BSA - SPARKBROOK Mk I*

T

tatou

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Hi guys,

looking for any info about this rifle. I know i got something special but how special i'm just not sure.
It's been heavily sporterized... and i mean frankeinenfield style...

The bolt match... that's just about the only good thing i can see about it.
The barrel has been changed... but the serial doesn't match. Would that be normal ?
The barrel also has a Canadian ownership mark, but not the receiver.
The butt appears to be a Moisin piece...or god knows what.
The forend is cut... but even that is made of 2 different pieces of wood spliced together...not that i care about this lol
And the rear sight is a made up... thing... done with a Pattern 1914 ladder... it's just horrible.

I dont have it yet but i'm working on it. Is it worth saving ?

 
ouch, it could be restored if you had the time, money, and inclination.....

it is rather unique....
 
I agree that a 1907 reciever deserves an honest effort to be rebuilt to original condition. There are parts available now. They might not be available in a few years or decades.
 
Here's what i can make out of it so far.
Sparkbrook stopped production in 1906 and was bought by BSA.
They claimed that no Mk I* was built at the Sparkbrook plant after 1906... but evidently a few rifles where produced... how many, i have no idea.
Maybe they where assemble from what was left on the shelves !?!?

I already have a stock for it... 2 or 3 years back i bought a reproduction Mk I forestock from a fellow in New Zealand... in the hope of one day finding the right rifle for it... looks like i was lucky.
I heard of a guy in the States that makes reproduction handgards.
I'm not worried about the rest of the parts.... they show up now and then.... i'm not in any hurry.
 
Nice find.

Most Sht.LE Mk.I rifles found in North America (ie States) are of Mk.I*** designation and usually are found to have a second distinct serial number added. Considerable numbers of Mk.I rifles were brought over the pond by dealers in the 1960s, in a number of batches purchased from Ireland. There are some who have done considerable research on these and have built a database of serials.

But not your rifle! It looks to be 'clean' in that it retains just its original factory markings. But from where did it come?

The barrel is a replacement, I would hazard a guess and say that it was replaced after it was in civilian hands. A military armourer would have renumbered the barrel or receiver to match. The barrel is a pre-used RSAF manufactured item and appears to be taken from a Mk.III Sht.LE.
Not a big deal if you are building just a decent shooter and representative example. It will never be a high end collectible. Itsa bitza!

The barrel is Canadian, but probably no Canadian acceptance mark on the receiver.

The late date is interesting. However, even when production had officially stopped, there often were barreled receivers sold to customers as spares to keep their fleet in good service. I have an Enfield made MLE dated 1910, it came out of the factory, sold as a barreled receiver.

So a great little project. You have a good jump on it with you having a replacement forearm. Handguards can be made. Metal bits can be found. That is our hobby!
 
Thanks,

Most if not all MkI*** i have seen are in the USA... i guess the ship stopped in NJ instead of Halifax....
That was my guess about the barrel. Since i cannot see any other Canadian mark and i also guessed an armorer would have changed the serial number on it.
Not ashamed to admit they where just guesses from my part and i'm glad someone can elaborate more on this. The truth, good or bad, is what counts.
Like you said, it will never be a true collector but none the less a nice addition to my little collection.

The forearm was a nice find, i asked a friend and he has agreed to reproduce it in his shop... so i will have a spare ;)

Funny you mentioned a MLE with a 1910 date... i have one too. The barrel was cut to 25 inches so i made this Rifle Club Pattern clone with it.



englishman_ca said:
Nice find.

Most Sht.LE Mk.I rifles found in North America (ie States) are of Mk.I*** designation and usually are found to have a second distinct serial number added. Considerable numbers of Mk.I rifles were brought over the pond by dealers in the 1960s, in a number of batches purchased from Ireland. There are some who have done considerable research on these and have built a database of serials.

But not your rifle! It looks to be 'clean' in that it retains just its original factory markings. But from where did it come?

The barrel is a replacement, I would hazard a guess and say that it was replaced after it was in civilian hands. A military armourer would have renumbered the barrel or receiver to match. The barrel is a pre-used RSAF manufactured item and appears to be taken from a Mk.III Sht.LE.
Not a big deal if you are building just a decent shooter and representative example. It will never be a high end collectible. Itsa bitza!

The barrel is Canadian, but probably no Canadian acceptance mark on the receiver.

The late date is interesting. However, even when production had officially stopped, there often were barreled receivers sold to customers as spares to keep their fleet in good service. I have an Enfield made MLE dated 1910, it came out of the factory, sold as a barreled receiver.

So a great little project. You have a good jump on it with you having a replacement forearm. Handguards can be made. Metal bits can be found. That is our hobby!
Click to expand...
 
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