Question regarding a 22 Martini.

[SaxonPig]

I picked this up a few years ago. It has BSA name and logo on the receiver and BSA on the barrel. Barrel is stamped .220 Long Rifle Cartridge on one side and .22L on the other.

Both the receiver and barrel have flaming bomb stamps. Is this not a military marking? To me the barrel looks like it was sleeved from a larger caliber. Could this be a military rifle converted to 22 rim fire? It looks to me like a pretty small frame rifle so I don't think it could have been in some huge, hulking caliber.

Also, there is a screw that goes through the frame right under the barrel at the front of the receiver (large knurled head is on left side). It looks for all the world like a take-down screw. I removed it and the barrel wouldn't budge. But the screw doesn't seem to do anything but retain the barrel which is obviously notched for the screw. Should the barrel come off?

One more thing. The fore-end is checkered but the pistol grip is not. Typical or has something been replaced?

 

[natman]

It was born as a 22, shot until the barrel wore out / corroded and was relined in 22. Parker Hale used to have the process down to a fine art.

I don't think it's a 15, looks more like a 12 to me:

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/BSA_Model_12.html

Checkering is typical.

 

[Finprof]

Martini 12

It looks like a BSA Model 12 to me also. The knurled knob does not take down the barrel. It is for removing the trigger/bolt/action group from the receiver. Once you take out the action you can run a rod through the barrel since there is a small hole in the back of the receiver. The action comes out easily.
When you replace the action make sure the hammer is cocked. It took me about 4 hours to figure this out by myself.
I have a 12/15 which is a pistol grip version of your gun. The action is basically the same.
I love Martinis. I don't know why, but I do.

 

[SaxonPig]

Yes, mine is exactly like the 12 with the PH sight save the fact that mine doesn't have a rear sight on the barrel. The seller told me it was a Model 15 but it appears to be a 12 (now I don't know what the 15 looks like).

Near the bottom of the page that natman's link takes me to there is a photo of a take down lever attached to the screw I was describing. Mine has that screw but not the lever and I am still thinking it might allow the barrel to come off but I was thinking it pulled straight out. The text on the web page says it unscrews. I will try it. Won't cost anything.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Oohrah]

I had one years ago, and it was orginially a British training rifle, chambered in I think .310 Rook cartridge. Mine was rechambered to a 32 Winchester. Not a great job and a bit oversized chamber, and accuracy to be desired. I have seen some of their barrels relined to .22 cal. and even some completely rebarreled to small center fire calibers. It is a neat handy little rifle, but for some reason I traded it for something at the time, I thought was meaningful. I haven't seen one in a very long time.

 

[natman]

Yes, mine is exactly like the 12 with the PH sight save the fact that mine doesn't have a rear sight on the barrel. The seller told me it was a Model 15 but it appears to be a 12 (now I don't know what the 15 looks like).

The 15 has the rear of the receiver machined to act as the base for the peep sight:

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/BSA_Model_15_and_Centurion.htm