BSA martini , peep sight

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triggerman42

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I recently picked up a BSA martini cadet .22 (model 12)
It has the #8 tang peep sight , with adjustable eye piece with 6 different sized holes.
The eye piece is marked... " BSA , Pat .21332-09"
It's fine and works perfect.
Included with the gun was a baggie with another identical tang peep sight.
The spare sight however is in pieces (disassembled) .
There is thread damage to both parts needed for vertical adjustment.
I have looked the internet over and cannot find a dealer that sells replacement parts .
I realize it's almost 100 years old and my odds of finding parts are slim.
Any ideas? A UK dealer perhaps?
I'm thinking I just have a bag of spare parts, but if it could be restored I would happily do it.
A complete , functioning spare is always better than a bag of parts.
Maybe a watchmaker with a mini lathe might be an idea?
 
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bearhunter said:
Find out the thread rate and type and purchase a tap and chaser to clean them up.
Click to expand...

That's the right idea. And if the damage isn't very bad this can work wonders.

The problem I can see is that it's likely to be one of the more obscure British thread sizes of the day. So finding the proper tap and die to use for the chasing work will almost certainly require a purchase from the UK or some rather specialized North American outfit. Even measuring the thread pitch will be fun due to the fine pitch and possible weird pitch numbers in use at the time. It's quite possible that the usual thread gauges won't have the full range of finer sizes to allow identifying the proper pitch value. At that point I don't much like trusting the thread gauges anyway. At that size range I prefer to use a powerful magnifying glass and offer the threads up to a machinist's ruler and count off the peaks over an 1/8 or 1/0 of an inch. Whichever it takes to get a match for the peaks at the first and end line.

It may be worthwhile to join up on some UK based discussion forum that has a strong user following for the old BSA. I'll bet that you could either get the bag of parts restored with their help or perhaps you can find someone that is more desperately in need of what you have and you can be the savior for some other BSA in dire straits.

Has yours got the broad arrow markings and unit badge in the stock? I was able to trace the badge markings on mine to a cadet corp in New Brunswick that apparently used it as a target rifle with the army cadets before and during WWII. Not afterwards though as they were apparently disbanded in 1946. Likely as a result of all the anti war thinking of the populace that was just glad to have it all over with.
 
There is a older British gentleman from Regina, he had a table beside mine at the last G-show here. He specializes in Enfields and Martinis.

PM me for contact info, he isn't on CGN and does not have a website at this time. If he doesn't have the part, he will know who does!

John
 
Yep. Broad arrows all over it. All on the right side of the gun. The buttstock , the receiver , the barrel , and the forearm wood all marked with a Capital "C" with the broad arrow inside it.
The brass stock disk is blank on mine.
 
triggerman42 said:
Yep. Broad arrows all over it. All on the right side of the gun. The buttstock , the receiver , the barrel , and the forearm wood all marked with a Capital "C" with the broad arrow inside it.
The brass stock disk is blank on mine.
Click to expand...

Now that is interesting. It suggests that it was never issued to any unit. Or maybe that it was issued and returned and given a new disc but then never re-issued?

If only these things could speak to us, eh?
 
triggerman42 said:
I recently picked up a BSA martini cadet .22 (model 12)
It has the tang peep sight , with adjustable eye piece with 6 different sized holes.
The eye piece is marked... " BSA , Pat .21332-09"
It's fine and works perfect.
Included with the gun was a baggie with another identical tang peep sight.
The spare sight however is in pieces (disassembled) .
There is thread damage to both parts needed for vertical adjustment.
I have looked the internet over and cannot find a dealer that sells replacement parts .
I realize it's almost 100 years old and my odds of finding parts are slim.
Any ideas? A UK dealer perhaps?
I'm thinking I just have a bag of spare parts, but if it could be restored I would happily do it.
A complete , functioning spare is always better than a bag of parts.
Maybe a watchmaker with a mini lathe might be an idea?
Click to expand...

What's it worth to you as it is?

I may be interested in it, if the price is right. I'd be interested in seeing some pictures.

In really nice shape, a BSA No. 8 sight usually lists between 125-150 bucks. They typically sit for a long time at that price, until someone that needs it comes along.

I have a lathe, and am willing to muck about a bit, to make it work for my needs, if need be.

Threads are most like to be BA thread form, pretty common until the late 1960's in everything British, and still used a bit in legacy applications. One of the characteristics of a BA thread are rounded crests and roots, the radius of which is related to the size of the thread pitch.


Cheers
Trev
 
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Yeah , it's definitely fixable , and well worth it. Hence my original post. I'm interested in restoring it . Not selling it. Sorry . They just keep getting harder to find , and it would be a welcomed addition to any BSA shooters parts inventory .
Seeing's how I have recently joined that fraternity , I feel lucky to have it .
 
I think the thread is 1/4 x 48 -- I had to repair a couple of those sights. I made a tap but not a die. The difference in Whitworth compared to SAE thread form is insignificant at that pitch.
 
The piece that is in the worst shape, is like a piece of steel tubing. It is threaded both on the outside and the inside . It is about .250 OD , .180 ID , and about .400 long. The other piece (that holds the aperture) , is like a threaded stem , and is threaded into the inside of the first piece ( tubing) . The outside thread of the tubing holds the assembly into the tower. Forgive my terminology . I even lost myself there ! LOL
 
I've repaired many PH/ AJP Parker sights. Do not attempt to work on these if you do not have the correct tools, parts and some knowledge. Lots of little tricks to repair/restore. These were all hand fitted and each one, although they appear to be the same, are not. Occasional you'll see mixed parts on eBay otherwise you make your own. Good luck with your sight. Ron
 
triggerman42 said:
Yeah , it's definitely fixable , and well worth it. Hence my original post. I'm interested in restoring it . Not selling it. Sorry . They just keep getting harder to find , and it would be a welcomed addition to any BSA shooters parts inventory .
Seeing's how I have recently joined that fraternity , I feel lucky to have it .
Click to expand...

Oh I understand that.

I have an action without a rear sight.

Wasn't looking to flip it. Would rather put time into a project, than money.

I just figure that by the time you find someone with the parts, you are pretty much going to have a bunch of time and money into it.

The differential threaded portion allows for a much finer range of motion, or much faster, depending how it is set up.

If you reconsider...

In any case, would still be quite interested in seeing pictures.

Cheers
Trev
 
I have only seen one #8 sight for sale so far on the internet. It's in ALBUQUERQUE, NM , by a dealer.
He wants $299.95 US for it plus shipping , and he probably doesn't ship here anyway . WOW I guess that's why that ones still for sale huh? LOL
 
yes Adams ships here ,but it is painful as he doesnt take cc only money order from canada and it has to clear first .I have bought some non receiver or barrel parts .Wood ,screws ect ok
Peter
 
Yeah , that's the guy. I didn't want to mention any names . Don't think he's a site sponsor.
That would be over $400 Canadian for a peep sight . That's just insane .
A fella should buy every BSA he can get his hands on , and part them out I guess !
 
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triggerman42 said:
Yeah , that's the guy. I didn't want to mention any names . Don't think he's a site sponsor.
That would be over $400 Canadian for a peep sight . That's just insane .
A fella should buy every BSA he can get his hands on , and part them out I guess !
Click to expand...

Yes, it is. Seems to be the trend to post stupid high prices on stuff, just in case someone dumb enough comes along. If what I have seen on Amazon and a few other sites is to be believed, anyway.

Better points of reference would be to look at what has actually sold (as opposed to what the item was listed at) on the various ebay derivatives around the world, esp. ebay.co.uk, as well as to wander a few gun shows and see which stuff moves and which stuff is pretty much a permanent occupant on the respective tables.

There is a line between optimistically priced, and hopelessly or cluelessly optimistic pricing, and that price there, falls well beyond the latter. He really does not seem to actually want to sell his product, but if...

Cheers
Trev
 
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