Is this a mk1 BSA airsporter?

Smellydog

Well-Known Member
So I've got the trigger fixed on this old girl of an air rifles and although power is down I think it would take a rabbit head shot at 25yards. It is quite accurate.
Any clues on age etc. The tap opens automatically.
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Jumping in fellas. I've an airsporter guessing late seventies that's grooved for a scope. But which mounts and scope to fit. I think I put this same question a couple or three years ago. Cheers.
 
If memory serves that's a bsa 'club' I've an uncle in his 90s has one from new my aunt still nails rabbits with it in their veg garden
Is it .177
 
I learned to shoot with an Airsporter MkI with the self opening "tap". My father bought it. In .22 and with iron sights just like the OP's "hammer adjustable" for windage. Proper Eley Wasp not the blue tinned rubbish lookalike swaged on worn out dies sold as Wasp nowadays. Accurate, would kill starlings to seventy-five yards if you got the hold over and windage right. Best "teacher" ever for learning windage and hold over. Put pellet after pellet onto a steel plate at twenty yards shooting standing or kneeling unsupported. The fitted iron sights only. No 'scope. Best training for learning shooting from standing and kneeling and breathing and trigger and shot hold through. Made me the rifle shot I am. And the garden full of songbirds too as their predators were culled relentlessly.
 
That looks like a very early one. I have a later model awaiting a refurb when I get time. I expect it will have a leather piston washer. Easy enough to get one made soak in 3in 1 before fitting it will diesel so best bed it in with an old spring. I wore out 2x BSA Mercury's in .22 lived on a diet of Eley Wasps used to do a tin a week. Fettled my second Delrin piston head sleaved spring and alike. Trigger sear honed and polished. Shame such a crap dovetail
Wish they could retro fit the bonded rail. Ended up having a threaded hing pin fitted on mine. One piece mount super glued to stop it moving. Changed springs monthly. Thoose were the days. Shot hundreds of rabbits squirrels and pigeon.
Paddy Sp on here is an avid air gun collector so drop him a pm.
D
 
So I've got the trigger fixed on this old girl of an air rifles and although power is down I think it would take a rabbit head shot at 25yards. It is quite accurate.
Any clues on age etc. The tap opens automatically.
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Yes looks like a mk1, the later ones had a screw in reciever,your looks like it all in one, think they changed in the mid 60's.
They came with a leather piston washer, probably not the most effective seal, don't know if you could upgrade to ptfe or not, might require a piston assembly change.
 
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