doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The pre-war BSA SXS 12-bore

Back in the late ‘70’s or early ‘80’s I replaced a Spanish self-opening SLE which had proved somewhat unreliable with a pre-war BSA much like the one pictured. That BSA , machine made but probably hand fitted on assembly, had a semi-pistol grip but Grange Gun Company made a nice job of re-shaping it to the straight grip I preferred.

It proved entirely satisfactory, and would probably have remained my game gun of choice had I not been given the Edwinson Green BLE I still enjoy.

As that BSA seemed surplus to requirements, I sold it and recollect getting £300 (about £1,150 in today’s money).

In the timed sale that ended yesterday, and no doubt prompted by nostalgia, I secured an almost identical gun at a hammer price of £14.

It is partially engraved, so one of their slightly more expensive grades, and like its predecessor has dovetailed chopper lump Jessop’s Fluid Steel barrels.

It lacks 2 fore-end retaining screws, which may well cost me more to replace than I paid for the gun.

I do not often make sound financial decisions, but deciding to sell that first BSA when I did was clearly one of my better ones.

We seem to have developed of late a group of folks who attempt to gloss over this unfortunate reality with some, not all, of the Spanish guns that were exported, back in the day. As if the problems were rumors or speculation.

They were, and, are, not. Make note of it.

Good luck with the new to you BSA. They carry a reputation of excellent, if often plain, English guns on this side of the pond.

Best,
Ted

As I recall, when BSA first introduced their double-barrelled shotgun in the 1920s they said that they would not offer an ejector model so as not to upset the London gun trade for 'Gentleman's guns'.
Of course within a few years this lapsed and ejector models were offered.
From handling one or two I remember that the barrels were not so well struck up as the Webleys, and so a bit heavier.

But a great purchase!

HB

A *REAL* gentleman has no need for an ejector gun. As you might - or should - know, given the purpose of an ejector.


Carcano

So by 1900, having ejectors meant that you only needed a pair of guns and one loader instead of a trio of guns and two loaders - progress!

HB

It was not for the sake of a British GENTLEMAN that ejectors were installed into his guns, or for that matter neither was the Beesley spring opening mechanism for spring opening the barrels--it was for the sake of loader in order to load the gun much quicker and hand it to the GENTLEMAN.

Please explain yourself, for the sake of the unwashed masses like myself.

A BSA elector was my second double but, my first English gun. Still have it and shoot it 36 years later. RE, the dovetailed barrels. This is why the gun seems so wide at the receiver and feels a little top heavy. It’s subtle, but some can feel it. Good luck with the new one.