BSA Military Pattern serial no. 238 

This rifle sold in 2007 in London at a Holts auction.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 188 

Original post by Eddie:

A funny one this, people in the know say there are copies / fakes of these around, but how to tell?......I have been inside a lot of old guns, but this is the first Military model I have taken apart. To me, not having seen another, it seems correct from images and guns I have seen, but would love to know more, especially about the "folding" trigger, which gives a simulated 2 stage let off. The gun has remnants of Parkerizing all over. Now some parts are shared with the normal BSA models of the time, but there are some unique features ie. the barrel and sights, and the single hole in the cylinder at the rear. I can see no evidence of any alterations from a normal BSA, so am assuming this is the real thing?

General view;

Rearsight;

Foresight;

Breechblock;

Dummy bolt forging;

Cylinder engraving;

Tap stamping;

Box of bits!;

Trigger;

Breech view;

I thought these may be of more interest to show some of the unusual features, more research needed as the gun appears to be arsenal stamped and numbered to a regiment, so will be writing a few letters.

It is a bit of a beast to shoot, but after re-assembly I started to get freehand 6 yards groups like this;

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 226 

Pics supplied thanks to Paddy.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 185 

Thanks to Scott for these pics.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 137 

With thanks for this mouth-watering selection of pics to Chris, the lucky owner.

This is the same rifle that appears in John Knibbs' book on pre-WW1 air rifles fitted with a side-button lever catch. For some reason, by the time the present owner acquired it, the 'bayonet' lever that you see in the pics had been fitted.

The rifle shows little sign of use/wear and has virtually all its original finish.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 420 

With many thanks to Paul for these excellent pics. A superb example of a third (final) batch Mil Pat and with a
very high serial number. When John Knibbs published his book in 1986 the highest known serial no. was 392,
although he knew that more than 400 were made.

The fixed dovetail block front sight is unusual on this example and looks very expertly (factory?) fitted.

In .22 calibre.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 418 

With thanks to a collector friend for permission to take these pics. One of the very last Mil Pats, complete with Parker Hale peep and front sights.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 138 

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

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 375 

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

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 335 

With many thanks to Jim for these pics:

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 149 

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

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 236 

The information below is taken from the catalogue advertising the auction of the Myron Kasok airgun collection, sold by the Rock Island Auction Company December 13-15, 2003. Pic is copyright Rock Island Auction Co.

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 282 

Note the brass disk in the stock indicating ownership by the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington Regiment, which arrived in Lahore (then India) in 1905 and remained there throughout WW1.

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

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 383 

With thanks to Peter for these pics:

BSA Military Pattern serial no. 134 

With thanks to Guy for these pics.