Is my BSA .303 rifle an ex-military conversion?

It has “BSA Co.” stamped on the action strap where it joins the stock, and the BSA crossed rifles emblem on the barrel.

There are two numbers on the gun: K076 and 33678. It had a 10-shot magazine with a cut-off lever to convert it to a single shot, and there is a backsight with folding levers and a ladder-type sight graduated from 400-1,000 yards.

Is this a factory-made model, or has it been converted to a sporting rifle after it was supplied to the military?

Also, could you tell me when it was made and whether it would be safe to use?

BSA .303 RIFLE
John Knibbs
From your description, this is a BSA high-velocity sporting rifle, Lee-Enfield pattern, No.2 model.

These all-purpose rifles were special sporting rifles built on standard military actions.

They had sporting-style woodwork with custom-built, slim fore-ends and pistol grip ambidextrous stocks.

Only the best French walnut was used, and both components were hand-chequered.

Being based on a military design, these rifles were strong and robust, and were chambered for .303 Mark V1 cartridges, .315 (8mm), .270 (7mm) and also the flanged .375 Express cartridge.

The two numbers on your rifle relate to a run of rifles made for a military contract and the new number given when the rifle was finished as a sporting model.

It would involve a great deal of research to date the gun exactly, but the numbers indicate mid-1912 production.

Depending on the quality, the selling price of your rifle would have been around £9.



Is my BSA .303 rifle an ex-military conversion