RedRoyRegulator
Super member
I was searching the usual “for sale” sites & come across this Britannia air rifle made between 1905-1908. I took a stab at it not knowing the exact condition of the rifle all I was told is it cocks & fires & for the price I couldn’t refuse
I noticed straight away the end of the cylinder had been drilled either side to take a DIY end cap, why the previous owner couldn’t just drill end cap to fit the original hole in the cylinder I don’t know?
First thing to do is have a look inside
As I started to strip the rifle down more parts were missing or damaged. As the end cap/mainspring guide is missing previous owner has used a basic nut & bolt to act as the guide along with a metal cylinder for the end cap & a piece of metal pipe that fits over the bolt.
End of the cylinder where the curved butt plate sits has been snapped off in past & repaired with two pins which have come loose over time, could possibly try to weld back together & sand?
Stirrup latch has also snapped in past & looks like it’s been welded back together.
Piston is in good condition which is good as I’ve seen others where the two notches for low/high power have snapped off
Next thing to do was get rid of that horrible paint job off.
Most of the markings have been sanded off in past, Anglo sure shot No.1 Mark 1 & Made only for R. Ramsbottom Manchester barley visible Cox patent is barley visible, the Britannia marking is still clearly visible.
Strangely the markings are set at side of the breech block & Cox Patent is above the rear sight as I’ve seen others with markings on top of block, also has deep cut out to maybe act as alignment for rear sight?
SN 742 trigger-unit stamped RD394207.
Next job to do will be to try & remove some of the heavy pitting on the cylinder & barrel looks like it’s been run over by a Kliens The wood stock covers most of ithe pitting on cylinder when it’s fitted but I don’t like to leave it as is.
I noticed straight away the end of the cylinder had been drilled either side to take a DIY end cap, why the previous owner couldn’t just drill end cap to fit the original hole in the cylinder I don’t know?
First thing to do is have a look inside
End of the cylinder where the curved butt plate sits has been snapped off in past & repaired with two pins which have come loose over time, could possibly try to weld back together & sand?
Piston is in good condition which is good as I’ve seen others where the two notches for low/high power have snapped off
Next thing to do was get rid of that horrible paint job off.
Strangely the markings are set at side of the breech block & Cox Patent is above the rear sight as I’ve seen others with markings on top of block, also has deep cut out to maybe act as alignment for rear sight?
SN 742 trigger-unit stamped RD394207.
Next job to do will be to try & remove some of the heavy pitting on the cylinder & barrel looks like it’s been run over by a Kliens
The wood stock covers most of ithe pitting on cylinder when it’s fitted but I don’t like to leave it as is.
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Yes sear, trigger, piston and barrel are ok, it’s the cylinder that’s been the biggest issue, full of pits underneath the stock on top of cylinder.
