think there is room for improvement though.

Does this look about right?

[gunshop]

Andy, I thought all these rifles had a two flat cross section springs in. Mine have, when did they switch to a one piece round section ordinary spring ?

Some have one spring some have two, depends on the calibre and the overall length of the gun

[45flint]

Andy, I thought all these rifles had a two flat cross section springs in. Mine have, when did they switch to a one piece round section ordinary spring ?

Highly recommend John M’s Book on the BSA. Tells you when these kind of changes were made. My 1912 had one long spring, my 1914 had 2 springs.

[ashf9999]

It certainly is an excellent book. Very informative and interesting. Since I started running out of Webleys to collect, I had dabbled with old BSAs. From that book (& Mr Knibbs’) I’ve learnt a lot.

[gunshop]

Highly recommend John M’s Book on the BSA. Tells you when these kind of changes were made. My 1912 had one long spring, my 1914 had 2 springs.

The John Knibbs book will tell you more.