Anyone experienced with these rifles (which were the original issue to our OTC in 1909)? I have one, safety catch mechanism is broken; I’m probably just going to take it in to be fixed at Fulton’s in Bisley but no doubt at enormous expense… Before it broke it was a lovely little rifle, much more cadet-friendly than the No 8.
That’s a very rare beastie, haven’t seen one for years. Is the broken mechanism a “gunsmith” fix, or a general engineering fix? I guess you can’t leave the rifle + bolt with an ordinary engineering firm.
Worth checking first with Fultons to see if they can actually do that sort of thing…
There is a Devizes gunsmith who has one for sale (& does repairs), so maybe worth checking there?
Fultons reckon they can, but it won’t be quick. I suppose it could be a general fix but basically, the safety catch mechanism relies on physically preventing forward movement of the cocking piece by a metal projection which blocks it; and the latter has bent. I’d post a photo but it’s in the Armoury and I’m at home…
Both Fultons and I are determined not to deactivate it for display (which some here are urging as cheaper and good for PR) as it’s a lovely rifle.
I can’t prove it’s original to our OTC but the serial number dates to 1908-1912 and we were founded in 1909. I don’t have a list of the original serials. I have a photo of cadets cleaning these rifles in our first Biennial Inspection in 1911.
Some interesting history of the rifle HERE.
Just spoken with BSA - 0121 772 8543 - they said to call their spare parts specialist, John Knibbs, 01675 481 006. Apparently, he has lists of rifle serial numbers & publications that might be able to give you more information. Maybe an off-chance that he could comment on the repair prospects??
Quite agree - don’t have it deactivated!
Thanks, wilco. I took it to Fultons today whose options were
a. wait for a compatible spare to arrive (could be years)
b. pay for a new part to be fabricated and welded (£200-300 or even more, charged by the hour)
c. remove the safety catch and have no safety catch… (free)
I went for c. in the short term as it’s not likely to be fired by cadets at the moment - and if they do it would be as a non-CCF activity one on one supervised. Drills could easily accommodate this. However I will see if your chap has a better idea. The problem was that a shroud over the safety catch has broken off.
Indeed, and they brought out the bolt to show me what it looked like before it broke.