Australian BSA .310 Cadet

Superb little BSA Cadet Rifle

An excellent BSA cadet in the exact condition you would want it, even posessing a perfect bore and being freshly CIP proofed.

Built in standard specifications and in the original calibre.  Designed and built to train boy soldiers to shoot correctly right from the start.  These fine little rifles were built purposely small in stature for the cadets they were destined to be training.  Size and stature does count when you are expecting a child to learn to shoot.  There is absolutley no point in giving a child or young lad a full sized rifle if he cant even bring the sights into position because the weapon is too heavy or long for his build.  The military or the time knew this so the cadet was born. It was deemed better to learn to shoot sucessfully on a smaller rifle than to struggle with an oversized weapon and not achieve any results.  The calibre is still substantial enough to do harm but, not to the user.  It also gives a realistic recoil, as opposed to the insignifgicant click of the .22LR. ( I actually wish I had learnt on such a weapon!)

Vital statistics are; 40.1/4″ in overall length.  The round blued barrel is 25.3/16″ long.  The trigger Pull is 13.5/8″ to centre.  Serrated trigger with Martini type Action.  Tipping block with lever and loading shute.  Flat sided blued action in typical Martini-Henry form, just reduced in size. The RHS of the action is marked across the middle; “COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA”  The serial number “12775” appears at the top right adjacent to the same number on the shank of the barrel. The top flat of the action as a clear Kangeroo marking. The LHS of the action is marked as follows; “MADE BY THE BIRMINGHAM SMALARMS CO LTD” / “TRADE stacked rifle mark MARKS / B.S.A.” The top RH of the barrel shank just infron of the knox-form has the calibre designation “crown/VP + 310  12 – 120.”  The top of the barrel is marked “MADE BY THE BIRMINGHAM SMALLARMS CO LTD” Just forward of the rear sights in a slightly smaller text size.

“Crown / VP ” is marked on the LHS top of the falling block.  The rear sights are guarded by protective “ears” around the windage adjustable aperture . This in turn is adjustable by knurled wheels either side.  The adjustment can be fine and is graduated on top to aid adjustment. Elevation is adjustable on these fine sights by a centrally mounted screw with knurled lug and is graduated from 100 to 600 yards.  The loading lever is about 4.1/2″ in length and stores in a clipped keeper in the belly of the butt-stock.  Single barrel ring with forward sling mount.  Rear sling mount on underside of butt.  Plain shaped steel butt-plate.  Each time the weapon is cocked and ready a cocking indicator appaers on the RHS of the falling block indicating the weapons readiness.  Sprung sight cover over the inverted V front sight.  Rear sights are marked on the ramp LHS “PAT 22681-05/P.PAT 8419-10”

The RHS of the butt is marked with a unit martking- ;”C.M.F./ S.A.”  “31”  Research provides this stands for Citizens Military Force of South Australia a territorial reserve formed for the defence of the land.  Typically these rifles were issued to the boys as in the phot where the brave young lads a shown each with their Cadet rifle.  This force grew in popularity and size each time a national emergancy loomed over the horizon.  These young men would have eventually been feed through into the army and either ended up in Gallipoli or the Far east in each of the conflicts that followed respectivley. The “31” is repeated on the rear of comb adjacent to the butt-plate tang.

Superb to excellent five groove bore with no damage or apparent ageing of any type.  No misting pitting or bulging, rifling continuous and strong with deep grooves.  Finish externally is good all over and entirely consumate with age. Turning to plum brown with some areas of blue still remaining.  Furniture – Both in good condition.  No excess finish.  Wood is entire, no splits or shakes very few marks  speak of.  Strong grain through the walnut on one side of the fore-end.  Mechanically fine.

I can’t fault this rifle – I want to keep it. However, my accountant would have otherwise!  The curse of the Gun Dealer!

Available with or without FAC as section 58(ii)

£ 845.

 

Comments Off on Australian BSA .310 Cadet