BSA Added this wonderful BSA Light Pattern Militia Rifle to the "Pellets & Pistons" Arsenal...

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Pellets&Pistons-(Razor62)

Pellets&Pistons-(Razor62)

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May 29, 2016
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So, I struck up a new friendship with a very nice Gentleman in Amsterdam and he offered me a very fair deal on this .177 cal., classic gem from the days of old. If I remember correctly, he told me that it was made in 1927. I could be wrong. I'm certain that there are experts on these early BSAs who could either confirm or correct me on this. Anyway, she's just too pretty not to share with my fellow springer guys and gals. It'll be featured on my channel probably in late summer to early fall of 2025. I record my content months in advance and set their release dates accordingly. Currently I've got content lined up for release into May, so it'll be a little while before this rifle is featured on the channel. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek. Enjoy!

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Neat guns.
I cant remember how many times I found BB's (or other crap) imbedded in the leather seal and the fixing screw hammered mercilessly with an impression of the transfer port forged into it.
A nice one here beside me with the spring in 3 pieces and a destroyed seal/screw. An early gun with the cast trigger guard and 2 hole trigger block. It will live.
 
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KWK said:
BTW it's not a militia. The term would be MILLITA but it's not a millita either. Millita was an actual German brand and afterwards any quarter stock break barrel was referred to as a "Millita style".
They have nothing to do with any militia. :)
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Thanks for the correction. I hate when I put my ignorance on display. Hang on while use this crowbar to pry my foot oughta' my mouth. :ROFLMAO:
 
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Pellets&Pistons-(Razor62) said:
So, I struck up a new friendship with a very nice Gentleman in Amsterdam and he offered me a very fair deal on this .177 cal., classic gem from the days of old. If I remember correctly, he told me that it was made in 1927. I could be wrong. I'm certain that there are experts on these early BSAs who could either confirm or correct me on this. Anyway, she's just too pretty not to share with my fellow springer guys and gals. It'll be featured on my channel probably in late summer to early fall of 2025. I record my content months in advance and set their release dates accordingly. Currently I've got content lined up for release into May, so it'll be a little while before this rifle is featured on the channel. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek. Enjoy!

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A 1927 gun usually has “BSA” stamped into the checker panels
They started that around 1924.
The 3 hole trigger blocks started 1923.
Around 1930 the “saw handle” stocks came out and all have the BSA stamping. You won’t see many 1930’s guns due to world markets at the time. Not many made.
Most “front buttons” were from 1919-23
The biggest numbers produced then.
 
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Again...I defer to KWK on all things BSA!

But, backing up his info with dates and notes from John Milewski's book, yours looks like a "No. 1 Standard, Second Series," made between late 1922 and early 1929.

+ Has "front button" barrel release and etched markings (typical of between-the-wars production)
+ Has 3-hole trigger block (began late 1922)
+ Does not have "BSA" in grip checkering (began wth "Third Series" in 1929)
+ Does not have "saw-handle" stock (began with "Fourth Series" in 1930)

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MDriskill said:
Again...I defer to KWK on all things BSA!

But, backing up his info with dates and notes from John Milewski's book, yours looks like a "No. 1 Standard, Second Series," made between late 1922 and early 1929.

+ Has "front button" barrel release and etched markings (typical of between-the-wars production)
+ Has 3-hole trigger block (began late 1922)
+ Does not have "BSA" in grip checkering (began wth "Third Series" in 1929)
+ Does not have "saw-handle" stock (began with "Fourth Series" in 1930)

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"BSA" in the checkered grip started in '23 or '24. I have one. A near mint example. It's a 1924 CS prefix 45 inch rifle that normally came in 177 but mine is one of the low number of CS'es that came in .22. The CS is the only 45inch BSA that came in 177. That's what the CS (Club Standard) series was all about. I don't know why they made some of them in .22. They're basically just a regular S series .22. Does that make sense? Only to a BSA collector...........
I gained a lot of knowledge looking at the guns in the AMAZING! Vintage Airguns Gallery. And you can spend a week reading all of the information in the various BSA sections.
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Thank you both so much. I've got a pretty good handle on the guns age now.
KWK, that rifle in your post is in amazingly good shape! I cleaned the receiver tube with 0000 steel wool and Balistol. I was able to make out some of markings, but the markings on your .22 look like they're completely intact. What a wonderful example. Congratulations, my friend.
 
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My collecting interests go in other directions and I have only one classic BSA underlever (a No. 1 Standard First Series from 1920, with a model 21b peep sight). But IMHO it's one of the most important designs in airgun history, the one that turned spring-piston guns into a serious shooting discipline.

Their history and variations are fascinating - I highly recommend Milewski's book for any airgunner's library.

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Pellets&Pistons-(Razor62) said:
Thank you both so much. I've got a pretty good handle on the guns age now.
KWK, that rifle in your post is in amazingly good shape! I cleaned the receiver tube with 0000 steel wool and Balistol. I was able to make out some of markings, but the markings on your .22 look like they're completely intact. What a wonderful example. Congratulations, my friend.
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Every BSA or Lincoln Jeffries can be fairly accurately dated by looking up a BSA serial # chart. Easy to find. Just make sure you have the letter prefix correct.

Loading…

forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com
 
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