"T" series Standard (c.1936) serial no. T1150 

"S" series Standard (c.1935) serial no. S46688   

"S" series standard (c.1921) serial no. 8248 
With thanks to Eddie.

This is a fairly early post WW1 gun, sharing some of the features in the area of the cocking lever pivot, and loading area of the pre-great war guns.It is in a condition that causes endless discussion amongst collectors of these old guns, ie. it has in the past been restored / re-blued!...The previous owner told me that the work was carried out about 20 years ago in Birmingham, and that the gun had been basically used for display only since then. It has now been restored internally to full operating condition, and is a fine, accurate and very smooth operating gun.

I would personally say however, that despite being a well executed and quality re-finish,that it has been "over polished" before bluing,and the resulting effect is not how the gun would have been offered for sale originally. The normal BSA factory pre-bluing preparation at the time would have been a simple "belting"..ie rotation on either a linishing belt or grit wheel, which would have given a bright finish, but on close inspection, you would still see "witness" marks of the finishing.They simply would not have spent the extra time working the metal up to a mirror finish (except perhaps for the odd special order, or presentation gun).

Any, I still think it is worth viewing, but be aware that if you are reading this as a newcomer to the collecting of old air weapons, then doing this will drastically reduce the value to most collectors, and erase any evidence of a gun's long history....every bump and mark tells a story on these old guns, and a "honest" gun with fair wear and tear is more appealing to the majority of enthusiasts.

It has a couple of interesting features however, having a model 21a rear aperture sight, and also a stock stamping showing it was supplied from new by Lincoln Jeffies' shop (the address marked as 140 Steel house lane, as opposed to the original shop at number 121)

So...A much "shinier" than normal offering from this period, which has had mixed reactions when given an outing!

Sight open for use;

And folded down, allowing the normal open sights to be used;

B.S.A Standard No.2 Bore - serial no. S11792 
With thanks to Lakey.

Here are some pictures of a B.S.A Standard No.2 Bore (.22) Air rifle. It was manfactured in 1921, and has a two hole trigger block, which is an indication of its early production date.

The trigger block shows the two hole configuration, with the front hole for pivot screw,the sear tumbler and the rear hole for the pivot screw for the trigger.

This photograph shows the pressed steel trigger guard with the short tang, let into the wooden stock. this style of trigger guard replaced the cast steel guard which was first used in 1919. the picture also shows the sear tumbler visible inside the trigger block in front of the trigger.

The trigger pull weight on these early rifles was set at the factory, and the weight was then printed under the stock immediately behind the short trigger guard tang.In this case the trigger pull has been set at 4LB. This can be seen printed on the stock towards the right hand side of the photograph.

this next picture shows the right hand view of the breech block together with the rearsight and cocking lever pivot screw.

Here is a picture of the left hand side of the breech block showing the loading tap and the keyhole shaped plate securing the loading tap in place. See clearly that all the screws are original although some are only in average condition.

The walnut stock on these post WW1 'Standards' was a new design, featuring a less pronounced rounded semi-pistol grip, and heat impressed checkering in a leaf shaped panel. The overhang for the web of the thumb, can clearly be seen at the top of the stock, immediately behind the trigger block. This was much larger and more pointed than the pre-WW1 stock on the BSA Improved model D.

here is a close up of the heat impressed checkering on this rifle. All rifles up until this model featured hand cut checkering in the traditional style.

In order to maximise on the power of the No.2 Bore Standards, the cylinder was lengthened, and the piston was made heavier by the addition of a skirt at the rear. This photograph clearly shows the long 'skirt' extention at the rear of the cylinder.

Another change which came in with the post WW1 'Standards' was the end button on the underlever.This photograph shows the underlever end button, and the lever held close to the barrel by a small post on a block, dovetailed into the underside of the barrel. As you can see the pin holding the button in place is 100% original and it looks like it has never been removed since the gun was made.If the securing post gets bent for any reason, the end button with not engage properly.

the foresight was of a new higher design to match the much higher rearsight. both these were new parts made especially for these post WW1 Standards. You can see that wear and tear over 80+ years has slightly burred over the bead on the tip of the firesight, which may have a detrimental effect on accuracy.

BSA produced the wooden stocks in a variety of sizes, however they mostly fitted a 141/4" stock to these large No.2 bore guns. here is the stock length imprinted into the underside of the wooden stock just behind the rounded semi pistol grip.

Finally, throughout production of the various parts of the gun, frequent inspections took place to ensure the quality of the components was maintained. Once inspection too place, the parts were stamped with various inspection marks to show the necessary inspections had been done and the components passed for use. here are some inspection stampings under the breech block, on the trunnions, holding the cocking lever in place.

This gun shows some original finish, combined with patination on the upper cylinder and trigger block. Soon after this gun was produced, B.S.A designed a trigger adjustment system which involved the use of a three hole trigger block. For that reason these two hole guns are relatively uncommon, and worth looking out for.........

All the best

Lakey

"S" series Standard (c.1920) serial no. 6266 

This is an early two-hole trigger block Standard. It's in excellent mechanical condition and the patina is greyish and silky smooth to the touch.

"S" series Standard (c.1929) serial no. 39350 

This is a lovely condition Standard with nice clear photo-etching on the cylinder.
It also has a rare transitional stock which has B.S.A impressed into the pistol grip
- like the later circa 1930-onwards rifles, but the pistol grip is also rounded - like
the earlier pattern rifles.

At some point a B.S.A no.8 folding peep sight was fitted, which entailed making cut-outs
in the top part of both the pistol grip and the front tip of the comb. I removed the sight
and had the stock repaired (thanks Lawrie!).

Here are the pics (note what a huge difference bright sunlight makes to the visibility of
the etching!):

"S" series Standard (c.1924) serial no. 23555

This is another "S" series in beautiful original condition, with almost 100% of its original blueing and clearly visible etching. It's obviously been used, judging by the small marks on the stock, but must have been extremely well looked after by previous owners. The original blueing is deep and lustrous, with that slightly steely grey quality that you just don't see on refinished guns. It's not a flawless example by any means, but nearly as good as it gets.

"S" series Standard (c.1929) serial no. 44753 

With thanks to Eddie.

A well preserved gun, with faint etching remaining, a few knocks to the woodwork, but overall pretty good. Strong, accurate shooter at a consistent 575 f.p.s.

Overall view;

Heat impressed checkering;

Tap area, some screw marking;

Tap area, opposite side;

Trigger block area;

Under breech area;

Loading area, note plain "2" stamp found on these later guns;

Patent piston (heavier elongated type);

Faint etching (taken with flash)...this is hard to capture unless sunlight is bright;

Foresight;

Cocking lever checkering;

Trigger guard area;

"S" series Standard (c.1920) serial no. 6777 

With many thanks to Dan of the <a href="http://airgunenthusiast.weebly.com/links.html">Airgun Enthusiast Channel</a> who provided these pics.

Note the Lyman peep sight and Lyman stamped front sight.

"S" series Standard (1919) serial no. 117 

With thanks to John Milewski for these pics of this lovely early post-WW1 Standard.

"T" series Standard (c.1939) serial no. 6700

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me take these pics.

"S" series Standard (c.1919) serial no. 1677 

Pics of this beautiful example courtesy of John, with many thanks.

"S" series Standard (1919) serial no. 102 

With gratitude to Pete and Martin for these excellent pics of this very early post-WW1 Standard. Note the hand-cut chequering and cast trigger guard, which were features of the earliest post-War BSAs.

"S" series Standard (c.1921) serial no. 11515 

With thanks to a collector friend for giving me permission to take these pics.

"S" series Standard (1919) serial no. 223 

With thanks to Emily for these pics.

"S" series Standard (1919) serial no. 24 

The earliest known "S" Standard. With thanks to Scott (and Scott) for these pics.

Note that the serial no. is also stamped under the barrel.

"S" series Standard (c.1929) serial no. 39108 

This beautiful rifle sold for £1,300 hammer at auction by Holts Auctioneers in London in December 2017. It is stamped Parker and has Parker sights.

Note the transitional stock.

Auction blurb:

"B.S.A. FOR A. G. PARKER, BIRMINGHAM 
AN EXTREMELY GOOD .22 UNDER-LEVER AIR-RIFLE, MODEL 'STANDARD 'MATCH'', serial no. S39108, 
for 1929, with blued 19 1/4in. tapering barrel fitted with a rare 'A.G. Parker' windage adjustable pillar fore-sight with side-protectors, elevating notch rear-sight forwards of the loading tap, plain air chamber signed in bright etching 'THE BSA STANDARD AIR-RIFLE .22 BORE (No2)' together with the manufacturers details and patents on five further lines, three-hole trigger-unit signed on the top 'A.G. PARKER & Co LTD. BIRMINGHAM', walnut chequered saw-handled grip fitted with a BSA peep-sight (re-mounted by Parker'), iron trigger-guard and push-button under-lever with no provision for fore-end, the whole remaining in outstanding original condition and showing minimal signes of use (an odd hairline scratch to finish and screwheads slightly marked) "

"S" series Standard (c.1935) serial no.S48157

"S" series Standard (c.1919) serial no. S1819 (with 21a peep sight) 

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me take these pics.

"S" series Standard (1919) serial no. 362 

With thanks to Paul.

"S" series Standard (c.1929) serial no. 42273 

With thanks for pics of this superb example to Peter.

"S" series Standard (c.1923) serial no. S20727 

With thanks to Peter.

"S" series Standard (c.1923) serial no. S20727 

With thanks to Peter.