BSA Martini
- Thread starter enefgee
- Start date
trevj, $1400 is to high, unless it's a special order model, with lots of bells and whistles, such as a half hexagon bbl with engraving, tuned trigger, horn butt plate and fore end tip etc.
I see them going for $750 to $800 regularly.
One offs on the EE don't really cut it for me. I would say $450 is a smoking deal for a Martini, small action, in VG+ condition. Wouldn't cover the sum of the parts to build it.
Some of these rifles were assembled by some of the best gunsmith houses in the UK. They bought the actions from the manufacturers, of which there were a few, including Vickers, BSA and a few others. Then they put on fancy barrels, sights, stock wood with embellishments, formed levers, tuned triggers, engraving and special sights for special orders or made up by the shop smiths to put on their sales racks.
A "clean model 12" is a pretty vague description as well. Likely the poster really doesn't know what to look for.
I see them going for $750 to $800 regularly.
One offs on the EE don't really cut it for me. I would say $450 is a smoking deal for a Martini, small action, in VG+ condition. Wouldn't cover the sum of the parts to build it.
Some of these rifles were assembled by some of the best gunsmith houses in the UK. They bought the actions from the manufacturers, of which there were a few, including Vickers, BSA and a few others. Then they put on fancy barrels, sights, stock wood with embellishments, formed levers, tuned triggers, engraving and special sights for special orders or made up by the shop smiths to put on their sales racks.
A "clean model 12" is a pretty vague description as well. Likely the poster really doesn't know what to look for.
These .22 Martinis are beautifully made rifles.
I have 2. One is an ex-Cadet rifle.
The other is a BSA International Mk. II. I fired my first minute of angle group at 100y with this one, iron sights. That was in the 1960s; my eyes were better then. I am trying to figure out how to mount a modern scope on it. It has blocks for a long outside adjustment scope, like a Lyman or Unertl. I don't have one of these, and the prices are daunting. Don't want to drill and tap any holes. I think I can make a base from a piece of angle. The rear end would attach to the rear aperture sight holes on the left side of the receiver. The front end would attach using the scope base holes on the barrel, with a spacer between the base and the barrel. A conventional Weaver rail could be mounted on this long base.
I have 2. One is an ex-Cadet rifle.
The other is a BSA International Mk. II. I fired my first minute of angle group at 100y with this one, iron sights. That was in the 1960s; my eyes were better then. I am trying to figure out how to mount a modern scope on it. It has blocks for a long outside adjustment scope, like a Lyman or Unertl. I don't have one of these, and the prices are daunting. Don't want to drill and tap any holes. I think I can make a base from a piece of angle. The rear end would attach to the rear aperture sight holes on the left side of the receiver. The front end would attach using the scope base holes on the barrel, with a spacer between the base and the barrel. A conventional Weaver rail could be mounted on this long base.
NavyShooter
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BSA , MODEL: MARTINI CADET , CALIBER: 22 LR (icollector.com)
I got mine for $475 - it's been refinished from the pictures, and is missing a leaf-spring for the rear sight, but I think it'll fit well in my gathering of arms.
NS
I got mine for $475 - it's been refinished from the pictures, and is missing a leaf-spring for the rear sight, but I think it'll fit well in my gathering of arms.
NS
On my 257 Maximum, I just mounted an M8, 2X, LER Leupold on a pair of drilled and tapped steel pads, soldered to the top of the barrel about six inches in front of the receiver. The holes were spaced for Weaver bases, which I added Burris 1inch rings to hold the scope. That was done close to 30 years ago.
Today, I would have mounted a flat base Picatinny rail, instead of the Weaver bases.
There are proprietary scope mounts available out of the UK for the MkII.
I believe the scope bases on your International are the dovetail type, mounted about 6 inches apart, appx half way down the barrel?? No reason that a Picatinny rail couldn't be adapted to fit over them or even drill and tap the bases for the rail.
BSA Martini International ‘Scope brackets
These are a small run of BSA Martini International ‘Scope brackets. I designed these brackets for the MkI and MkII with the 1-1/8″ receiver width however they they also work with the MkIII/MkIV/MkV 1-1/16″ receiver albeit with the central axis of the rail shifted by a 1/16″ which is 1.58mm. I doubt you will notice the change once zeroed if it is to be used at a fixed distance such as 25 yards/metres. The finish is satin black Cerakote and they do look nice on the Internationals.
If anyone is interested in just how much of an issue the misalignment of just under 1,6mm is at 25m I will take my socks off and have a go at the math, I might just do it anyway to satisfy my own curiosity ��
The brackets can be found in our on-line shop here:
http://shootingshed.co.uk/oscom/pro...id=61&osCsid=1c8ed115a6b125dacc087e40f753eb07
chasseur, my Rook rifle is almost identical to your rifle. Same barrel profile and sights. The only difference, would be the grade of Walnut in the stocks. Mine is fully figured AAA.
Most of these rifles had very straight grain patterns. The checkering is usually 32 lines per inch.
For those that have never had a beautifully grained wood stock, it's hard to understand or appreciate them. I really like composite and laminated stocks myself.
Most of these rifles had very straight grain patterns. The checkering is usually 32 lines per inch.
For those that have never had a beautifully grained wood stock, it's hard to understand or appreciate them. I really like composite and laminated stocks myself.
You don't include auction fees and shipping in that price of course.
You did very well on that lovely rifle. The folding rear sight alone would cost between $200-$300.
There is another model out there, with a heavy receiver and a square back on it, which is ribbed to accept an adjustable rear sight. If you find such a rifle, they are usually missing that sight and they're almost unobtainium.
I've rebarreled mine to 225 Winchester.
Reshaping the extractor was a chore for this one and so was finding a decent supply of shootable brass. I lucked out and found NOS 8 boxes at a Chilliwack gunshow. The fellow had been carting them around for a couple of years.
I've rebarreled mine to 225 Winchester.
Reshaping the extractor was a chore for this one and so was finding a decent supply of shootable brass. I lucked out and found NOS 8 boxes at a Chilliwack gunshow. The fellow had been carting them around for a couple of years.
Given that mine is a takedown, I'm tempted to look at having a second barrel made. Does anyone know how much difficulty would be involved in having something like a 22 Mag, or 17 barrel made? I haven't looked at it seriously at this point - maybe even just another 22 LR in a different profile?
Gillis2 - my Mk. II International is almost the twin of yours, although mine does not have the adjustable buttplate.
bearhunter - the shootingshed mount is akin to what I have been planning. I was thinking about having it contact the rear scope block, to avoid the extended cantilever.
enefgee - my Cadet rifle has the same quick detachable barrel as yours. The extractor cut would be the most challenging part of making another barrel. Certainly do-able. Before considering a .22WMR or .17 barrel, I would do some careful measuring, to determine if firing pin location would be appropriate for the slightly larger WMR rim diameter. If the new barrel diameter is different from the original, another forend would be required. My Cadet shoots well, but the throat isn't what it once was. I have a NOS barrel for a Stevens 416 target rifle, and have considered machining it to fit.
bearhunter - the shootingshed mount is akin to what I have been planning. I was thinking about having it contact the rear scope block, to avoid the extended cantilever.
enefgee - my Cadet rifle has the same quick detachable barrel as yours. The extractor cut would be the most challenging part of making another barrel. Certainly do-able. Before considering a .22WMR or .17 barrel, I would do some careful measuring, to determine if firing pin location would be appropriate for the slightly larger WMR rim diameter. If the new barrel diameter is different from the original, another forend would be required. My Cadet shoots well, but the throat isn't what it once was. I have a NOS barrel for a Stevens 416 target rifle, and have considered machining it to fit.
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I have two Martini MkII Intl - one of which is a true mirror-image left-hander. The other has a home-made one-off laminated prone stock, with an Anschutz forend rail and a home-made adjustable butt-plate.
The leftie has a x18 Unertl Super Varmint with calibrated head on it, but it came with a full set of Al Freeland micrometer tube/diopter sights, the correct P-H diopter sight and a little red box container 24 sets of mixed Anschutz, P-H and BSA foresight elements. That cost me £55 in 2010 [without the scope, I have to say].
The right-hander with the laminated stock has the nearest thing you might find these days to the older long-style scopes of your - a Tasco Model 707. I have two such scopes, one on this rifle as a x16 and the other, a x18, on a 1967 Anschutz Model 1409 that was recovered from the scrap heap. The BSA cost me £65, but the Anschutz a heady £25.
The leftie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6h5iEwy - add here T h k to view the movie - if I leave it on it adds an emoticon.
The rightie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv5ZVEmrFOY
The Anschutz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddXPYYh1yuw
This last rifle was covered in a very thin dusting of rust, and the varnish was peeling off the wood. Add to that that the alloy butt-plate was badly corroded. I dealt with the rust by the very careful use of a Birchwood-Casey lead-removing cloth - the thing used to clean up stainless guns around the mouths of the revolver cylinders and so on - actually I used three. The wood was taken back to the bare finish and given around 20 coats of well-rubbed-in Danish oil. The butt-plate piece was subjected to a very healthy does of 'Mother's' metal polish and came up well.
The leftie has a x18 Unertl Super Varmint with calibrated head on it, but it came with a full set of Al Freeland micrometer tube/diopter sights, the correct P-H diopter sight and a little red box container 24 sets of mixed Anschutz, P-H and BSA foresight elements. That cost me £55 in 2010 [without the scope, I have to say].
The right-hander with the laminated stock has the nearest thing you might find these days to the older long-style scopes of your - a Tasco Model 707. I have two such scopes, one on this rifle as a x16 and the other, a x18, on a 1967 Anschutz Model 1409 that was recovered from the scrap heap. The BSA cost me £65, but the Anschutz a heady £25.
The leftie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6h5iEwy - add here T h k to view the movie - if I leave it on it adds an emoticon.
The rightie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv5ZVEmrFOY
The Anschutz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddXPYYh1yuw
This last rifle was covered in a very thin dusting of rust, and the varnish was peeling off the wood. Add to that that the alloy butt-plate was badly corroded. I dealt with the rust by the very careful use of a Birchwood-Casey lead-removing cloth - the thing used to clean up stainless guns around the mouths of the revolver cylinders and so on - actually I used three. The wood was taken back to the bare finish and given around 20 coats of well-rubbed-in Danish oil. The butt-plate piece was subjected to a very healthy does of 'Mother's' metal polish and came up well.
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Without seeing it, no telling what it is actually worth.
One-offs on the EE are as good a reference point as any, when getting to talking about what something may be worth, sight unseen.
I know for sure only that I paid an amount I was happy with to buy a bare action, as well as paid an amount worth bragging up (and which I would only ever sell at, to the guy that sold it to me!) for my ex Cadets rifle.
Point being, I figure, is that a seller can ask what ever he wants to. It really depends on how bad they want it gone, and how long they will wait to find the one guy that 'needs' it.
Tririaq: Got to love those MK 2 Intl
Tacfoley: You have very good taste. You sure done something special with the Martini Intl. As for your Anschutz, I have myself a few 54 Annies; amongst them 2 very nice 1411. Fantastic shooters.
Gilbert
Tacfoley: You have very good taste. You sure done something special with the Martini Intl. As for your Anschutz, I have myself a few 54 Annies; amongst them 2 very nice 1411. Fantastic shooters.
Gilbert
That's great. I live in UK - one of each is all you can have. Mostly.
