Finding The Improbable - My BSA Project

[xIRONxANDERSONx]

I know there are definitely better or even rarer rifles to fix up but, there is something about this BSA Rifle that speaks to me. So I thought I'd Start an official thread for my project rifle from start to finish. From my research i have come up with a:

1958 BSA Royal (Imperial) Featherweight Chambered in 30-06.

These are some pages i found info on.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearms-knives-other-brands/422171-birmingham-small-arms-co-bsa.html
https://www.shootersforum.com/rifles-rifle-cartridges/37647-1950s-bsa-30-06-value-story.html

Pros on this rifle include, excellent bore and crown, smooth bolt action, easy to re-blue receiver and barrel with no rust or pitting, shoots straight, came with hard to find Parker-Hale rings in excellent condition.

Cons include, cracked and all round rough stock (fixed enough to function properly), stock missing BSA butt plate, missing front sight hood, appears to have a Winchester Model 70 pre 64 rear sight.

I think my expectation isn't to find exact BSA parts because of the difficulty(although I'd like to.) I'm moving closer to the idea of making a nice looking functional rifle with no noticeable flaws even if i have to use parts from similar models or modify parts.

 

[xIRONxANDERSONx]

Found this neat mail order form.

 

[zuke]

Gotta love the classic's

 

[trevj]

How bad cracked is the stock? Cracks can be repaired, checkering can be re-cut, dents steamed out, etc. Finish can then be returned to near new. Some decent epoxy (I am partial to West System, mainly because I have a bunch of it) that sands well after it has set. Steer clear of five minute epoxy, that stuff has very little strength by comparison, better to use the 1 hour or so stuff and be prepared to wait overnight. A syringe and a couple fairly coarse needles for injecting the glue into deep cracks is handy too, and cheap. Talk to your Pharmacist, or check anywhere they sell farm supplies.
Now, if all else fails, the beat up stock can be used as a master, for anyone with a Stock duplicator, if you decide that you wish to replace the wood, either with plain or fancy.

The sight hood. Take a close look at the grooves that the hood fits in, see if there are lumps, bumps, or notches that retain the hood, or if the hood requires a set of tabs either end to hold it in place. Details like that, as well as the length of the area that the hood fits, will serve you much better while looking for a replacement. Chances of a used parts dealer at a gun show having a box marked "BSA Etc., Etc." are pretty slim, but having something useful, much better odds.
Won't hurt to have a few dimensions and a basic sketch of the shape you are looking for on a card in your wallet, or stored in your phone, if you are that sort, so you have the actual info when opportunity knocks.

And that is your best bet, IMO, for finding parts to use, is the Used Parts folks at shows.

If you have a caliper to measure, take it with you when you go to those shows.

Cheers
Trev