Airgun World – Summer 2019

http://www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIRGUN WORLD 53

VINTAGE AIRGUNS

proportioned. Guernsey-based J.E. Pavoux

commented in 1930 that experiments with the

BSA air rifle proved the rifle was capable of

grouping within 1/16 inch at a range of 6

yards, which was the nationally adopted classic

‘British’ air rifle competition distance.

Shots were all taken from the off-hand,

standing unsupported position, which was

referred to as the charm of the air rifle cult by

its supporters. Its detractors argued that this

unstable position was no longer practised with

the service rifle at Bisley, but the position has

been retained to this day and with the relatively

short distance involved, is certainly challenging

enough to provide

immense

satisfaction

when

consistent

results are

achieved.

NO FLUKE

For the championship, only .177 air rifles

fitted with either open or aperture sights

were permitted. Two cards were to be shot

per match, with a highest possible score of

100 per competitor. A team consisted of six

shooters. A win scored 2 points for a team,

whilst a tie awarded 1 point.

Kingsland were up against the L.M.S.

Temperance Institute in the first round and

beat them robustly by 576 to 481 points.

Kingsland’s Mr E Despointes was the only

shooter to score a perfect 100 in the first round

and set the pace for the series. To show this

was no fluke, Despointes did the same again in

the third round, when his team beat St

Martin’s, also from Guernsey 575 to 551.

Kingsland were up against Southampton Gas

Co in the semi-finals and beat them 575 to

560, which placed them in the final against the

North United team from Guernsey. There was

little point in staging the final on the mainland

and both teams shot it out shoulder to shoulder

in their own locality. Kingsland won with a team

score of 578 against 566 by North United,

earning each team member a silver medal with

a gold centre, whilst the runners up were

awarded a silver SMRC medal each.

VETERAN RIFLE

The two air rifles pictured with the winning team

look like long-cylindered BSA Club Standard

(CS) models. These rifles shared the same

cylinder and barrel length as the .22 ‘Long Tom’

and provided a flat trajectory, together with high

power for air rifle competition. Guernsey

marksmen often modified their rifles and both

have trigger-fitted sling eyes and foresight

covers. The rifle at left has a long cover, which

looks like an A.J. Parker model, whilst the rifle at

right has a nickel-plated BSA cover. The CS on

the right looks well used with a loss to the bluing

on the air cylinder, cocking link and underlever.

These are the parts which are handled

whenever a rifle is used and it seems the rifle’s

owner was not overly fussed about the BSA’s

external appearance.

However, I’m sure he was a lot more mindful

of the internal condition as this rifle looks to be

a veteran of many a competition despite being

no more than 8 years old when the photo was

taken. I still use an ex Guernsey Marksman’s

CS for competitions today but that is a tale for

another day. 

Scorecards such as these were used to score

matches. A.J. Parker’s cards also included adverts

for their air rifle aperture sight and Foresight

Protector.

This well-used BSA

Protector is marked

with the Piled Arms

trademark.

Guernsey shooters were huge

fans of aperture sights such

as this one from the London

Small Arms Company.

An original A.J.

Parker Forsight

Protector.

This well used BSA Protector is marked with the

Piled Arms trademark.

This BSA Club Standard once belonged to a
Guernsey-based shooter and remains among the
most accurate BSAs I have ever used.

“A team consisted of six shooters. A win scored

2 points for a team, whilst a tie awarded 1 point”