Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2  Send TopicPrint
Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) BSA H.M. Pope (Read 17759 times)
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
BSA H.M. Pope
Nov 30th, 2016 at 10:18pm
Print Post  
I have a BSA Model 15 .22 special stock from my grandfather's collection. The markings on the barrel and the markings under where the forestock is attached have H.M. Pope stamped. The barrel is around 27.5" with an overall length of around 44".

Looking at insuring it and need to know how do I authenticate this is a true H.M. Pope model and not the Olympic models he just inspected and stamped? The value is a lot more than the regular models and from what I have read there are very few of these in existance.

Thx!
« Last Edit: Nov 30th, 2016 at 11:21pm by CELDezign »  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #1 - Nov 30th, 2016 at 11:22pm
Print Post  
Barrel H.M. Pope stamp.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #2 - Nov 30th, 2016 at 11:23pm
Print Post  
Top barrel H.M. Pope zoom.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #3 - Nov 30th, 2016 at 11:30pm
Print Post  
Under forestock H.M. Pope barrel stamps.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #4 - Nov 30th, 2016 at 11:31pm
Print Post  
Left side view.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Travelor
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 132
Location: Central Arkansas
Joined: May 5th, 2008
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #5 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 6:54am
Print Post  
Beautiful Martini.   

I have a Model 15 and the rear sight is affixed to the receiver with screws parallel to the barrel, rather than vertically.  I believe your rifle is a Model 12/15.

Wish I could help with authenticating it for you.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
gewehrfreund
Senior Forum Member
****
Offline



Posts: 437
Location: Cortland
Joined: Jan 24th, 2005
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #6 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 7:31am
Print Post  
Travelor wrote on Dec 1st, 2016 at 6:54am:
Beautiful Martini.  

I have a Model 15 and the rear sight is affixed to the receiver with screws parallel to the barrel, rather than vertically.  I believe your rifle is a Model 12/15.

Wish I could help with authenticating it for you.


More likely that it's a reworked Model 12, given that the 12/15 was a little after Pope's time. Also there should be serial number(s) on the breechblock and other internals; the 12/15s all started with a "P" in the serial number, so without that, it's probably not a 12/15.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
peterson2520ss
Full Member
***
Offline


Life member 82

Posts: 128
Location: Yakima, WA
Joined: Nov 3rd, 2009
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #7 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 9:35am
Print Post  
It is a Jersey City Pope barrel.  The number next to the screw hole on the bottom of the barrel is the Pope number and the numbers above the H. M. Pope is the dates he stamped it.  Great rifle.
Det
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
QuestionableMaynard8130
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 4144
Location: Benton  Harbor MI
Joined: Apr 17th, 2004
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #8 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 10:00am
Print Post  
neat rifle one we'd all love.   But just curious about how it came to be.   Would he have rebarrelled it with one of his own, or did someone else put an authentic Pope "take-off" barrel on the BSA action?

how could you tell?
  

sacred cows make the best burger
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
marlinguy
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline


Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

Posts: 16274
Location: Oregon
Joined: Feb 2nd, 2009
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #9 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 11:05am
Print Post  
A lot of Pope barrels ended up being installed on guns later after Pope's death, or removed from one gun and installed on another. A Pope barrel installed on a gun built after his death doesn't change the barrel's quality. It may eliminate any chance Pope did the installation, but that's not unusual. Even when Pope was alive there were people who simply purchased a barrel from Pope and installed it themselves.

Great Martini! With a very desirable barrel too!
  

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
watchthewind
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 955
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Joined: Mar 10th, 2015
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #10 - Dec 1st, 2016 at 10:48pm
Print Post  
This is a great rifle thank you for sharing. I'd love to read a range report  Smiley Could make for a good article for the ASSRA Journal.
Scott
« Last Edit: Dec 2nd, 2016 at 6:35pm by watchthewind »  

ASSRA Member # 11408
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Fred Boulton
Oldtimer
*****
Offline



Posts: 801
Joined: Jan 6th, 2007
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #11 - Dec 2nd, 2016 at 2:51pm
Print Post  
It appears to be a model 15. The slot for the rear sight is visible in the photographs. Probably removed because a 'scope was fitted.
Fred
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
CELDezign
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 8
Location: Winston-Salem
Joined: Nov 30th, 2016
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #12 - Dec 2nd, 2016 at 6:09pm
Print Post  
I would like to thank everyone on the information so far for this rifle. My grandfather was an FFL dealer in the state of New York back in the 1930's until his death in 1982. He began shooting in the 1920's attending many matches at Camp Perry to which we have many small bore competition medals he earned. We have never used this rifle, though the action works properly. The barrel bore is very clean with no pits or bad spots whatsoever. Really not sure how this rifle became part of his personal collection but I am interested in finding out its history. Any additional information on properly identifying this will be much appreciated. 

Here is an image of the serial number on the receiver. When I have time I will post additional images of the other serial numbers that are on the gun.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Travelor
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 132
Location: Central Arkansas
Joined: May 5th, 2008
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #13 - Dec 3rd, 2016 at 7:45am
Print Post  
This link may help.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
FITZ
Oldtimer
*****
Offline


REGARDS

Posts: 917
Location: MASSACHUSETTS
Joined: Apr 16th, 2004
Re: BSA H.M. Pope
Reply #14 - Dec 3rd, 2016 at 4:57pm
Print Post  
CELDezign, no mystery as to how your Grandfather came into that Rifle. Being a serious Small Bore shooter he would have wanted the very best. So he either had Pope barrel a Rifle for him. Or he went looking for one by Pope. Being a FFL License holder at that time taking ownership would have been a piece of cake for him. Back in those day's there were many home based FFL dealers. I dealt with many who had their shopstore in refurbished chicken houses, Garages, Cellars, Etc. It was not a problem then to get FFL and local Permits. I suspect that he ordered it. And he was smart,  The BSA Martini sits right up there with the best Falling Block Single Shot Rifles. He also was smart enough to keep it in his estate. Hoping maybe there would be someone in the Family that would care to follow Him.
Treasure it and shoot it once in a while. Care for it, no matter what you hear clean it when done and lightly Oil the Bore and 
outside and store it in dry clean place in a decent protective sleeve. This an item that even now has some significant $$ Value. HTH Regards, FITZ. Smiley
  

FITZ
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: [1] 2 
Send TopicPrint