A Couple of 1944 BSA's

vinver

vinver

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Location
Enfield, NS
At long last I've finished the first of my pair of 1944 BSA's. This one was a typical sporter, M47C , uncut barel with a worn metalwork. New forend, handguards, buttstock and brass buttplate, bands, swivels, a new striker and spring. Fitting of the forend took up a few hours every other night fr the last couple weeks but I'm happy with the fit, has good muzzle end up pressure and a lovely 2-stage trigger pull now.
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Tonight's task was to fit the sight, I had to make up a spacer as the sight is the earlier type that is narrower, a 1/4 inch bolt, some quick machining and a drop in a pill bottle of Gun Bluing solution made a nice job.
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All fitted together and complete now.....

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Can't wait to take it out and fire it.

The next 1944 BSA will be more of a challenge...

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Very nice and boy do I like the bike. not just because I ride but my first bike was a BSA Royal Star. Right now I ride a 2009 Fat Bob and also restoring Enfield jungle carbines.
Jack
 
Your shop looks like mine. My rifle bench on one side and right now, a 74 CB200 spread all over the other side waiting to be put back together
 
Ax.338 said:
Looks like a MGB.

Soft spot for British stuff maybe? I can relate.
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1972 MGB-GT, I bought it with my student loan money in my final year of university.. restored it about 20 years ago, yes I do have a soft spot for British stuff. I recently bought a Matchless motorcycle. The AMC Matchless factory was in London, across the lane from Woolwich Armoury. Seems like a lot of British stuff has connections somehow.
 
Speaking of Matchless

Well I might as well pop in with this picture showing my Dad in 1943 in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was a Sgt. in the Royal Engineers & was on a troop ship to the far East when the Iraq rebellion broke out so they docked & went by train up to Northern Iraq to "stamp it out". I believe the "M" on the tank means that it was a civilian bike taken into army service. He later rode the bike down through Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt
across North Africa & joining the invasion fleet for Sicily.
He kept a log book of his mileage & stopping points which I still have. The caption is to my Mum at home in England

Peter (in Burlington, Ontario

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biggles said:
Well I might as well pop in with this picture showing my Dad in 1943 in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was a Sgt. in the Royal Engineers & was on a troop ship to the far East when the Iraq rebellion broke out so they docked & went by train up to Northern Iraq to "stamp it out". I believe the "M" on the tank means that it was a civilian bike taken into army service. He later rode the bike down through Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt
across North Africa & joining the invasion fleet for Sicily.
He kept a log book of his mileage & stopping points which I still have. The caption is to my Mum at home in England

Peter (in Burlington, Ontario

DadinKirkukIraq1943onbike_zps6f8d7ab7.jpg
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Great photo! Nice to have some family history.
That M on the tank is the Matchless emblem, they used the metal tank badges on the military bikes , and had the teledraulic forks and a more sporting performance than the girder forked BSA M20. The metal M was replaced with a transfer around 1943 , so this bike is likely a 1942 or 43 G3/L model, military spec since it has the headlight blackout mask, and white tip painted on the fender( since for convoy use the lights were so dim to be basically useless. Lucas 3-position light switch- Off, Dim, Flicker)
Here's mine at present, time for some spring cleaning in the garage and get back at it!
 
Matchless

Vinver,

Thanks for that info. Dad always said that he rode that bike across 6 deserts on his trip. And "Lucas"...there's a name I have heard cursed a few times.

Peter
 
:rockOn: Great work on the old rifle. That is a priceless picture of your father. Thanks for sharing this good stuff with us. :wave:
 
biggles said:
Vinver,

Thanks for that info. Dad always said that he rode that bike across 6 deserts on his trip. And "Lucas"...there's a name I have heard cursed a few times.

Peter
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Peter,
I looked up some info on the bike-
From "British Forces Motorcycles 1925-1945", your dad's bike is listed in the serial numbers list: Matchless G3L 350ccm OHV solo,
WD Number allocation 4688899-4692898, Contract C1102, Frame numbers 29364-34011, Engines 41-G3L-44364 to 49011. Part of a lot of 4647 motorcycles produced from 05/07/1941 to 11/04/1942. ,( with number -2021 would be the early part of 1942) . Delivered to Chillwell, and Tewkesbury, with Lucas Lighting equipment installed. Price was 56 pounds, 18s 0d.
The Matchless and Ariel OHV models were always more desirable than the heavier, slower side valve BSA's and Nortons. And with the Teledraulic forks, the Matchless was top of the heap- dispatch riders were reluctant to part with them, and happy to be issued with one over the BSA's.
But with BSA's arms connections, they were always favored with contracts, and produced 126,000 M20's during the war years, vs the Matchless production of about 60,000.
 
Vivner,
Thanks very much for the information, I am amazed at what you found out. Actually I stand amazed at the information available on many things....If only you know where to look for it. By the way I really like what you have done with the No.4, looks very good.

Cheers,
Peter

vinver said:
Peter,
I looked up some info on the bike-
From "British Forces Motorcycles 1925-1945", your dad's bike is listed in the serial numbers list: Matchless G3L 350ccm OHV solo,
WD Number allocation 4688899-4692898, Contract C1102, Frame numbers 29364-34011, Engines 41-G3L-44364 to 49011. Part of a lot of 4647 motorcycles produced from 05/07/1941 to 11/04/1942. ,( with number -2021 would be the early part of 1942) . Delivered to Chillwell, and Tewkesbury, with Lucas Lighting equipment installed. Price was 56 pounds, 18s 0d.
The Matchless and Ariel OHV models were always more desirable than the heavier, slower side valve BSA's and Nortons. And with the Teledraulic forks, the Matchless was top of the heap- dispatch riders were reluctant to part with them, and happy to be issued with one over the BSA's.
But with BSA's arms connections, they were always favored with contracts, and produced 126,000 M20's during the war years, vs the Matchless production of about 60,000.
Click to expand...
 
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