What is an Airsporter rifle?
- Thread starter drm3m
- Start date
The BSA Airsporter was the premier line of airguns made by BSA of Birmingham England, back in the good ol' days. Every part is still available here in UK from a number of suppliers, mainly John Knibbs.
The 'Pylarm' pellets were also made by BSA specially for their range of medium quality airguns, mainly for small pest control and leisurely target shooting. The name is a take on the BSA company logo of three stacked Martini rifles - known in military circles as 'piled arms', hence the word.
Yours appears to be in fine fettle and should, with some care, give many years of sterling service. It was made between 1959 and 1965 - https://www.airgunspares.com/whats-my-bsa
Note that in UK, the maximum legal m/e for any air rifle is 12 ft lbs - any higher than that and it's classed as a regular firearm and needs the FAC - equivalent in many respects to the Canadian PAL.
Please do NOT try to uprate it - it really is not intended to drive holes through one side of a deer and out the other.
It's hard for me to give a value as I live in UK, but they can vary by condition and age - older and better = more money, obviously. The newer German-made versions, with plastic sights, are not much sought-after - it is the originals from the late forties that attract the higher prices, often up to CAN$750 or even more.
The 'Pylarm' pellets were also made by BSA specially for their range of medium quality airguns, mainly for small pest control and leisurely target shooting. The name is a take on the BSA company logo of three stacked Martini rifles - known in military circles as 'piled arms', hence the word.
Yours appears to be in fine fettle and should, with some care, give many years of sterling service. It was made between 1959 and 1965 - https://www.airgunspares.com/whats-my-bsa
Note that in UK, the maximum legal m/e for any air rifle is 12 ft lbs - any higher than that and it's classed as a regular firearm and needs the FAC - equivalent in many respects to the Canadian PAL.
Please do NOT try to uprate it - it really is not intended to drive holes through one side of a deer and out the other.
It's hard for me to give a value as I live in UK, but they can vary by condition and age - older and better = more money, obviously. The newer German-made versions, with plastic sights, are not much sought-after - it is the originals from the late forties that attract the higher prices, often up to CAN$750 or even more.
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Based on the serial number, that Airsporter is a Mark II version, manufactured between 1959 and 1965.
Info taken from the book The Golden Century, by John Knibbs.
A desirable airgun from a collector's standpoint.
Front sight hood is missing, but can still be purchased as NOS.
The electro-etch appears visible, but hard to judge the intelligibility.
I'd place the value in the $350.00 to $450.00 range.
Info taken from the book The Golden Century, by John Knibbs.
A desirable airgun from a collector's standpoint.
Front sight hood is missing, but can still be purchased as NOS.
The electro-etch appears visible, but hard to judge the intelligibility.
I'd place the value in the $350.00 to $450.00 range.
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Quote - from post #3 '....It was made between 1959 and 1965 - https://www.airgunspares.com/whats-my-bsa'
Good to see that you and I agree about that.
Good to see that you and I agree about that.
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
Nice looking rifle. I think leonardj is correct on the pricing for Canada. The Canadian market is generally softer right across the board on most firerarms. One might get more at auction if you get a bidding war between 2 bidders but then you are paying auction fees.
Following a telephone call today--- I think this Airsporter will be given to me with three cans of pellets.
If this happens---- I will be looking to sell it.
This fellow is moving today and he can't be bothered to deal with this.
He thought about giving it to the police---he was concerned that it had to be registered.
I will follow up with this story as it unfolds.
If this happens---- I will be looking to sell it.
This fellow is moving today and he can't be bothered to deal with this.
He thought about giving it to the police---he was concerned that it had to be registered.
I will follow up with this story as it unfolds.
It would clean up nicely, especially the ribbed butt. Any missing parts are easy to find - if you can't get them in Canada, I can get them here and send them to whoever buys it. One thing for sure, they do NOT make them like that nowadays. An original Airsporter in .177, particularly with a suitable airgun-proof scope, is bad news for most small game out to about 40 yards.
You, my friend, are a person I'd like to converse with. I'm looking for a main spring and hopefully a site set for an Airsporter Stutzen. I'd like original parts to have it all whole. As for the spring, my dear departed father once left it cocked for an unknown period of time and I'm figuring it has lost some oomph unless someone can tell me different. I'm going to set up my chronograph but have noting to compare it to.
I have my Dad's Airsporter .22 that was purchased in 1983 in the UK and brought back through Pearson without issue by my Mom without an FAC, downstairs in the safe. It sits next to an AA Prosport in .177 and AA S410 in .22. Sadly the 80's Diana 34 and 52 were lost in a house fire.
