doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com BSA doubles and the RAF

I've searched high and low and there seems to be little on this maker, seeing how prolific and affordable they were I'm surprised to see little info. What I find interesting is the use of double guns by the RAF during WWII. Any leads on this company ot history of the RAF and skeet shooting would be great!
Thanks Guys!

Here is a clue. You'll need to follow up on it.

http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/live-f.../prod_5002.html

Here is another. http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/live-f.../prod_5002.html

Here is a link to an old discussion on BSA.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=364129&page=1

Also, Boxlocks and Sidelocks by Boothroyd has a short history of the Company.

I own one and still like it. My only complaint is that it is wide at the breech because of the dovetail lumps. Being wide it sometimes feels top heavy, but is very controllable. It was my first double 30 years ago and can't let go of it.

Here's a BSA I think is pretty nice. There was a good article a year or so ago in Shooting Sportsman about the guns and history of the company...Geo

Mine is definitely pretty sh*tty compared to the above, its one that was used by the RAF for aerial gunners, but as sh*tty as it is,it is still light years ahead of my Stevens. It's my clay buster! I am having some issues with the rib at the muzzle,slight separation at the end of the right tube, but some young lad used this gun to train during the war so its hard not to put it down! I'll research some more, any chance you know what issue it was for the shooting sportsman?

Here's my Brother's BSA double in 1966 and my famous old BSA single. (1966 Hornet and 1954 DBD Gold Star). They were great to fire up on a flat track in the mid 1960's.

Here is a link to an RAF BSA shotgun. It seems that the serial number for these RAF guns has a W prefix.

http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/live-f.../prod_5002.html

read some where, that utility grade 12 gauge box locks were made in 1919, by bsa, specially for sale to ww1 survivors...

Did find this video, I wish they had more on the subject. I think it's pretty cool owning a double that was used in the war effort. I think this gun I do own was brought back after the war as it has 1950 proof marks.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/raf-clay-pigeon-shooting

BSA are still going but only make air rifles these days. By far and away the best book on BSA is The Golden Century by John Knibbs. Everything you would want to know and more besides is in that book. He also has the gun records. Lagopus.....

I looked through the DGJ index (up to 2005). There is one article by David Baker in the Winter 2000 (Vol 11, Issue 4) on BSA. It's about 5 pages and provides some background on BSA. This article didn't say anything about the RAF guns.

Ken