Cadet BSA Martini 22

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Recently picked up a Canadian issued BSA Martini 22. It has a pistol grip stock on it and a poorly bent lever that conforms to it. Curious if there's replacement levers available, NOS or used. Also curious if there's original styled straight stocks or aftermarket pistol grip or thumbhole stocks readily available to import to easily to Canada or ideally a Canadian supplier. I've searched on the forum but it's not very user friendly or I'm either too dense to operate it:rolleyes:

If I knew how to do wood work I might try and shape the stock to my liking but unfortunately I don't.

All suggestions appreciated.
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Check with Robert Wilson at Harris, He makes stock, may have or have a pattern for one
3066562159 RIM sporting and Survival Supply
ri.wilson@sasktel.net

Western Gun Parts , in Edmonton.
WTB in the EE. or trade for a original, someone may want that.
Would not take much to make a straight stock out of it.
 
can14 said:
If it is a 12/15 pattern, Macon gun stocks makes a stock and for end for them
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That one has the looks of being most likely a Ex Cadets gun, which it seems to me was an outlier from the BSA Co.'s standard Models, that has been mildly butchered to look more like. 12/15.

At least, that is what I see, to judge from the ripples in the loading lever. Maybe a 12/15 stock, or one carved to look like it. The fore end is not factory, though the sight insert holder may be, the front sight does not appear to be the one used on the Cadets rifles, nor is the eye cup on the otherwise correct No.8 sight.

Looks to me like someone picked up a Cadets Martini, and turned it into what they preferred as a target rifle, either as a project to their liking, or as a means to salvage an otherwise partial rifle.

IIRC Treebone Carving Stateside does original straight pattern stocks. A decent blacksmith is worth tracking down to reshape the lever to aprox the original curves, and if you really scrounge around, you might find a fella capable of redoing the case hardening on the lever. A silver quarter is about the right size for making the escutcheon that fits in the stock to take the detention on the end of the lever.
 
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trevj said:
If you have any talent with a file at all it should take you half hour or so to make a cocking indicator.
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If dirt were dollars.....

I'm almost totally devoid of skill with tools - but at least I know it. Apart from this one missing piece, my rifle is pretty mint and I'd like to keep it that way. If I tried to make a cocking indicator the rifle would end up looking like it had a phallus sticking out of the breech block.
 
new said:
Near as I can tell from the little information online, it's one of the 1000 ordered in 1925, essentially a model 12 receiver with a model 8 barrel. Apparently the second order of 500 in 1927 used narrower receivers(1"); mine is 1.2"
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Their is a fair bit of info out there on the Cadet Rifle Orders, and I'd suggest that almost all of it be taken with a pretty good dose of salt.

I have one of the later units in it's original livery and it has a wide action, and a barrel that is a lot more like a shortened Model 12 barrel, and it does not actually match any of the descriptions as to what it 'should' be, but it still wears it's C-Broad Arrow marks on the stock and fore ends as well as on the side of the action.

Based on what I have seen written, I would suggest that there were likely a fair few discrepancies in the details of what was actually ordered and received.

Add in the intervening years, where a lot of loose parts have been floating around as surplus, from various 'customization' efforts over the years, and you cannot say with a lot of certainty whether all the major parts were ever mated together.

Whatever. They are great shooting guns, if the barrel has not been badly abused, and they are worth putting the effort in to if you feel the need.
 
Trevj will know the history better than I , as I just shot them, have had a few, and did have one just like that with the right wood.
The one I miss is a ISU international that I set on the sale table years ago, in Alberta.
I seen to do stupid stuff sometimes.
 
Mine is only C broadarrow marked on the stock - but otherwise identical to the first order in every way. BSA would make those guns any way you wanted to order them, so virtually any configuration can be correct, within reason. I'd love to get an Aussie Cadet.
 
There is a member on here James Harrison if I remember correctly that is quite knowledgeable on these rifles and was selling parts for them. Perhaps he will chime in or you may be able to pm him.
 
Well took her out and tested some different ammunition at 25 yards. Very pleased with it's performance with everyday ammunition, especially this being my first time shooting paper with aperture sights! I can only imagine what this rifles potential will be with match ammunition and some more practice on my part.

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