taximan

It is not a BSA Air Rifle (Improved model D) 1908-1914 it is a BSA Standard Air Rifle from the 1920's. It looks like a .22 Standard(No2 Bore), which should be around 45.5" in length, and have an S prefix to the serial number on the trigger block. I see it has the three hole trigger block ( meaning that it has the fully adjustable trigger pull-which dates the gun after mid 1921), so your gun will date sometime between 1921 and 1933 when they changed the style of the stock with a more angular pistol grip, and the letters BSA impressed into the checkering panels in the stock. Originally model details were photo etched into the upper surface of the compression cylinder, however this often wears off over the years, so most guns encountered now dont have any model details showing. Your gun should have the letters LOAD by the loading tap. If your gun had an L or CS prefix to the serial number , it would be in .177 calibre (No1 Bore) Massively more details about ypour gun can be found here http://www.network54.com/Index/105071

Yes please, sounds great alake243@hotmail.com Thanks a lot taximan

Hello, Does anyone have a pale leucistic wood pigeon frozen in the freezer, that they may consider selling (for taxidermy use) If so, please let me know Thanks a lot Taximan

Yes they were. BSA made the guns for Lincoln Jeffries, who then did the close fitting work. When Licoln Jeffries died in about 1912, BSA took over all the LJ patents, then produced all the guns until 1939

I think this might be a useful link to a resource dedicated to these guns. http://www.network54.com/Forum/670541/message/1386805709/Ellwellaxe%27s+Light+Pattern

Well I've HAD lymes disease so know a bit about how bad you feel. I stalk deer, so come into contact with ticks on a weekly basis. On some of my patches, a walk through long grass usually results in five or six ticks on my outer clothing, and there aren't many months when I dont have at least one tick embedding itself into me somewhere or other. Government and local medical agencies seem to be unaware of the potential of this condidtion. If the Lymes disease is not detected early ( and only 40% of cases are characterised by the classic bullseye rash), it can be missed, then you get the long term chronic condidtion, which is the one that plays havock with your body. Arthritis, Hypersensitivity to light and sound, depression, Joint pain, and swelling joints, symptoms similar to ME, listlessness, Suicidal tendencies, LOng term nerve damage, Constant pain, are all possible effects of Chronic Lymes. Ultimately the condidtion can kill you. It dont get much more serious than that. Anyone that ventures into the countryside should be tick and Lymes aware, and if you suspect that you have Lymes, seek medical advice PDQ. IF caught early it is easier to treat. HOWEVER The current tests are not that good at detecting that Lymes is present ( and most doctors often attribute symptoms to other things than Lymes), and are also not that good in confirming when it had been eliminated. All in all a bit of a lottery really. NOT GOOD !

Latest info on Lymes Disease from America. It is on the increase in the UK, and still a lot of doctors dont really know much about it. Serious stuff Read the following link. Scary stuff http://www.mvtimes.com/2016/07/13/visiting-physician-sheds-new-light-lyme-disease/

That is as maybe, however a lot of the books are mis-leading. After world war 1, BSA stopped issuing their numbers in date order, so the only way you can be 100% sure of any date is to consult the factory legers, which give the serial numbers together with dispatch dates. One thing BSA did do however was to steadily improved the models over time, and one of the first improvements was the introduction of the adjustable trigger , and the three hole trigger block, which was in universal production by 1924. The gun shown in the picture has the early two hole trigger block, so must have been manufactured earlier than 1924. Since the serial number is stamped into the trigger block it is entirely possible that the early two hole trigger block has been added to a later action, however the serial number must go with the block. I collect these guns so do know a bit about them. Happy shooting! This gun is of a similar age to the OP's gun,however the OP's gun has the later stamped trigger guard, so would make it slightly later than 1919- possibly 1920/21. http://www.network54.com/Forum/670443/message/1298563736/BSA+Standard+%27L%27+prefix+%28serial+No.+L5151%29+1919 What is the serial number of the gun ? ATB Taxi

I think your BSA Standard pattern air rifle is a bit earlier that 1924, indicated by the two hole trigger block. BSA introduced the BSA Standard air rifle in 1919, and the very first rifles still had the old pre-WW1 legend " BSA Air Rifle (Improved model D" rolled into the compression cylinder. Once stocks of these older cylinders were used up, model details were photo-etched into cylinders.Sadly this photo-etched detail wears off over time, so most are just plain (ie covered in brown grey patination) The two hole trigger blocks had a none-adjustable trigger pull, which was set at the factory ( normaly around 3-45lbs ).You might be able to detect a stamped mark in the stock,immediately behind the rear most bit of the trigger guard, where it meets the stock wood. This shows the trigger weight in a triangle. In 1922, BSA introduced an adjustable trigger mechanism, arranged in a three hole trigger block. your rifle is earlier than that. .177 rifles should have a 'L' prefix to the serial number, and .22 rifles will have an 'S' prefix to the serial number. Late in 1922, BSA introduced, a longer target model called the Club Standard, and that gun would have has a 'CS' prefix to the serial number. An endless source of info on these rifles exists here http://www.network54.com/Index/105071 PM me if you require more detailed info Happy shooting !! ATB taximan

Well it all went right this morning. I went around one of my farms, as the farmer gave me a ring to tell me that they were cutting the grass early next week, and that he had seen a few Roe around. Spotted this fella down in the valley with his doe, so back tracked right the way back to the farm, and stalked up through the valley bottom. All went well and got to around 150 yds but the pair had laid down in the next field. 45 mins later the buck eventually got up and immediately started madly chasing the doe flat out.Bit early for the ruts thinks I, but Round and round they went until they both came through the hedge into my field. They didnt stop at first but the buck halted twice and the second time I was ready with the rifle on the sticks. Animal broadside ( more or less) I took the shot at around 80 yds. heard the bullet strike, then the buck ran 20 yds through the grass, then collapsed. Nice morning, and great result.

Here is a fair mount to see what could have been done

Would have made an excellent taxidermy mount, as it certainly looked fresh enough. Gone now

Here are a few more shots of the sika http://s547.photobucket.com/user/Lakey1_bucket/slideshow/Sika%20Deer%20%202

Thanks for all the kind replies. The pictures come from around Wareham, and a good few come from the RSPB Arne nature reserve. All the deer are wild, and dont come from any park. There used to be loads of top quality sika at Arne, especially great stags, but a lot have been shot now, as there is a new set of stalkers operating on and around the reserve, and the cull has increased massively since most of these pictures were taken. I will post up a few more when I get a chance taxi

Hopefully, here is a slideshow of Sika deer pictures which I have taken over the last few years in Dorset. http://s547.photobucket.com/user/Lakey1_bucket/slideshow/Sika%20Deer