BSA Martini International

[Dave Garrett]

Are there any businesses that are still importing the BSA Martinis?

 

[MrG52D]

There are a couple over on RFC MKII's one light, one heavy.

 

[Leeman]

You could try Chesebro rifles, they took over the business of MT guns who used to import a lot of BSA rifles.

 

[Dave Garrett]

I saw both of those on Rimfire... Looking for something original finish ( nice) ... Chesebro looks to have only Savage .22 for sale... Duffys on Gunbrokers and Mt Guns used to import lots of them... But the supply must of dried up... My quest continues... Thank you for the suggestions...

 

[Laurie]

Are there any businesses that are still importing the BSA Martinis?

I'm assuming you mean used examples as BSA folded 51 years ago?

When I started shooting in the UK in the late 60s, the Martinis were the staple of our smallbore target rifle clubs, but within 20 years were challenged by Walther and Anschutz which quickly dominated the UK smallbore target scene. By the end of the century, you could hardly give the surviving Martinis away. Hundreds, if not thousands, were bought for a few pounds at gun auctions for their match sights, the rest of the rifle then scrapped, also some purchased for export.

In this century, the Martinis became rare here and those who like them have hung onto them. A few of the later models found their way into RF Benchrest when it started up, but how many are still in use in that discipline?

There are surprising numbers of 310 Martini Cadets (former Australia and New Zealand?) still around which command very good prices and are much sought after as they're very collectible. Unlike the rimfire match rifles, they can be bought and owned without a UK Firearms Certificate as the 310 is classed as an out of production obsolete cartridge making the rifles' legal status non-shooting 'curios'. (As soon as you own components and dies though, never mind load any ammo, you must go through FAC application and its many hoops as the status changes to 'firearm' under the provisions of the various Acts of Parliament.)

So, basically, there have been few to no Martinis available for import by any US company for many years now, if not decades.

 

[RCE1]

Those big Martinis are amazing. I have two, one with an original barrel turned down to a "running boar" profile and one with a Lilja barrel. I would love to find a left handed buttstock for one as I have had to switch to my left eye and the wood is pretty ergonomic the wrong side for my comfort.

 

[ChrisNZ]

When my two boys were young teenagers, I took them smallbore shooting just to get started properly. The older one is a leftie so ended up buying him a L-hand BSA Martini which was in very good order. Shot pretty well actually. Cost me NZ$250 which is roughly US$150. There are still quite a few lying about unused according to clubmate who also shoots smallbore.

 

[howieranger]

Simpsons guns in Galesburg often has BSA Martini Internationals in inventory. I last checked their website last week and they had over ten listed. I have 2 MK2 and 2 MK3. A MK2 that Mark Chesebro re barreled with a Shilen select and made the barrel frefloating like the MK3. The other is a stock Mk2 with the Parker Hale peep sights. One of the MK 3's I rebarreled with a Shilen select that shoots great and the 2nd Mk 3 I bought at auction that came with a Redfield 20 power target scope that looks new and shoots very well also. On a good day the MK3 with the Shilen barrel will shoot 5 10 shot groups that average .300 and under.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I found an International Mk 1 last year. There's a few kicking around down here - and I'm still looking for a Mk2. The main difference is that on the later rifle, the trigger is adjustable from the outside of the action. The original rules - back when I started was for a 3lb trigger. Yes - and I learned to drive a stick shift too!

 

[Dave Garrett]

That is what I was looking for... Thank you for taking the time to post Simpsons.. 12 -14 years ago I had a super nice example of a Freeland built MkII... With all the accessories..Like a dummy I sold it and my win 52... Now all the granddaughter wants to do is shoot rimfires...

 

[1066]

I'm assuming you mean used examples as BSA folded 51 years ago?

When I started shooting in the UK in the late 60s, the Martinis were the staple of our smallbore target rifle clubs, but within 20 years were challenged by Walther and Anschutz which quickly dominated the UK smallbore target scene. By the end of the century, you could hardly give the surviving Martinis away. Hundreds, if not thousands, were bought for a few pounds at gun auctions for their match sights, the rest of the rifle then scrapped, also some purchased for export.

In this century, the Martinis became rare here and those who like them have hung onto them. A few of the later models found their way into RF Benchrest when it started up, but how many are still in use in that discipline?

There are surprising numbers of 310 Martini Cadets (former Australia and New Zealand?) still around which command very good prices and are much sought after as they're very collectible. Unlike the rimfire match rifles, they can be bought and owned without a UK Firearms Certificate as the 310 is classed as an out of production obsolete cartridge making the rifles' legal status non-shooting 'curios'. (As soon as you own components and dies though, never mind load any ammo, you must go through FAC application and its many hoops as the status changes to 'firearm' under the provisions of the various Acts of Parliament.)

So, basically, there have been few to no Martinis available for import by any US company for many years now, if not decades.

Hi Laurie - I can confirm that a good few Internationals are used for RF Benchrest here in the UK, mainly at club level but still giving a good account. Once fitted with a reasonable scope they are quite competitive, accuracy is on par with most of the Anschutz/Walther's although do lack a little in the trigger department.

 

[Laurie]

Hi Laurie - I can confirm that a good few Internationals are used for RF Benchrest here in the UK, mainly at club level but still giving a good account. Once fitted with a reasonable scope they are quite competitive, accuracy is on par with most of the Anschutz/Walther's although do lack a little in the trigger department.
View attachment 1550753

Hi Allan.

Oddly enough, I was shooting in an F-Class match at Diggle on Saturday which hosted a 100 yards BR comp on the adjacent range. After a near terminal decline in 100 yd BR up there, it has seen a considerable revival in its fortunes and entry numbers, mostly it seems because of the inclusion of a rimfire class which is now half the entries or more. I got to talking afterwards to an old friend, a lady 6PPC shooter as was who told me she'd just acquired a Mk3 and was delighted with its performance in her first match earlier in the day.

 

[c3d4b2]

Link to BSA international bench rest setup. https://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/07/anschutz-and-bsa-martini-benchrest-rigs-from-mt-guns/

 

[1066]

Hi Allan.

Oddly enough, I was shooting in an F-Class match at Diggle on Saturday which hosted a 100 yards BR comp on the adjacent range. After a near terminal decline in 100 yd BR up there, it has seen a considerable revival in its fortunes and entry numbers, mostly it seems because of the inclusion of a rimfire class which is now half the entries or more. I got to talking afterwards to an old friend, a lady 6PPC shooter as was who told me she'd just acquired a Mk3 and was delighted with its performance in her first match earlier in the day.

Locally (SE, UK) we have recently seen an upsurge in interest in rimfire benchrest and also long range rimfire competitions. For the last couple of years I've been attending the Long Range Rimfire Club shoots at Bisley at 200,300,400yds shoots. Great fun and certainly sharpens up your wind reading skills.
Also been making a few scope mounts for the Martini Internationals and the QL-5 type ammo blocks.

 

[Mt.Boy]

Check this places website. It’s about 2 hrs from me. They had some about a month ago

Used Long Gun Rifles, High Quality - OWS

Browse our Rifles products at Default Store View.

www.ows-ammo.com