The BSA Air Rifle (Sixth Batch) No. 15971 

With thanks to Lakey.

Here is a B.S.A Air Rifle, from the sixth batch of B.S.A Air Rifles made. The serial number of 15971, indicates that the rifles was manufactured during the period May to July 1907, and these rifles were then dispatched during the period May 1907 to Oct 1908.

The rifle is a 'Standard' or 'Ordinary'length gun at 43.25", and was one of two lengths of gun that BSA were manufacturing at the time.The rifle weighed 6lb 14oz with the straight hand stock, and all guns manufactured at that time were made in No.1 Bore (.177) only.

You can see that this rifle has a trigger with ridges to aid grip sut into the leading adge of the trigger blade, this was dropped on later rifles as a cost cutting measure.

This rifle is a bit of an anomaly, as it was manufactured during the period when the B.S.A Air Rifle (Improved Model B) was being manufactured, so by rights this gun should have the Improved Model B legend on the cylinder, however it still has the older, very bold legend of the BSA Air Rifle (Improved Model) which reads

BSA AIR RIFLE
made by THE BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS COMPANY LIMITED

Even though the serial number of the first Imp Model B, was 14230 (Feb 1907), a few rifles were produced much later than
that with early cylinder markings. John Knibbs in his book "B.S.A and Lincoln Jeffries Air Rifles (1982) describes the situation thus....

"The first rifles of this new type (Imp B's) to leave the factory were No's 14253 & 14271, both of which were dispatched on the 18th February. Soon after this date, some rifles were assembled using old cylinders bearing the description "The BSA Air Rifle", but these rifles were assembled with all the (Improved Model B) characteristics. Some examples of standard or ordinary pattern rifles in the 15,000 series of serial numbers,were not marked with the new improved cylinder inscription"

This shows the breech plug plate marked P-Pat, even though the patent for this improved method of fixing the breech plug was in fact granted in 1906, therefore here is another example of BSA using up old and obsolete parts before issuing new improved components.

This rifle had a 'straight hand' stock, which was a close copy of shotgun stocks of the period. it was the cheaper of the two stock options that BSA offered on their air rifles. the other option was the 'pistol hand stock'.

As you can see a metal butt plate was fitted to these early pre-WW1 air rifles, and the rifle also had the early pattern bayonet cocking lever fitted, without the slightly later levers with the strengthening fillets.

All the best

Lakey

The BSA Air Rifle (Sixth Batch) No. 15871 

With thanks to Gary (Grayling) for these excellent pics and text:

This BSA is very similar in all respects to a BSA 6th Batch serial number 15971 featured in an article by Lakey elsewhere on this forum. This example compares directly in every way to Lakeys apart from having the pistol grip stock fitted which was the other option offered by BSA at that time. My example being exactly 100 rifles earlier in the production run.

This rifle is a joy to shoot and is very smooth in use, the only problem initially being the trigger which was very stiff, the target pictured (25yds) is before the trigger was adjusted and the groups certainly tightened up in later use after loosening the adjustment screw and rectifying this small fault. The rifle performed well out to 35 yards, although the bulbous top to the foresight certainly made accuracy harder at longer ranges.

The BSA air rifle (Second batch), No. 4303 

A few photos of a gun Steve (Improved) brought to our bell meeting last night, will try to get better photos as was late when I took these. Some good finish remaining in places on this mid second batch (March / April 1906), first pattern tap rifle. I think the foresight is Mod D, and the stock comb has been knocked,as has the tap arm, but he got it for a very fair price so is not complaining!

Stock stamp;

Under barrel;

Pistol grip;

Cylinder impression;

tap area;

Bayonet;

loading tap;

Barrel;

Underneath;

Inspection marks;

Serial;

I think you will agree, a nice find!

The BSA Air Rifle (First Batch) No. 1957 

With thanks to a collector friend for permission to take these pics of this stunning first batch BSA, with the stamp of Pape of Newcastle on its trigger block. It has a lovely straight-handed stock with chequering that goes right up to the trigger block.

It was made between September and December 1905 and despatched in the same quarter.

The BSA air rifle (Second batch), No. 3951 

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me photograph this fine example.

According to John Knibbs, it was made between Feb-Mar 1906 and left the factory between Feb '06 and Aug '07. This batch included the first cast improved trigger guard with small diameter rear locating peg - which is present on the rifle pictured here.

The BSA Air Rifle (Third Batch) No. 6384 

This magnificent example was made between August and October 1906 and despatched from the factory between August 1906 and April 1908, according to John Knibbs. With thanks to a collector friend for letting me take these pics.

The BSA air rifle (Fifth batch) No. 11304 

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me take these pics. Note the scarce 'barleycorn' front sight:

The BSA Air Rifle (First Batch) No. 1946 

With thanks to Richard for these pics. This rifle was made between September and December 1905 and despatched from the factory in the last quarter of 1905, according to John Knibbs.

The BSA Air Rifle (Sixth batch) No. 15463 

With thanks to Dave for these pics.

The BSA Air Rifle (Second Batch) Serial No. 2897 

With thanks to Peter for the excellent pics.

The BSA Air Rifle (Second Batch) Serial No. 3312 

With thanks to Andy. Taken from a Facebook post.

He says:

Manufactured in February 1906, the gun is part of the second batch of BSA made and marketed guns.

 

What makes it special for me is the long tang trigger guard fitted onto the "Straighthand " Stock ( This method of fixing the trigger guard was phased out shortly afterwards ). Also, and more importantly, this is the very earliest rifle I have found which is fitted with the round knurled quick release breech tap nut . Clearly an early version, as it is finished with diamond knurling, which was changed to straight knurling in later versions.

 

The rifle itself has very little original finish left, and is what would be described by auction houses as "Brushed Bright and Clean " . It achieved a hammer price of £130 on 22/7/23.

 

Mark Knibbs then confirmed the rifle left the BSA factory on Monday 19^th February 1906. And supplied a photo of the exact factory leger entry and date..

 

Finally, the new owner of that very gun ( George London ) came on to say that it was his very first BSA, and how delighted he was to get such detailed information about his gun. He also couldnt understand why all the natural blued finish had disappeared, so here is what I wrote back:.

 

"Sometime you see guns that are missing their finish, and I believe it is where the gun has become rusty at some point, and an owner has been a bit heavy handed with the rust removal, leaving a disfigured and blotchy finish. Left with little choice, they continue to remove all the remaining finish in order to achieve some kind of even finish. That could account for the very faint stamped writing on the compression cylinder of your gun. Probably happened decades ago, as the gun is now 117 years old."