Rare 1919 BSA Improved Model D light pattern

KWK · Oct 16, 2021

The Improved Model D was manufactured before WW1. Some light pattern Improved model D parts were left over When BSA picked up production again in 1919. They were used to assemble complete guns with post WW1 trigger blocks and sights. No other post WW1 BSA came with a straight hand stock which was optional since 1905 on the Lincoln Jeffries and 1906 for the BSA's. There were no stock options after WW1. No other BSA came with the side button cocking lever after WW1.From 1919 onward all have front button latches. I've read that quite a few of these exist. Perhaps 1000 0r more but I only ever saw 1 other as listed in Vintageairgungallery serial#392. Mine is #373. All BSA light pattern rifles came in .177 except a few very rare Improved Model D .25 and I believe they all went to India! Yes, India. At first designated "ladies pattern" but soon changed to "light pattern" for boys and men wanting a lighter and handy rifle.

Here it's shown with a typical 1919 light pattern below it.

And here, top to bottom: 1912 45 inch Improved Model D sporting pattern, 1919 Improved Model D light pattern, 1919 Standard light pattern, 1919 Standard pattern 45 inches

And here at the bottom a nice 1906 "BSA AIR RIFLE" .177 shares the spotlight. Notice the Duckbill or bayonet cocking lever. 43 1/2 inches

revised-head-component-gladys-50d4e5a8 - Copy.1634422593.jpg

THANK YOU

crowski · Oct 17, 2021

Mind boggling. Amazing the wood steel union survived a century. Very nice collection.Thanks for sharing. Crow

Flintsack · Oct 17, 2021

I love when lettering is still sharp after 100 years…Those are beautiful old rifles.

Top of the heap in their time and place.

and they still shoot like a dream.

Thanks for posting.

mike

KWK · Oct 17, 2021

I found that rifle on eBag one morning. a few years ago missing the cocking link and needed some attention. I knew it was a rare one. I messaged the seller and told him I was the guy to return this gun to action. He replied and we agreed on a fair price. He ended the auction and I did a Buy it Now. Took me a while to find a cocking link but I did. Had to make a new seal for it. I made quite a few of them now. The spring is fine It shoots very well.

I have several waiting for parts or some work right now. One needs a loading tap retrofitted from spare parts. I'm the only one I ever saw do it. I know how. They have to be fitted or the tap doesn't align with the bore. Been there done that.

I drilled out the tap and fitted a brass plug soldered in place. Cleaned it up close between centers. Driven by one of the chuck jaws. Offset the compound to a similar angle to the taper. Then skillfully hand filed to a very close fit. Then lapped it to the new gun. Drilled it in place for perfect alignment with a drill bit in a long extension from the cylinder side through the port.

.

That's the way we do it!

AirSupply · Oct 19, 2021

I’m not surprised your the only one you’ve seen do this. Excellent work

Thanks for showing this. Looks easy

Houli · Oct 19, 2021

KWK

I never tire looking at these rifles, absolutely Beautiful! I would love an opportunity to shoot such a gun, they look like they would be sweet to handle.

Nice guns, and great work KWK. Such an asset to have your talent/knowledge of these vintage guns. Keep it coming, never gets old!

Cheers

KWK · Oct 19, 2021

Here's a project gun. 1906 "BSA AIR RIFLE" # 4616 second batch so it's one of the first 2000 BSA air rifles made. I need a trigger, trigger guard, and spring. Will make a new seal and trigger screw. I can scrounge most parts from another rather scrappy 1907 Improved Model B I have but they were not many made and I want to keep it whole. So maybe just borrow from it. to get this one shooting. It's basically in fairly good condition. Needs the front sight replaced. I might have one. They come available sometimes but pricey.

Here, I'm making a trigger screw

Test fitting with a trigger block

Here we have a rear sight screw being reproduced

Cutting the thread. Proprietary threads. No taps or dies for these. I have to single point them

Nearly finished

Now it's installed on one of my shooters. Anybody welcome to shoot it. Worn but rebuilt. Good for another 100 years.

New trigger guard screws and trigger adjustment screw in the white

Lathe turning a leather seal I make mounted on the piston. I use the tool bit to get it close then sand for final fit.

Hope you enjoy to see

forend · Sep 2, 2022

Your assumption that all early 1906/1910 BSA Model D rifles in .25 calibre went to India may be flawed. I have a Mod D .25 in the 21000 serial number range authenticated by John Knibbs which has been in my possession since 1972. The gun was dated by JK as being made in 1908 and sold in 1910.

KWK · Sep 2, 2022

forend said:
Your assumption that all early 1906/1910 BSA Model D rifles in .25 calibre went to India may be flawed. I have a Mod D .25 in the 21000 serial number range authenticated by John Knibbs which has been in my possession since 1972. The gun was dated by JK as being made in 1908 and sold in 1910.

"All BSA light pattern rifles came in .177 except a few very rare Improved Model D .25 and I believe they all went to India!"
That's not an assumption. I read about it in Knibsy's book. BSA and Lincoln Jeffries Air Rifles. by John Knibbs. Page 76. I am so thankful to him for this great book.
Read the sentence again. I am referring to light patterns.

KWK · Sep 2, 2022

I would love to have an IMD .25 but they're so hard to come by. Sellers can practically name their price. But you never know. I didn't think I would be the guardian of a Military pattern either. But here it is. Notice the Juvenile pattern below it.

KWK · Sep 2, 2022

Here is the 1906 BSA Air Rifle (second batch) I showed above on October 19 '21. I have completed it. And it shoots very well. Took a while to locate the parts. I made two replica barleycorn sights.

fishing43 · Sep 2, 2022

KWK said:
Here's a project gun. 1906 "BSA AIR RIFLE" # 4616 second batch so it's one of the first 2000 BSA air rifles made. I need a trigger, trigger guard, and spring. Will make a new seal and trigger screw. I can scrounge most parts from another rather scrappy 1907 Improved Model B I have but they were not many made and I want to keep it whole. So maybe just borrow from it. to get this one shooting. It's basically in fairly good condition. Needs the front sight replaced. I might have one. They come available sometimes but pricey.

View attachment 183626

Here, I'm making a trigger screw

View attachment 183636

Test fitting with a trigger block

View attachment 183649

Here we have a rear sight screw being reproduced

View attachment 183654

Cutting the thread. Proprietary threads. No taps or dies for these. I have to single point them

View attachment 183670

Nearly finished

View attachment 183676

Now it's installed on one of my shooters. Anybody welcome to shoot it. Worn but rebuilt. Good for another 100 years.

View attachment 183692

New trigger guard screws and trigger adjustment screw in the white

View attachment 183709

Lathe turning a leather seal I make mounted on the piston. I use the tool bit to get it close then sand for final fit.

View attachment 183725

Hope you enjoy to see

Absolutely beautiful collection and your work restoring these timeless guns is priceless thank you for sharing

KWK · Sep 2, 2022

Thank you and you are welcome. I only wish I had more time to play with them.
It's satisfying to acquire an old gun like these with parts scattered somewhere and at some time. Then eventually make or locate and sometimes have to outbid to obtain the parts to restore them to service. And some day someone else will care for and shoot them when my turn is over.
I recently returned another Improved Model D side button Sporting to usability. The springs in it were so strong that the hole in the cocking lever for the auxiliary link was worn way out of round. I took a lever from a parts gun and replaced the double springs with an HW50 spring (I acquired several used ones). In the future I will repair the worn lever because the parts gun is going to be brought back to life eventually.