A .177 B.S.A. 1ST MODEL AIR RIFLE, serial number 7624, this ...

Hammer

£620

A .177 B.S.A. 1ST MODEL AIR RIFLE, serial number 7624, this is identical in terms of design to the former Lincoln Jeffries air rifle, the air cylinder is stamped Birmingham Small Arms Company Ld, it is fitted with a spade handled cocking lever and the high quality walnut stock is fitted with a chequered pistol grip, whilst its rear sight has one fixed and two hinged leaves for varying distance shooting, this is clearly an original fitting and the rifle is of presentation quality which was confirmed by a plaque inset into the butt on the opposite side to the ‘Piled Arms’ stamp, the plaque indicated it was presented to I.H.M. Humphries from Nelson School by BSA in 1906 having won an event at the Bisley Boys Camp, the rifle is in good working condition however it has been stored in damp conditions and the blued finish, although clearly visible on all its metal surfaces, are pit marked with rust, the serial number was one from the second batch of serial number allocated to B.S.A. which ran from 2730 to 4829, these early grade presentation rifles by the company are seldom encountered, the rifle is classed as an antique under the Antique Firearms Regulations 2021, the provenance of the former winner of this rifle was established by an entry in the Wigton Advertiser 6th March 1920