Advise with old BSA airgun

[Nicola&boys 1]

Hi,

I have been given an old airgun that I've dated to around 1919, what precautions or maintenance should I carry out before attempting to use it for the first time, I am unsure to when it was last used.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Nicola

[davyt63 1,845]

hi Nicola

i see your based in Wiltshire as i am too,i can have a look at it for you if needed ?

or you could join us at old down pursuits http://www.old-downs-pursuits.co.uk/where-we-are i am there most Sundays from 10am to 3pm.

 

i take it its a spring air gun?

 

if it hasn't been used for a while chances are its seized up ? breech seal may need replacing? and a internal inspection degrease and re-lube ?

 

or you could take it to a gun smith,for a visual inspection and a diagnosis. what air rifle is it any pics?

[davyt63 1,845]

oh!!

welcome to the forum

[Nicola&boys 1]

Davy, thanks for the welcome.

 

Its spring airgun that I believe to be a .177, its not seized at all but the stock is a bit wobbly.

Daughter has confiscated my phone for her own use but I found a pretty close image of it

http://www.network54.com/Forum/670443/message/1298563736/BSA+Standard+'L'+prefix+(serial+No.+L5151)+1919

This one has the serial No 4473 so guesstimating around the year 1919.

There is a bit of corrosion around the end of the barrel by the sight.

It would be great if you could take a look at it, I could come to your meet up one weekend when I'm not out racing with the terriers.

Where would my local gunsmith be, I'm in Chippenham

 

Many thanks, Nicola

[davyt63 1,845]

Davy, thanks for the welcome.

 

Its spring airgun that I believe to be a .177, its not seized at all but the stock is a bit wobbly.

Daughter has confiscated my phone for her own use but I found a pretty close image of it

http://www.network54...No. L5151) 1919

This one has the serial No 4473 so guesstimating around the year 1919.

There is a bit of corrosion around the end of the barrel by the sight.

It would be great if you could take a look at it, I could come to your meet up one weekend when I'm not out racing with the terriers.

Where would my local gunsmith be, I'm in Chippenham

 

Many thanks, Nicola

 

hi Nicola

have a look at the stock screws and give them a tighten be careful though as you dont want to slip,and scratch this beauty!

the corrosion,may move with some tin foil and gun oil lightly rubbed.is it pitted rust?

 

so its a BSA are there any letters before the serial number?

 

here is a list below of early rifles

 

BSA gun date letters

Prefix Gun Calibre Date

A CADET 0.177 1945/46

AA BUCCANEER 0.177 1979-

B CADET 0.177 1946/49

BA CADET 0.177 1949/51

BC CADET 0.177 1951/59

C CADET MAJOR 0.177 1947/49

CA CADET MAJOR 0.177 1949/55

CC CADET MAJOR 0.177 1955/57

DA BUCCANEER 0.22 1979-

E CLUB MK1 0.177 1948/50

EA CLUB MK1 0.177 1950/54

EB CLUB MK1 0.177 1955/57

EC CLUB MK1 0.177 1958

ED CLUB MK2 0.177 1959

EE AIRSPORTER+FEW CLUB MK2 0.177 1959/65

EF AIRSPORTER MK2 0.177 1965/67

EG AIRSPORTER MK2 0.177 1967/68

EK AIRSPORTER MK4 0.177 1969/71

EL AIRSPORTER MK5 0.177 1971/74

EN AIRSPORTER MK5 AND 6 0.177 1974-

EP AIRSPORTER 'S' 0.177 1979-

G AIRSPORTER MK1 0.22 1948/54

GA AIRSPORTER MK1 0.22 1955/56

GB AIRSPORTER MK1 0.22 1956/58

GC AIRSPORTER MK1 0.22 1958/59

GD AIRSPORTER MK2 0.22 1959/65

GE AIRSPORTER MK2 0.22 1965/67

GF AIRSPORTER MK2 0.22 1967/68

GG AIRSPORTER MK2 0.22 1968/69

GI AIRSPORTER MK4 0.22 1969/71

GJ AIRSPORTER MK5 0.22 1971/74

GL AIRSPORTER MK 5 AND 6 0.22 1974-

GM AIRSPORTER 'S' 0.22 1979-

K MERLIN 0.177 1962/64

KA MERLIN 0.177 1964/68

L MERLIN 0.22 1962/64

LA MERLIN 0.22 1964/68

M CADET MAJOR 1947/48

N METEOR MK1 0.177 1959/62

NA METEOR MK2 0.177 1962/66

NB METEOR MK2 0.177 1966/68

ND METEOR MK3 0.177 1967/69

NE METEOR MK3 AND SUPER METEOR MK3 0.177 1969/73

NG METEOR MK4 AND SUPER METEOR MK4 0.177 1973-79

NH METEOR MK5 AND SUPER METEOR MK5 0.177 1979-

PA SCORPION 0.177 1977-

PB SCORPION 0.22 1977-

T METEOR MK1 0.22 1959/62

TA METEOR MK2 0.22 1962/66

TB METEOR MK2 0.22 1966/68

TD METEOR + SUPER MK3 0.22 1967/69

TE METEOR + SUPER MK3 0.22 1969/73

TG METEOR + SUPER MK4 0.22 1974/78

TH METEOR + SUPER 0.22 1979-

W CADET 0.177 1949/50

W MERCURY MK1 0.177 1971/73

WB MERCURY MK2 0.177 1974/78

WC MERCURY MK3 0.177 1978-

WH MERCURY S 0.177 1980-

Y CADET MAJOR 0.177 1949-

Z MERCURY MK1 0.22 1971/73

ZB MERCURY MK2 0.22 1974/78

ZC MERCURY MK3 0.22 1978-

ZH MERCURY S 0.22 1980-

 

but going by your serial number,its 26 years before these dates above.there are a few!

 

dauntsey gun shop,ask to speak to clint

 

http://www.dauntseyguns.co.uk/

 

and another in devizes , two friendly chaps

 

http://www.msinstruments.co.uk/wsc/index.html

 

these are the only ones i could recommend as i have had dealings with both of them,and very friendly too,PLEASE! PLEASE! dont sell it to any of them its a right gem?

yes we could meet up at old downs and i could take a look at it for you,your only 20 minutes from me.before you go to the gun smiths,just let me know!

[Nicola&boys 1]

Davy,

I've had another look and the number is 4048 without a letter prefix. I'll try & come down to your meet on 2nd Sept after work.

 

Many thanks

Nic

[StayingProne 0]

Being .177 ui would say it possibly a BSA No 1 Light Pattern produced from 1936-39 or a Cadet, produced 1945-46

 

Are you sure you cant find a prefix letter anywhere?

[Tron 173]

I am pretty sure its a model D BSA which was the follow on from the Lincoln Jeffries patented rifle, Those guns were about from Pre War One!! in fact most if not all bell target teams shot those rifles in the 1920,s onward. It is of course a underlever and the loading was done via the rotating tap, Ala the later Airsporters.To check the airtightness of the loading tap Cock the rifle open the tap then STILL HOLDING the underlever pull the trigger and return the underlever to the barrel, if the tap is sound it will take a few seconds bafore the underlever locks up. if the tap is worn and leaks all is not lost, its a easy job to remove the tap and have it zinc or copper plated to restore it to leak free opperation. Cheers, Tron.

Edited August 20, 2012 by Tron

[davyt63 1,845]

Davy,

I've had another look and the number is 4048 without a letter prefix. I'll try & come down to your meet on 2nd Sept after work.

 

Many thanks

Nic

 

hi Nicola

i am down with wurz in Brighton that week end,entering the Air Arms competition ,can do the week end after ?

[Nicola&boys 1]

Davy, the following weekend is South west terrier & lurcher if the pup isnt any better I'll come up to you. Good luck at the Air arms.

 

Nic

[Nicola&boys 1]

Being .177 ui would say it possibly a BSA No 1 Light Pattern produced from 1936-39 or a Cadet, produced 1945-46

 

Are you sure you cant find a prefix letter anywhere?

Hi, I have had another look and definitely no prefix letter, I think its going to be a trip to my local gunsmiths.

With thanks, Nic

[Nicola&boys 1]

I am pretty sure its a model D BSA which was the follow on from the Lincoln Jeffries patented rifle, Those guns were about from Pre War One!! in fact most if not all bell target teams shot those rifles in the 1920,s onward. It is of course a underlever and the loading was done via the rotating tap, Ala the later Airsporters.To check the airtightness of the loading tap Cock the rifle open the tap then STILL HOLDING the underlever pull the trigger and return the underlever to the barrel, if the tap is sound it will take a few seconds bafore the underlever locks up. if the tap is worn and leaks all is not lost, its a easy job to remove the tap and have it zinc or copper plated to restore it to leak free opperation. Cheers, Tron.

 

Hi Tron, I'll have a go, thanks for the advise,

Nic

[Tron 173]

Thank you, and wellcome to the forum Nicola!.

 

 

Postscript, Just been on Gun Star and theres a Lincon Jeffries early model Bayonet underlever rifle the precurser of the model D BSA going for £350 quid. Dont let that gun go to a shop Nic!.

Edited August 21, 2012 by Tron