Inside the 1912 BSA Improved D

[Lakey]

If it were my gun, I would fit a new leather seal. Carefully sanding it dry to an easy sliding fit in the cylinder. Drip a little oil onto the seal immediately before fitting, then allow the gun to stand for a while. I would definitely keep the flat headed screw and the brass inner washer, that fits over the top of a secondary leather inner washer, as all that is completely original. The impression of the transfer port on the head of the screw is quite normal. I see it in 75% of the guns I open up. If you need a drop or two more oil, it is easily introduced in through the loading tap, then left to soak into the seal. But you don't want to flood it.

Love these gun's !!

Lakey

[sparko]

I must say that I am impressed with the attention to detail from BSA, with the piled arms stamp on the spring edge … I don’t suppose there was a need at all to do this, other than to id it as a BSA spring, but it was done never the less.

[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 ?

[TonyL]

I must say that I am impressed with the attention to detail from BSA, with the piled arms stamp on the spring edge … I don’t suppose there was a need at all to do this, other than to id it as a BSA spring, but it was done never the less.

Absolutely. Beautifully built, solid rifles with superb attention to detail.