My BSA Merlin Junior .177 Rediscovered

[HowieT]

Hello All,

Around 1965 I lusted after an air rifle and whilst my Mum went shopping I would spend time staring at the rack of BSA rifles in the window of our local toy / sports shop. Months of nagging Mum & Dad finally resulted in me getting the Merlin.

The underlever action with the lifting pellet chamber seemed so futuristic at the time. A matching BSA telescopic sight was fitted from new and was a definate edge in target shooting competitions with school chums.

I think itÂ’s a Mk2 as the serial number starts with KA.

I havenÂ’t used it for nearly 50 years and just rediscovered it in my loft in the fitted cardboard box my Dad made for it. I must have been a fussy owner even at that age as it looks as good as the day I bought it.

Surprisingly it still seems to have good air pressure

Is this time warp BSA a rare thing or are there retired people out there whoÂ’ve still hung onto their childhood airguns?

IÂ’ll post some photos of the gun when I work out how to do that - the period boxes of ammo from Wembley and Marksman look very retro too!

[mel h]

They did lack some of the quality of big brothers Airsporter but I always thought that they were nice. Good to hear of a well kept one because the stocks often have cracks in the forend.

[AllanM]

The little Merlin is one of my favourite junior rifles, granted they are a bit delicate and need to be handled with care -- split stocks are common as mel h says -- but they are elegant and good to look at.
Mine do about 3ft lbs which is OK for back garden plinking.

[HowieT]

[Airsporterman]

Very interesting junior rifle!
As said, does have it's problems, have heard the underlevers can be a bit flimsy.

ASM

[HowieT]

I’ll update this post when my posting rights permit

[Benelli B76]

I was given one to repair, it has a lot of pressed steel parts in the cocking mechanism. Very small, I took a pic next to my smallest childs rifle. I had to make a new pellet transporter from Delrin as it had been lost.

Baz

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[PeteD]

I have a mk1 Merlin in .177 in working order after a new spring and piston seal. I also have a mk2 in bits awaiting me to rebuild it but I'm missing the .22 loading port which is such a shame. Great little junior plinkers and a fair bit of fun for us older plinkers too.

[Benelli B76]

I have a mk1 Merlin in .177 in working order after a new spring and piston seal. I also have a mk2 in bits awaiting me to rebuild it but I'm missing the .22 loading port which is such a shame. Great little junior plinkers and a fair bit of fun for us older plinkers too.

Make it from Delrin as I did, very easy material to work. A kind member on here sent me the dimensions. I would suggest you drill the hole for the pellet last to match exactly with the bore of your rifle.

Baz

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[mel h]

Probably worth a mention here as it is a rather unique loading system. There is at least one Airsporter existing, that has the same loading port. It was included in the Swann collection, sold a few years since by auction, In Newcastle upon Tyne.

[PeteD]

Make it from Delrin as I did, very easy material to work. A kind member on here sent me the dimensions. I would suggest you drill the hole for the pellet last to match exactly with the bore of your rifle.

Baz



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Thanks very much Baz. I've been tinkering with guns for some time now...maybe it's time I really got serious and gave this a go. I'll let you know how I get on.
Pete

[PeteD]

Probably worth a mention here as it is a rather unique loading system. There is at least one Airsporter existing, that has the same loading port. It was included in the Swann collection, sold a few years since by auction, In Newcastle upon Tyne.

I have a Weihrauch hw57 which has an almost identical way of loading. A few subtle changes but the system works in the same way.
Probably the only 2 that I have come across but I will look in to the Airsporter just for the brain food.
Thanks.
Pete

[Benelli B76]

I have a Weihrauch hw57 which has an almost identical way of loading. A few subtle changes but the system works in the same way.
Probably the only 2 that I have come across but I will look in to the Airsporter just for the brain food.
Thanks.
Pete

Problem with the Merlin is that the "pellet transporter" is a loose item and gets lost quite often.

Baz

[mel h]

I have a Weihrauch hw57 which has an almost identical way of loading. A few subtle changes but the system works in the same way.
Probably the only 2 that I have come across but I will look in to the Airsporter just for the brain food.
Thanks.
Pete

It was offered as being a BSA prototype, I had a good look at it and could see no signs of it having been converted from a tap system. I bid on it at the time and feel some regret at not buying it, but we get over these things.