Thread: All things BSA

OUt of interest just looking through some old ads in my collection of NZ Wildlife magazines, in 1963 a Parker Hale Safari cost 47 pounds, a BSA Majestic cost 59 pounds and a Sako Forester cost 62 pounds.

Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

Well, only by people who confused the ads I suppose. They were not sold or advertised as Hunters in NZ but the pictures of the rifles did look the same. Its probably the same as most people thinking all PArker Hales were "Safaris"".

This is the BSA Viscount, imperial etc. (This ad from 1957) Superceded by the BSA Majestic around 1959-60




This is the BSA Hunter from 1954. (They actually had "Hunter" stamped on the left side receiver wall.) The first BSA designed modern sporting rifle. Was only made in .222 (although someone said they had one in .22 Hornet once)

I see the top advert refers to the rifles collectively as BSA 'Hunting Rifle', so 'Hunting rifle' abbreviated to 'Hunter' ? that plus the trebly stamped 'Hunter' would do it. I know someone who had a Hornet too, God alone knows why when he could of bought a 222

In those days there was only the one BSA rifle, the BSA Hunter in .222. They didnt start making the others till about two years later, and they were marketed, as shown there, as Viscount, Imperial etc. The first rifle had Hunter written on it, and some people just conflated them all I suppose since the ads might have looked similiar. As I say, some people knew there more than one model, and some people thought they were all the same.

John Knibs only made it worse, because he made the same mistake in his book thinking the Viscount was called a "Hunter" But remember he didnt work at BSA, his father had. He has other mistakes as well.

John...one of my great regrets was not pinching the copy of old old magazine I had my hands on...it may have been wildlife...it had the origonal moose hunt reports, when they were shot in fiordland..it was that period in time...there was an add for CAC ammunition... I photocopied it but it got ruined in a house shift....
cartoon picture of two maori chaps duck hunting.... script read
a maori who lived in kaikoura
,said my shooting gets poorer and poorer
,his friend from waihi
,said use CAC,
that will fix it py curry kiaora


it would be great to get a copy of that again..would frame it and keep it safe

oh the days of non PC advertising,when folks appreciated humour and did not get offended on others behalf.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

John...one of my great regrets was not pinching the copy of old old magazine I had my hands on...it may have been wildlife...it had the origonal moose hunt reports, when they were shot in fiordland..it was that period in time...there was an add for CAC ammunition... I photocopied it but it got ruined in a house shift....
cartoon picture of two maori chaps duck hunting.... script read
a maori who lived in kaikoura
,said my shooting gets poorer and poorer
,his friend from waihi
,said use CAC,
that will fix it py curry kiaora


it would be great to get a copy of that again..would frame it and keep it safe

oh the days of non PC advertising,when folks appreciated humour and did not get offended on others behalf.

If you know what year or number it was I could probably find it for you.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I see the top advert refers to the rifles collectively as BSA 'Hunting Rifle', so 'Hunting rifle' abbreviated to 'Hunter' ? that plus the trebly stamped 'Hunter' would do it. I know someone who had a Hornet too, God alone knows why when he could of bought a 222

There was a period sort of around 1963 when the hornet was semi-popular for deer. What ever cullers used seeped into being trendy with recreational hunters and a few cullers used them. I recall them being Savages and Sportcos mainly. Maybe some early Fox's. I can still picture the blue pkts of Canadian hornet ammo. Imperial brand I think, in pkts of 50.

Originally Posted by Tahr

If you know what year or number it was I could probably find it for you.

it was when the moose was shot in fiordland... the first one I believe it was.... so VERY early editions

the govt cullers even used 22lr on deer.... but boffins in supply department provided suppressed rifles but supersonic ammunition...I believe the browning T Bolt was weapon supplied... recall reading article about it.... older culler was revisiting his old haunts and compared the two hunts.. back then with .22lr and now with what ever he was using...Abolt think it was...

Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

In those days there was only the one BSA rifle, the BSA Hunter in .222. They didnt start making the others till about two years later, and they were marketed, as shown there, as Viscount, Imperial etc. The first rifle had Hunter written on it, and some people just conflated them all I suppose since the ads might have looked similiar. As I say, some people knew there more than one model, and some people thought they were all the same.

John Knibs only made it worse, because he made the same mistake in his book thinking the Viscount was called a "Hunter" But remember he didnt work at BSA, his father had. He has other mistakes as well.

The ad states that a BSA 'Hunting Rifle' won the Bisley sniper comp. Any info on this ?

Alot of the BSAs advertised on trademe don't have a model on them , whats the easiest way to externally tell a monarch/majestic apart from a cf2?

A few tips for the id ing the later ones. Stock roll over cheek piece means a monarch or cf2, slanted white line spacer on forend means CF2. Smooth rounded bolt shroud is cf2 only. Monarch and cf2 both had rosewood forend.


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Originally Posted by Dicko

A few tips for the id ing the later ones. Stock roll over cheek piece means a monarch or cf2, slanted white line spacer on forend means CF2. Smooth rounded bolt shroud is cf2 only. Monarch and cf2 both had rosewood forend.


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So this one for sale is likely a cf2? Had one careful owner, unfortunately the others don't appear to have given a shit about it
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/3786138525

Originally Posted by paremata

So this one for sale is likely a cf2? Had one careful owner, unfortunately the others don't appear to have given a shit about it
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/3786138525

The CF2 are all the same action length. Easiest ID is to see the actual bolt. The CF2 bolt has a bar on the side that rotates as the bolt is worked. It sits in the same position as the extractor claw assembly on a Mauser action

I have an original buttplate in nice condition, fairly sure it came off my 7 x 57 Viscount , if someone genuinely needs it for a nice original rifle they have PM me

Originally Posted by paremata

So this one for sale is likely a cf2? Had one careful owner, unfortunately the others don't appear to have given a shit about it
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketpl...ing/3786138525

Paremata, yes that is a cf2, a ruffy at that!