BSA Airsporter Mk1 All Produced With Walnut Stocks or Not All Please ???

[stevegv8]

Hi Steve,

The EF prefixed Airsporter is indeed a Mk2 (made between Jan 1966 and Jan 1968).

It differed slightly to the previous EE model in that scope dovetails were narrower at 11.5mm and longer. The 11.5mm dovetails were introduced on the Meteor first, then the Airsporter according to BSA circular from late 1965.

Kind regards,

John

Thanks John, good to confirm as I thought I only had Mk1 & 2's, it threw me as the Knibbs "What's my BSA" a lot of us rely on said Mk3 but the same dates as you say.
It's my only one with the 2 scope rails, my others have 4 short ones or none at all as they get earlier.

[Brad3]

I was just going to give details of my Mk 2 with a Sile stock and suddenly it's caused me some confusion, it's a one piece in walnut and I'd always seen it as a Mk 2 as it has the leaf sight and 2 groove scope rail but on checking the serial it says EF which should be Mk 3. A bitzer or transition? or do I know less than I thought I did?

The MK3 was indeed a transition model with elements of the MK2 mechanics but got the horrible 70s slab sided stock. So you would know instantly if it were a MK3.
John is bang on therefore.

[stevegv8]

The MK3 was indeed a transition model with elements of the MK2 mechanics but got the horrible 70s slab sided stock. So you would know instantly if it were a MK3.
John is bang on therefore.

I always pop the stock off to see if it's Sile or not, this is my only one. I wonder if they only did them as one piece?

[Josie & John]

I always pop the stock off to see if it's Sile or not, this is my only one. I wonder if they only did them as one piece?

I believe they did Steve. Other than the SILE mark, one piece construction is the other way of identifying these Italian made stocks.

John

[Mikeymoo]

I believe they did Steve. Other than the SILE mark, one piece construction is the other way of identifying these Italian made stocks.

John

I have a couple of these Sile stocks. One of the has been re-styled by either a previous owner or maybe even by Sile? It now has a cheek piece....it looks weird but unfortunately I don't know how to put pics on here.....if anyone is interested I can send a pic by email to someone who can post it on here.
M.

[Brad3]

I have a couple of these Sile stocks. One of the has been re-styled by either a previous owner or maybe even by Sile? It now has a cheek piece....it looks weird but unfortunately I don't know how to put pics on here.....if anyone is interested I can send a pic by email to someone who can post it on here.
M.

There are quite a few strange iterations of Airsporter stocks. Some of it probably occurred owing to lumps dropping off the 3 piece laminations, possibly splitting and something else being added/modified.
Don Blocksidgege did a custom special limited run.
As much as some might admire Dons work, it looked a bit of a contrivance.
It did include an added cheek piece section so I wonder if you might have one of these.
He had similar works which missed the mark on an FWB Sport but some of his engraving work on Webley pistols was excellent. A far better engraver than he was a stock maker.

[Sunbeam]

I'm not sure about the wood used on one of my MK1 Airsporters, I think the butt is walnut, but I'm not sure about the forend. https://postimg.cc/cgnKV0F2
The best MKI Airsporter I've ever seen had a walnut butt and birdseye maple forends, but unfortunately the dealer at the arms fair was not selling it.

[Mikeymoo]

There are quite a few strange iterations of Airsporter stocks. Some of it probably occurred owing to lumps dropping off the 3 piece laminations, possibly splitting and something else being added/modified.
Don Blocksidgege did a custom special limited run.
As much as some might admire Dons work, it looked a bit of a contrivance.
It did include an added cheek piece section so I wonder if you might have one of these.
He had similar works which missed the mark on an FWB Sport but some of his engraving work on Webley pistols was excellent. A far better engraver than he was a stock maker.

Do you mean it was a piece of wood added to the stock ?

[Brad3]

Do you mean it was a piece of wood added to the stock ?

Don did 2 versions. A complete new stock for the Airsporter S fully chequered/engraved and one with an added cheekpiece and additional darkened up chequering areas.
It looked as if it was something he'd knocked up on a Sunday afternoon in his shed and probably was.
The S purpose made stock looked better but the engraved details were hit and miss in reg of getting a goody.
These would be rare beasts however, Don didn't do many. He may never have tackled a Mk1/2

[Mikeymoo]

Don did 2 versions. A complete new stock and one with an added cheekpiece and additional darkened up chequering and darker dyed wood for a sort of Snabbel tip.
It looked as if it was something he'd knocked up on a Sunday afternoon in his shed and probably was.
The plainer purpose made stock looked better but still missed the mark for me.

The one I have is carved out of the original stock with no added wood

[Brad3]

The one I have is carved out of the original stock with no added wood

Can you add a pic I'll see if I can identify it.

[Mikeymoo]

Can you add a pic I'll see if I can identify it.

Too complicated on here.....I can email one to you if you can upload it ?

[pushbikeman]

Good morning all, I have found all this discussion about Mk 1 stocks very interesting. Now I have a early Club E11642 I have had it for a long time and frequently use it but the stock
is tatty, someone in the past has sanded it down somewhat over enthusiastically to the extent that it now doesn't fit the cylinder very well and also it has a few cracks around the pistol grip.
Now my question and I realise I am looking for rocking horse poo (If you don't ask you don't get) Does anyone have one that they would sell me so I can get the old girl looking as she should.
Thanks from someone that is a fair bit older than my BSA Club.

[Brad3]

Good morning all, I have found all this discussion about Mk 1 stocks very interesting. Now I have a early Club E11642 I have had it for a long time and frequently use it but the stock
is tatty, someone in the past has sanded it down somewhat over enthusiastically to the extent that it now doesn't fit the cylinder very well and also it has a few cracks around the pistol grip.
Now my question and I realise I am looking for rocking horse poo (If you don't ask you don't get) Does anyone have one that they would sell me so I can get the old girl looking as she should.
Thanks from someone that is a fair bit older than my BSA Club.

A possible solution is to look for a very tatty Airsporter/Club going very cheaply and pinch the stock from it.
As you say, spare Club/ Mk1 stocks rarer then rocking horse muck.

[pushbikeman]

Thanks for your reply but the stock on the E series Club is shorter than the later Club or Airsporter.