John M. Browning created a design for a single shot rimfire bolt-action rifle in 1899. It is US Patent No. 632,094. He sold the rights to Winchester who produced it as the Models 1900, 1902, and 1904 series 22 caliber rifles. The design was not protected in Europe and was copied by many firms including BSA. BSA produced a 22 single shot copy of the Winchester/Browning design for sale in the UK. BSA also had the idea to scale up the Browning design so that their Lee-Enfield rifle bolts would fit. BSA was a major producer of Lee-Enfield rifles at this time (about 1909), of course, so these bolts were readily available. BSA chambered their upsized version in the American 32/40 centerfire cartridge (See the BSA 1910-12 Catalog). BSA was a rifle company (at the time) but decided to start into the shotgun business by also chambering their upsized design in the 410 cartridge (the Lee-Enfield bolt can be easily made to fit a 410 rim). The 2 inch 410 cartridge was a bit short for the 3 inch + bolt throw, so BSA chambered their new 410 for a 2 1/2 inch shell and got Eley (and other) companies to make the longer shell. Thus, at a single stroke, BSA invented the bolt-action shotgun (admittedly by borrowing from Browning/Winchester) and the longer 2 1/2 inch 410 shell. Before this design of BSA, the only bolt-action shotguns were conversions of old black powder military weapons such as the Mauser 71.
I have one. I read somewhere that these were the very first shotguns manufactured by BSA and that yes, they used up surplus parts. I’m sure I have a copy of the original sales catalogue featuring this gun at home somewhere too.
G'Day, I recently saw one of these single shot bolt action shotguns at my local gun shop in Victoria, Australia. An interesting .410 variation. At first glance in the rack, I thought it was a Mossberg bolt action .410, something I was actually looking for. The bolt looked like a modified Lee/ Metford/Enfield one. I was tempted to buy it but the "collectors" price put me off and I ended up buying a handy, light little Boito single shot .410 for close range rabbit shooting. After shooting 12 gauge shotguns for over 50 years, I'm really enjoying carrying and shooting the .410 shotgun. I'm now quite taken with this calibre. I'm hoping to find one of those folding Belgian shotguns, either a double or single barrel and loading light black powder loads in it. I enjoyed watching your video very much and have subscribed to your channel. Cheers, Steve
A friend and I came across one of these in a shop down in Somerset recently at pocket money price. Tragically he saw it first so I missed out 😂 Shoots lovely, very tight pattern, but we found it didn't like extracting Eley type rims that look rather like golf tees, with a 45 degree chamfer on the leading edge. I suspect my Hull Cartridges with a proper perpendicular rim would work better, though this hasn't been tested as all mine are 3 inch carts. The spring retainer on the bolt head is interesting, and like you I originally thought is was one piece barrel and receiver until I spotted the faint joint line through the logo. Next time it comes out to play I'll check the barrel length.
I do think it's likely it's using up spare Lee Metford or similar parts after the models were dropped from service. They probably kept the machinery around for a while in case these guns became crazily popular, and when they didn't it was disposed of or converted to the new parts needed for the Lee Enfield. She's a beautiful thing, tho if I were in the market for such a thing, a smooth bore service rifle would tickle things this just doesn't.
I have one of these in Canada. I have unfortunately broken the spring that locks the bolt head to the action. If anyone knows where I can find this part or a complete bolt head. Please let me know. Curtis Austin
In the UK, shotguns have, mostly, been treated differently in legislation than rifles, pistols and other firearms. Short barrel shotguns have generally been put in the same category as other (more restricted) firearms and that barrel length has changed at various times. It is currently 24" but has been 23.5", 23" and, as I recall 18" at various times. I don't have the historical figures at hand so don't take those numbers as gospel but they used to be shorter than they have been in recent years. This will have been lengthened to fall in the less restrictive category.
@@TheWirksworthGunroom Would that be the difference between a firearm certificate and a shotgun licence, the former being, theoretically, more restrictive by requiring more stringent reasons for wanting one?
John M. Browning created a design for a single shot rimfire bolt-action rifle in 1899. It is US Patent No. 632,094. He sold the rights to Winchester who produced it as the Models 1900, 1902, and 1904 series 22 caliber rifles. The design was not protected in Europe and was copied by many firms including BSA. BSA produced a 22 single shot copy of the Winchester/Browning design for sale in the UK. BSA also had the idea to scale up the Browning design so that their Lee-Enfield rifle bolts would fit. BSA was a major producer of Lee-Enfield rifles at this time (about 1909), of course, so these bolts were readily available. BSA chambered their upsized version in the American 32/40 centerfire cartridge (See the BSA 1910-12 Catalog). BSA was a rifle company (at the time) but decided to start into the shotgun business by also chambering their upsized design in the 410 cartridge (the Lee-Enfield bolt can be easily made to fit a 410 rim). The 2 inch 410 cartridge was a bit short for the 3 inch + bolt throw, so BSA chambered their new 410 for a 2 1/2 inch shell and got Eley (and other) companies to make the longer shell. Thus, at a single stroke, BSA invented the bolt-action shotgun (admittedly by borrowing from Browning/Winchester) and the longer 2 1/2 inch 410 shell. Before this design of BSA, the only bolt-action shotguns were conversions of old black powder military weapons such as the Mauser 71.
I have one. I read somewhere that these were the very first shotguns manufactured by BSA and that yes, they used up surplus parts. I’m sure I have a copy of the original sales catalogue featuring this gun at home somewhere too.
G'Day,
I recently saw one of these single shot bolt action shotguns at my local gun shop in Victoria, Australia. An interesting .410 variation. At first glance in the rack, I thought it was a Mossberg bolt action .410, something I was actually looking for. The bolt looked like a modified Lee/ Metford/Enfield one. I was tempted to buy it but the "collectors" price put me off and I ended up buying a handy, light little Boito single shot .410 for close range rabbit shooting. After shooting 12 gauge shotguns for over 50 years, I'm really enjoying carrying and shooting the .410 shotgun. I'm now quite taken with this calibre. I'm hoping to find one of those folding Belgian shotguns, either a double or single barrel and loading light black powder loads in it.
I enjoyed watching your video very much and have subscribed to your channel.
Cheers,
Steve
A friend and I came across one of these in a shop down in Somerset recently at pocket money price. Tragically he saw it first so I missed out 😂 Shoots lovely, very tight pattern, but we found it didn't like extracting Eley type rims that look rather like golf tees, with a 45 degree chamfer on the leading edge. I suspect my Hull Cartridges with a proper perpendicular rim would work better, though this hasn't been tested as all mine are 3 inch carts.
The spring retainer on the bolt head is interesting, and like you I originally thought is was one piece barrel and receiver until I spotted the faint joint line through the logo. Next time it comes out to play I'll check the barrel length.
I do think it's likely it's using up spare Lee Metford or similar parts after the models were dropped from service. They probably kept the machinery around for a while in case these guns became crazily popular, and when they didn't it was disposed of or converted to the new parts needed for the Lee Enfield. She's a beautiful thing, tho if I were in the market for such a thing, a smooth bore service rifle would tickle things this just doesn't.
Sadly i see nice old things like this get scrapped a lot, as people don't want to licence them. Pity.
They often have badly corroded barrels making them out of proof and illegal to sell.
I have one of these in Canada. I have unfortunately broken the spring that locks the bolt head to the action. If anyone knows where I can find this part or a complete bolt head. Please let me know. Curtis Austin
What's the 24" regulation referred to?
In the UK, shotguns have, mostly, been treated differently in legislation than rifles, pistols and other firearms. Short barrel shotguns have generally been put in the same category as other (more restricted) firearms and that barrel length has changed at various times. It is currently 24" but has been 23.5", 23" and, as I recall 18" at various times. I don't have the historical figures at hand so don't take those numbers as gospel but they used to be shorter than they have been in recent years. This will have been lengthened to fall in the less restrictive category.
@@TheWirksworthGunroom Would that be the difference between a firearm certificate and a shotgun licence, the former being, theoretically, more restrictive by requiring more stringent reasons for wanting one?
@@domhogan7842 Exactly.
The Wirksworth Gunroom has
how a bout my old webly scot 410 bolt.
Different beasty altogether!