Thread: BSA centrefire variants

Pretty sure @bunji called for a new thread on the BSA sporting rifles of yesteryear. I have owned a few Viscount 7x57's and a near new Hunter in 222. I was once a member of an NZ BSA interest group (long before internet forums) run by a collector of BSA by the name of Lindsay from the Coromandel and had a huge amount of paper copies of sales brochures and other literature from the days of glory, but unfortunately this got misplaced during a shift and went to the tip.

I'm sure there is still good info out there among our members and some has been shared through other posts. Over the years I've come across some interesting stuff relating to the early days of centrefire development and I'll post some photos that I saved from a TM auction. This one must have been very early in the 50's and was described as being made as a dabble in the US market. It's a BSA Factory 220 Swift in a longer action than the 222 & marked "Hunter", note the Mauser type extractor and bolt release. Shame the bolt wasn't photographed.




I also have another photo I need to find of a Viscount 7x57 being sold with its original box from the factory. This box is marked "Hunter"

Is this a thread to post photos of our BSA? Cos I have a sporter Mauser with a decent 308 win barrel on it.

Started a simillar thread on the UK forums: https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co....l-arms.189300/

Would be very interested to see all the models as I never could get my head around the early designations!

There was an accountant chap from Gore who have a very significant collection (20 or 30??) of these early BSA's, an amazing variety, many different calibers - I recall a 257 Roberts, integral muzzle brakes, all sorts of things, his were all minters to . . . .

Theres a guy in Wgtn, that had the whole of his second story in his house devoted to his collection of sporting rifles. He specialised in BSA's, and believed he had one of every model, often several of some models. Cant remember his name, but that was way back in the 90's

@Mathias Thanks mate lets hope a few of you knowledgeable on the old BSA models can pass on some good info ,as there always seems to be a lot of interest when one comes up & a lot of questions asked about them .

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

Is this a thread to post photos of our BSA? Cos I have a sporter Mauser with a decent 308 win barrel on it.

Yeah why not share the pics of BSA's on here. They are great firearms with a colourful history here in NZ.

Originally Posted by Tentman

There was an accountant chap from Gore who have a very significant collection (20 or 30??) of these early BSA's, an amazing variety, many different calibers - I recall a 257 Roberts, integral muzzle brakes, all sorts of things, his were all minters to . . . .

I've only ever seen one 257 Roberts Viscount in NZ for sale, surely there must be more.

Here's the picture of the Viscount 7x57 for sale with original box and Pecar scope I might add. Now this box marked as Hunter could well have been how they were delivered to NZ and how most of us know them as BSA Hunters. I certainly knew them as that, as I had two uncles from that error, one was a Govt culler & the other a meat hunter on and off.


I should add that I did actually see in the flesh 20+ years ago a Viscount 308 in a red box like this, that the original owner showed me. Never had a scope fitted and had 6 rounds fired from the original Winchester ammo that came in yellow boxes in those days. I tracked it down about 10 years ago and he had given it to his son in law and it was in a bad state to say the least, box was gone.

I sold on behalf a BSA Mauser actioned 303. It was a military action but fully re-firbed with a BSA barrel

BSA sold actions to the states, the rifles were sold under the "Herters" brand, brought a few of their stocks from Boyds a few years ago.

Originally Posted by Mathias

I've only ever seen one 257 Roberts Viscount in NZ for sale, surely there must be more.

Have owned a couple, sold one to D. Tipple for his "collection", mate saw it in a GC store a few months later. Did have the late Tony Hawkins rebarrel a couple of BSA's in 257 Roberts Imp.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I sold on behalf a BSA Mauser actioned 303. It was a military action but fully re-firbed with a BSA barrel

Yeah I had a really nice one too, I think they were referred to as the Model E. P14 action reworked & fitted into a walnut stock with checkering on the pistol grip.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Have owned a couple, sold one to D. Tipple for his "collection", mate saw it in a GC store a few months later. Did have the late Tony Hawkins rebarrel a couple of BSA's in 257 Roberts Imp.

I had a Viscount rebarreled by Steve Blenkarne of Truflite fame in 257 Roberts Imp, was my main hunting rifle for years and took most of my best trophies with it.

Originally Posted by Mathias

I had a Viscount rebarreled by Steve Blenkarne of Truflite fame in 257 Roberts Imp, was my main hunting rifle for years and took most of my best trophies with it.

Was that back in the days when he is was using Pacnor or once he started making his own.

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