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BSA Martini info

68K views 34 replies 22 participants last post by  Keeley 
#1 · (Edited)
#2 ·
BSA Dates

Jay,

I put this together some time ago, hopefully this is close to what you may be looking for. I believe it to be accurate. BJM

Prominent General Characteristics of BSA .22 LR
BSA Internationals are stamped INTERNATIONAL on the receiver side that contains the take-down screw. Most are stamped with a MK number. The differences in MK numbers (model) can be noted below. This should help distinguish the model if unmarked. The MK number simply noted a change in design in Action,Barrel or stocking.

BSA International MK- II 1953 - 1959
Receiver 1-1/8" wide
Barrel threads into receiver
Forearm screwed to bottom of barrel with single screw

BSA International MK - III 1959 - 1967
Receiver 1-1/16" wide
Barrel clamped in receiver with two cross bolts (No longer threaded)
Forearm hanger of aluminum clamped in receiver below barrel allowing free floating barrel.
This feature requires receiver to be exceptionally long and heavy
Forearm hanger has rail cut into bottom
Wood forearm sides screwed to hanger with 3 screws per side.

BSA International MK - IV (ISU model) Intro 1968 - 1985
Barrel - ISU only. .850" Dia.
Barrel clamped in receiver with two cross bolts
Barrel no scope blocks
Receiver 1-1/16" wide
Receiver shortened from MK-III length but still longer than MK- II.
Trigger group upgraded
Butt stock redesigned pistol grip
Forearm hanger screwed to bottom of barrel with 3 screws
Forearm no longer free floating.
Forearm hanger has rail cut in bottom
Wood forearm sides attach to hanger with three screws per side.

BSA International MK - V (Heavy barrel model) Intro 1976 - 1985
Barrel - heavy only. 1.00" dia. w/slight taper
Barrel clamped in receiver with two cross bolts
Barrel scope blocks attached
Receiver same as MK - IV
Trigger same as MK - IV
Buttstock same as MK - IV
Forearm and hanger same as MK - IV

BSA International MK-IV and MK-V were available at the same time.

2003 - BJM
 
#7 ·
Model 12



smithrjd,

Quickly scanning The Golden Century I couldn't find any dates specified. The only reference I did find was" MODEL 12 This was the ultimate pre World War l target rifle. Post WW l a non folding rigid aperture rearsight was mounted on the rear of the receiver."

Not much help I'm afraid.

T
 
#10 ·
BSA Serial Prefix Codes for Airguns and Rim fire Rifles.

From http://www.airgunspares.com/store/content/87/BSA/

And since pages in the Internet sometime disappear for no reason... here's a cut & past of the content

Prefix Letters / Model Details / Date Of Production

A No.1 Light Pattern Standard .177 1936 - 1939
A Cadet .177 1945 - 1946
A Buccaneer Rifle .177 1977
AA Buccaneer Rifle .177 1977 - 1983
AAR Supersport Rifle .25 1997 -
AAS Spitfire .25 1999 - 2005
AN 240 Magnum Pistol .22 1994 - 2001
AP 240 Magnum Pistol .177 1994 - 2001
APH Superstar .25 1991 - 2001
AR Supersport Rifle .177 1997 -
AS Spitfire Pre-charge .177 1999 - 2005
AWC Mercury 635 Magnum .25 1985 - 1987
AWR Airsporter Stutzen .25 1992 - 2001

B Breakdown Pattern .177 1932 - 1939
B Cadet .177 1946 - 1947
BA Cadet .177 1947 - 1951
BC Cadet .177 1951 - 1962

C Standard Club No.4 .177 1936 - 1939
C Cadet Major .177 1947 - 1949
C Piled Arms Centenary 1982 .177 & .22 1982
CA Cadet Major .177 1949 - 1955
CC Cadet Major .177 1955 - 1962
CS BSA Standard Club .177 and No.4 Club 1930 - 1936

D Buccaneer .22 1977 - 1983
DA Buccaneer .22 1977 - 1983
DM22 Dynamax .22 2009 - 2011
DM77 Dynamax .177 2009 - 2011
DN SuperTEN .177 & SuperTEN Bull Barrel .177 1996 - 2008
DN SuperTen Sporter .177 & Bull Barrel .177 1996- 2008
DP SuperTen .22 & SuperTen Bull Barrel .22 1996 - 2008
DR Spitfire .22 1999 - 2005
DS Supersport .22 1986
DS Lightning & Lightning XL

E Club .177 1948 - 1950
EA Airsporter/Club .177 1950 - 1954
EB Airsporter MK I .177 1955 - 1957
EC Airsporter MK I .177 1956 - 1962
ED Airsporter MK I/MK II .177 1959
EE Airsporter MK II .177 1959 - 1965
EF Airsporter MK III .177 1966 - 1968
EG Airsporter MK III/IV .177 1968 - 1969
EK Airsporter MK IV .177 1969 - 1971
EL Airsporter MK V .177 1971 - 1974
EM Airsporter MK VI .177 1974 - 1979
EN Airsporter MK VI .177 1979 - 1983
EP Airsporter 'S' MK I .177 1979 - 1983
ER Airsporter 'S' MK II .177 1983 - 1985
ES Airsporter 'S' MK III .177 1985 - 1986
ET Airsporter Stutzen & Carbine .177 1985 - 1986

F Martini International MKI Light Pattern 1950 - 1954
FB Martini International MK I Left Hand 1953 - 1959
FC Martini International MK II Heavy Barrel 1954 - 1957
FD Martini International MK II Light Pattern Left Hand 1954 - 1959
FG Martini International MK IV & ISU Right Hand Light 1969 - 1973
FG Martini International MK 5 Heavy Barrel 1973 - 1981
FH Martini International MK 5 ISU Heavy Barrel Left Hand 1971 - 1981

G Airsporter MK I .22 1948 - 1954
GA Airsporter MK I .22 1954 - 1958
GB Airsporter MK I .22 1956 - 1958
GC Airsporter MK I & Transitional to MK II.22 1958 - 1959
GD Airsporter MK II .22 1959 - 1965
GE Airsporter MK II .22 1965 - 1967
GF Airsporter MK II .22 1967 - 1968
GG Airsporter MK III .22 1968 - 1969
GI Airsporter MK IV .22 1969 - 1971
GJ Airsporter MK V .22 1971 - 1974
GK Airsporter MK VI .22 1974 - 1979
GL Airsporter MK VI .22 1979 - 1983
GM Airsporter 'S' MK I .22 1979 -1983
GN Airsporter MK VII .22 1983 - 1986
GP Airsporter 'S' MK II .22 1985 - 1986
GR Airsporter Stutzen + Carbine .22 1985 - 1986
GS Goldstar .22 1991 -2004
GT Goldstar .177 1991 - 2004

H P17 Military Rifles Sporterized .30'06 Springfield 1949 - 1953
HA P17 Military Rifles Sporterized .270 Winchester 1949 - 1953
HA Armatic Self Loading Rifle .22 Rimfire 1966 - 1969

J Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action .22 Rimfire 1947 - 1950
J Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action .22 Rimfire 1953 - 1955
JA Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action 1950 - 1951
JB Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action 1951 - 1952
JC Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action 1952
JD Sportsman Single Shot Bolt Action 1952 - 1955

K Merlin MK I .177 Junior Air Rifle 1962 - 1964
K Sportsman Five .22 Rimfire Rifle 1948 - 1953
KA Merlin Junior Air Rifle .177 MK II 1964 - 1968
KA Sportsman Five .22 Rimfire Rifle 1950 - 1952
KB Sportsman Five Rimfire Rifle 1951
KC Sportsman Five Rimfire Rifle 1951 - 1952
KD Sportsman Five Rimfire Rifle 1951 - 1955

L Light Pattern Standard Air Rifle .177 1919 - 1936
L Merlin Junior Air Rifle .22 MK I 1962 - 1964
L Sportsman Ten .22 Rimfire Rifle 1949 - 1950
LA Merlin Junior Air Rifle .22 MK II 1964 - 1968
LA Sportsman Fifteen Rimfire Rifle 1950 - 1954
LB Sportsman Fifteen Rimfire Rifle 1951
LC Sportsman Fifteen Rimfire Rifle 1951
LD Sportsman Fifteen Rimfire Rifle 1951
LE Sportsman Fifteen Rimfire Rifle 1951 - 1955
LE R-10 MK2 Anniversary Ltd Edition .177 & 22 (150 made) 2011 - 2012
LS22 Lonestar .22 2008 - 2011
LS25 Lonestar .25 2008 - 2011
LS77 Lonestar .177 2008 - 2011

M Cadet Major .177 1947 - 1948
M P.14 Military Rifles Sporterized .303 Calibre 1949 - 1953

N Meteor MK I .177 1959 - 1962
NA Meteor MK II .177 1962 - 1966
NB Meteor MK II .177 1962 - 1968
ND Meteor MK II + Super Mark I .177 1967 - 1969
NE Meteor MK III + Super Mark II .177 1969 - 1973
NG Meteor MK IV + Super Mark III .177 1973 - 1979
NH Meteor MK V + Super Mark IV .177 1979 - 1994

P Martini Model 12/15 1947 - 1955
P1 Polaris .177 & .22
PH Superstar .177 1990 - 2004

R Martini Model 13 1932 - 1939
RA Scorpion Pistol .22 1972 - (Recalled)
RB Scorpion Pistol .22 1972 - 1994
RH Superstar .22 1990 - 2004
R22 R - 10 MK1 .22
R77 R - 10 MK1 .177
RL22 R - 10 MK1 .22 Left Hand
RL77 R - 10 MK1 177 Left Hand
R225000 + R - 10 MK2 .22 (Seial No. 5000 Upwards)
R775000 + R - 10 MK2 .177 (Seial No. 5000 Upwards)
RL225000 + R - 10 MK2 .22 Left Hand (Seial No. 5000 Upwards)
RL775000 + R - 10 MK2 .177 Left Hand (Seial No. 5000 Upwards)

S BSA Imporved Mod D with Double Intercepting Safety Sear Patt 30338/10 .177 & .22 Standard, Ligh, Junior + Juvenile 1911 - 1917
S BSA Standard No 2 Air Rifle .22 1919 - 1936
S Supersport & Lightning & XL's Air Rifle GAMO made version
S Ralock Self Loading Sporting Rifle .22 Short Rifle Cartridge 1947 - 1951
S Supersport Five Bolt Action Rifle .22 Long Rifle Cartridge 1955
SA Supersport Five Bolt Action Rifle .22 Long Rifle Cartridge 1955 - 1958
SB Supersport Five Bolt Action Rifle .22 Long Rifle Cartridge 1955 - 1966
SC Supersport Five Bolt Action Rifle .22 Long Rifle Cartridge 1966 - 1967
SE22 Scorpion SE.22 2011 -
SE77 Scorpion SE.177 2011 -
SS Scorpion Single Shot .177 & .22
ST Scorpion T10 .177 & .22

T BSA Standard No2 Air Rifle .22 1936 - 1939
T Ralock Self Loading Sporting Rifle .22 Long Rifle 1949 - 1951
T Meteor Air Rifle MK I .22 1959 - 1962
T Surfix Letter On BSA Super Sport Five Sporting Rifle Designating Tangent Rearsight 1957 - 1962
TA Meteor MK II .22 1962 - 1966
TB Meteor MK II .22 1966 - 1968
TD Meteor MK II (Super Mk) .22 1967 - 1969
TE Meteor MK III .22 & Meteor MK III (Super MK II .22) 1969 - 1973
TG Meteor MK IV .22 & Meteor MKIV (Super MK III .22) 1974 - 1978
TH Meteor MK V .22 & Meteor MKV (Super MK IV .22) 1979- 1993

U Martini International MK I Right Hand 1950 - 1953
UA Martini International MK I Left Hand 1952
UB Martini International MK I Right Hand (Improved Injection) & Left Hand 1953
UC Martini International MK I Light Weight Right Hand 1953
UD Martini International MK I + MK II Mixed 1953 - 1960
UE Martini International MK I + MK II Mixed 1953 - 1960
UF Martini International MK II 1960 - 1968
UG Martini International MK II 1961 - 1968
UM Ultra Multi Shot .177 & .22
US Ultra Single Shot .177 & .22

V Century Bolt Action Target Rifle 1955 - 1961

W 12 Gauge 'Regent Model' Shotgun made only for RAF 1940 - 1945
W Mercury Air Rifle MK I .177 1971 - 1973
W Cadet Air Rifle .177 1949 - 1950
WA Mercury Air Rifle MK I .177 1973 - 1974
WB Mercury Air Rifle MK II .177 1974 - 1978
WC Mercury Air Rifle MK III .177 1978 - 1985
WE Meteor MK6 .22
WE Comet .177 & .22
WH Mercury 'S' Air Rifle 1980 - 1985
WR Airsporter RB2 .177 & .22 1992 - 2001
WT Airsporter Stutzen RB2 .177 1992 - 2000

Y Cadet Major Air Rifle .177 1949
YA Single Twelve Shotgun 2 & 3/4" Chamber X 30" Barrels 1950 - 1962
YB Single Twelve Shotgun 3" X 30" 1950 - 1962
YC Single Twelve Shotgun 3" X 32" 1950 - 1962
YD Snipe Shotgun 2 3/4" 1962 - 1973
YE Snipe Shotgun 3" 1962 - 1973

Z Mercury MK I .22 1971 - 1973
ZA Mercury MK II .22 1973 - 1974
ZB Mercury MK II .22 1974 - 1978
ZC Mercury MK III .22 1978 - 1985
ZD Mercury Challenger .22 1985 - 1986
ZE Meteor MK 6 .177 1993 - Present
ZH Mercury 'S' .22 1980 - 1985
ZR Airsporter RB2 .22 & .177 1992 - 2000
ZT Airsporter RB2 Stutzen .22 1992 - 2000

0 Parke-Hale Striker .177 (same as Supersport Air Rifle)
0 Supersport & XL .25

1A Firebird Pre Charged .177 2001 - 2005
1B Techstar .177 2004 - 2007
2A Firebird Pre Charged .22 2001 - 2005
2A Lonestar .25 2009
2B Techstar .22 2004 - 2007
3A Ultra Multi Shot .177
3B Sportsman HV .177 2009
4A Ultra Multi Shot .22
4B Sportsman HV .22 2009
5A Scorpion T10 .177 & T10 Bull Barrel .177
5B Ultra Single Shot .177

6A Scorpion T10 .22 & T10 Bull Barrel .22
6B Ultra Single Shot .22

7 - Parke - Hale Striker .22 (same as Supersport Air Rifle)
7B Scorpion Single Shot .177

8B Scorpion Single Shot .22
 
#11 ·
BSA Serial Prefix Codes for Airguns and Rim fire Rifles.

From http://www.airgunspares.com/store/content/87/BSA/

And since pages in the Internet sometime disappear for no reason... here's a cut & past of the content

Prefix Letters / Model Details / Date Of Production

..................
Be aware some of the codes quoted as prefixes are actually suffixes and vice versa.

E.g. a Supersport .22LR observed to be TnnnnSB
 
#15 · (Edited)
number

If BSA is like most other manufactures the receivers were serialed in numerical order but were used at random. Because of this it is not possible to date by serial number. You can however come close by using the changes if any that occurred during that period.

How wide is your receiver, 1-1/4 ?

bjm
 
#21 · (Edited)
Bsa

Horseman,

I have in my files a copy of the BSA write up from the UK. It states the MK-II trigger adjust could be "retrofit" to the MK-I by returning to BSA or their agent such as PH.

Further it notes "This modification and the ADDITION of the notation MK-II in place of the original marking ".22RF" were the only externally visible differences between the two marks of standard rifle."

www.rifleman.org.uk

Then, Miniture cal. and TGT rifles, Then BSA MKI & MKII

bjm
 
#35 ·
Bsa

Horseman,

I have in my files a copy of the BSA write up from the UK. It states the MK-II trigger adjust could be "retrofit" to the MK-I by returning to BSA or their agent such as PH.

Further it notes "This modification and the ADDITION of the notation MK-II in place of the original marking ".22RF" were the only externally visible differences between the two marks of standard rifle."

www.rifleman.org.uk

Then, Miniture cal. and TGT rifles, Then BSA MKI & MKII

bjm
I have a LH MK1 (international) that has the updated trigger which can be adjusted without having to remove it from the action.

T
 
#27 ·
Thank you I did attempt to count the groves but these old eyes with trifocals made it difficult...I came up with a different number every time I tried or maybe I need to learn how to count again :)
 
#28 ·
Rimfire Ring Mount for a Martini International

Several times in this forum I have been asked about the 12" long 11mm scope rail attached to the barrel of my MK II. If you have an International and want to mount a modern scope with either 11mm or 3/8" based rimfire rings, this works very well and requires no additional holes to be drilled in your barrel or action.

I have this on my MK II. I bought the rifle used with this already attached:

http://www.brownells.com/optics-moun...prod40900.aspx

As the information says, you cut to the length you need. Then you drill and countersink holes to match the base mounting holes already drilled into your barrel. The ones advertised in the attached link are for 3/8" based rings like are standard on my CZ 452 American. The one mounted on my Martini MK II is for 11 mm based rings, as is usual for Anschutz and most other European rifles. 3/8" American style rimfire based rings are just as common as 11mm. So it does not matter which rail blank you buy. Just match the rings to the rail. Many manufacturers now even make rings with a piece that can be turned 180 degrees to allow the ring to fit on either an 11mm or a 3/8" base.

The person who mounted the dovetail scope base on my Martini mounted the whole 12" length with it just touching the front edge of the action. That allows a lot of movement to achieve proper eye relief with different scopes.

You will need access to a drill press and precision measuring tools to get precise location of the screw holes in the rail. If you have a friendly gunsmith or machinist, I would let him drill the holes.
 
#33 ·
BSA Martini Intl Mk.2 stool screw size.

Hello,

Just a quick question from a newbie in Northern England.
My rifle club has allowed me to 'adopt' a BSA Martini International MK. II After a long wait for the club to reopen from Covid-19 restrictions, I've just fitted my Hawke sidewinder.
To do this, I had to remove the rear stool and fit a rail using longer versions of the two screws. I borrowed a stool screw from another rifle and my supplier said it was a 4BA item. I also bought a 4BA plug tap to clean up the threads. However, I found that while the tap was bringing out some rust and dirt, this was accompanied by a little swarf.
The 'scope is fitted now but does anyone know if the holes are in fact tapped 4BA?

Thank you, David
 
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