The Beeman C1 stock BSA prewar

[KWK]

C1 is far from the first straight stock on an airgun. BSA called it the "straight hand" stock. Popular shotgun stock design. The straight hand stock was an option on the prewar guns. {WW!) This one is a rare 1919 Light pattern made from leftover prewar Improved Model D parts. Only a few exist. No other post war BSA models had the straight hand stocks. This is the lowest # Post war light pattern I've seen L373. It shares the 2 hole trigger block, cast trigger guard, and sights used on later Light patterns. 1919-20 The rest was made before 1916. This is as I acquired it. The cocking link was missing. It's in fine working order now. Rebuilt. I found it on eBag several years ago. I sent the seller a message explaining how hard it would be to locate parts and restore it to working order. And that I am just the man for the job. Included an offer that he accepted. It's one of my favorite prewars in my collection

Side button cocking lever

This 1910 Light pattern Improved Model D has the more common "pistol hand" prewar stock

bayonet cocking lever as seen up until 1911

This one is a 1907 model "BSA Air Rifle" sixth batch with optional straight hand stock. This one has Improved Model B upgrades but not named as such. Ser #15000 something. Also rebuilt to shooting condition. New home made leather seal, sight adjustment screw, and repaired front sight. The seal was missing but that didn't prevent someone from shooting it until the piston was hammered and stuck in the cylinder. Still has the original oval section spring. Good for another 115 years. 

bayonet cocking lever

 

[mobilemail]

What an excellent collection! Were these .177? I had read somewhere that some of the early airguns were odd calibers like .174 and maybe others.

 

[Pea-shooter O.G.]

Okay, those are just darn cool! Thanks for sharing! Are the bayonet handles functioning like a modern "underlever" and the barrel still "breaks" to load independantly from the bayonet lever?

 

[crowski]

Museum pieces. Wow! Finding these must be like finding sunken treasure. A far cry from my BSA Polaris. So cool to watch the evolution of air guns though this forum. Thanks for sharing your masterpieces. 

 

[KWK]

What an excellent collection! Were these .177? I had read somewhere that some of the early airguns were odd calibers like .174 and maybe others.

Light patterns 39 1/2" are all .177 with a few .25 alleged to have been sent to India. Standard length guns were at first all .177 and then .22 and a few .25..

This is the most often seen Light pattern variant seen today. From 1920

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Nice looking rifles Karl. Are they all smooth bores ?

 

[KWK]

Okay, those are just darn cool! Thanks for sharing! Are the bayonet handles functioning like a modern "underlever" and the barrel still "breaks" to load independantly from the bayonet lever?

Yes, the bayonet style are cocking levers. Look close and see the detent catch is dovetailed into the bottom of the barrel.

 

[KWK]

Nice looking rifles Karl. Are they all smooth bores ?

I'm not aware of BSA ever making any smooth bores

 

[Ripper]

 There is one that you show in the second picture with a pistol grip stock. I guess it’s the model D. It’s on eBay right now for sale. He wants a little over $1000 for it. He has a bunch of old guns for sale. Some of them he’ll take best offer and some of them are auction. I bought one of his pistols. I think his guns are priced a little too high And that’s why I gave him a best offer on the pistol.

 

[KWK]

This is another project. 1906 "BSA Air Rifle" Second batch. I have to find a trigger and guard. Make a new trigger screw. And trigger guard screws. I might rob another gun's trigger for now. I have a similar guard I might modify to fit. I will be searching for a trigger again. I'm constantly scouring for spare BSA parts. Make a new seal and fit a spring. I can't wait to shoot it. It's in pretty good shape.

A trigger screw I made for another gun. I've had to make several of them

Trying the thread in a spare trigger block

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

In picture #2 I can definitely tell your chuck is spinning. You mostly use a three jaw Karl ? How'd you cut the head slot? End mill? Nice work!!

 

[crowski]

Really like the way the barrel breaks into the stock and it cups the crotch of your thumb and index. Nice project Crow 

 

[KWK]

In picture #2 I can definitely tell your chuck is spinning. You mostly use a three jaw Karl ? How'd you cut the head slot? End mill? Nice work!!

Yes, I use a 3 jaw mostly. That part never leaves the chuck until the end. So no runout. If you mark your part and return it to the same jaw you get very little runout. And what would a thou or two runout hurt on a screw head anyway? Sometimes I just use a hacksaw like I did here. Or I can use this arbor I made for a slitting saw.

Soon I hope to finish working on my little Burke #4horizontal mill so I can do things like that without having to look at everything sideways. Slitting on a vertical mill is not my favorite. 

I often have a four jaw on the other lathe to my right. Like my delrin wig?

I also have 3c collets and a 5c collet chuck. Sure is nice having two lathes.  And two vertical mills.  Several drill presses. 

Makes a good spring compressor.

Metal shaper

https://youtu.be/uAOKrB4Mn7c

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Nice setup I must say! Yes, the shaving wig is becoming ! LOL !

 

[KWK]

Nice setup I must say! Yes, the shaving wig is becoming ! LOL !

I did that for some laughs. We were goofing off. I can't help it I'm just a big old kid with a BB gun. Still the class clown

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

That's how we stay young and vibrant ! Keeping the kid alive in ourself !

 

[Steveoo]

I have a nice Light Pattern. You would be surprised at just how accurate they are, owing to the quality of the internal fits, Leather seal and a loading tap of the highest quality...never seen again...I have stacked pellets at 15 yards if you choose .177 Superdomes. They are not so keen on other metric sized pellets due to the 4.75 mm loading tap and 4.6mm bore, designed for old English pellets but for some reason Superdomes listed at 4.52 come up big. Closer to 4.55 in reality. The gun can shoot into 650 fps territory with them which is pretty good ...just the job for a bit of ratting around a barn. ...

Nice workshop and nice components...

 

[KWK]

I have a nice Light Pattern. You would be surprised at just how accurate they are, owing to the quality of the internal fits, Leather seal and a loading tap of the highest quality...never seen again...I have stacked pellets at 15 yards if you choose .177 Superdomes. They are not so keen on other metric sized pellets due to the 4.75 mm loading tap and 4.6mm bore, designed for old English pellets but for some reason Superdomes listed at 4.52 come up big. Closer to 4.55 in reality. The gun can shoot into 650 fps territory with them which is pretty good ...just the job for a bit of ratting around a barn. ...

Nice workshop and nice components...

Yeah Superdomes are good for them. And for the .22's too. BSA didn't just start making good barrels yesterday. 

Here's another stock style on a 1911 Military Pattern. Same as an Enfield stock. These guns replicate the feel of the early "Long Enfields". 49 inches long. They were never approved for Military use. Training. One reason I believe is the Long Enfields were not satisfactory for trench use in WW1. The shorter SMLE was adopted for trench warfare. BSA had plans for the shorter Military pattern air rifle but none are known to exist. They were even illustrated in advertisements. But apparently none manufactured.

 

[KWK]

Thank you for all the kind words.