Just bought a BSA Martini .22 - need more info

Sixmaniac

Sixmaniac

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I just picked up a very nice rifle at a local gunshow. It's a BSA Martini .22 target rifle, but I'm not sure about year, model, etc. Internet searches have not shown pictures of one exactly the same so I suspect it may be a "bitsa" or have several mod's.
Sights have the BSA symbol on them.
It is a pleasure to shoot and probably a keeper :)

Any help with identification would be appreciated.

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Hey Paul
My Dad had one very similar..Your looks like a model 15 or Centurian perhaps.?..Quite rare and a great target rifle...These were made late 30's (I think) Very nice..!
 
It probably started life as a BSA Model 12 or 12/15. It looks like it has had a total re-build/makeover. Very nice!

I have an old Model 13, way rougher than yours, but I quite like it.

A friend of mine has a really nice collection of Internationals (a later variant) that he loves.
 
There is a little tiny stamping under the fore grip that can be used to get a birth date on the rifle. Don't ask me where to find the data since it's been a while since I went looking. But it should have turned up during your searching for the background data.

There's a picture of your rifle but with a different butt plate about 3/4 of the way down this page;

h ttp://www.adamsguns.com/martini.htm

It's a Model 15 Special Stock. It's even got the same rear sight. It looks like some previous owner put on an adjustable butt plate for his target shooting.

Perhaps try supporting the front with the rest back under the fore grip. After all that's where it was held during competition shooting so it would stand to reason that the barrel harmonics would produce tighter groups if supported where intended.
 
Quite rare, like BCrider commented, a Model 15 Special Stock. Looks all original as well, many of them had the barrel cut down such as my Model 12 takedown. If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it? The bluing looks really nice, I assume it's redone. If you ever want to part with it, let me know, if I'm in a position to do so, I would take it. My Model 12 would have to be pried from my cold dead hands before I would give it up, beautiful rifles. There is a screw head on the right side of the receiver, you can screw that out, and with the action opened, just give it a gentle tug forward and down, the entire action and trigger group should just drop out. Have a look at it, some incredible engineering and machining at play there, especially considering when these guns were made.
 
Thanks for all the helpful comments and links.
I have to say, that BSA trigger has now spoiled me! It's sublime.
The 10/22 is going to need surgery before I will want to try it out again. I've seen lots of comments about how bad the stock Ruger trigger is. Now I know!

For the Martini - Sub 1" groups at 50 with bulk Federal and my crappy eyesight. I'm confident the gun is a sub MOA with a good head behind the sight and some quality ammo.
 
Very nice rifle. I have a couple, one is all shot out and very pporly taken care of, the other is like shooting a laser, very very cool rifles. I have a couple of rifles on martini full size actions also, one in 218bee another in 577 snider. Love the bsa #8 target sites.

The market for the martini cadet, bsa, rook, greener minature martini action rifles is a growing collector market. I sold my stevens rifles to get in to the cadets. I won't part with mine unless some one has a lot of money or I'm in the ground.
 
BCRider said:
There is a little tiny stamping under the fore grip that can be used to get a birth date on the rifle. Don't ask me where to find the data since it's been a while since I went looking. But it should have turned up during your searching for the background data.

There's a picture of your rifle but with a different butt plate about 3/4 of the way down this page;

h ttp://www.adamsguns.com/martini.htm

It's a Model 15 Special Stock. It's even got the same rear sight. It looks like some previous owner put on an adjustable butt plate for his target shooting.

Perhaps try supporting the front with the rest back under the fore grip. After all that's where it was held during competition shooting so it would stand to reason that the barrel harmonics would produce tighter groups if supported where intended.
Click to expand...

Not sure about that. The rear sight and the shape of the rear of the action aren't right. Someone may have modified it modeled on a Mod 15 but I have my doubts that that is how is started life.
 
BCRider said:
There is a little tiny stamping under the fore grip that can be used to get a birth date on the rifle. Don't ask me where to find the data since it's been a while since I went looking. But it should have turned up during your searching for the background data.

There's a picture of your rifle but with a different butt plate about 3/4 of the way down this page;

h ttp://www.adamsguns.com/martini.htm

It's a Model 15 Special Stock. It's even got the same rear sight. It looks like some previous owner put on an adjustable butt plate for his target shooting.

Perhaps try supporting the front with the rest back under the fore grip. After all that's where it was held during competition shooting so it would stand to reason that the barrel harmonics would produce tighter groups if supported where intended.
Click to expand...

Not sure about that. The rear sight and the shape of the rear of the action aren't right. Someone may have modified it modeled on a Mod 15 Special Stock but I have my doubts that that is how is started life. It could have been built as a 12/15 and has the "Special Stock" butt added later.
 
Definitely not a Model 15. The Model 15 has a dovetail machined into the rear of the receiver for the rear aperture sight. I'm guessing yours is a Modified 12 or 12/15. Here's some information on dating BSA Martini rifles: http://www.rifleman.org.uk/Dating your rifle.htm
And here is some info on the Model 15: http://www.rifleman.org.uk/BSA_Model_15_and_Centurion.htm
I avoid using any copper-washed ammo in my Martinis. They shoot really fine groups with Ely Target, CCI Standard Velocity, Federal Premium Target, and especially Federal Champion HV (the 510 load). On a good day when all the stars align, you can expect 5 rounds inside a nickle at 50 yds, and when the gods really smile on you, 5 inside a dime at that range. And that is with the factory aperture sights, not a scope. PM me for photos of some good groups.
 
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