Did found some tex about the BSA Monarch used here in this episode and the BSA riffles in general. If somebody is interested in BSA riffles and their history read here below: BSA Monarch ”.30-06 started April 66 with SN 7L2000 thru 7L4650 in Feb. 71. ” ”"The Monarch had several very good selling points; it was very stylish and attractive to look at, it was exceptionally well balanced, it was also light in weight and extremely accurate." The barrels were spill bored and each rifling groove cut indicvidually. A factor that adversely affected sales was the receiver ring machining that only allowed the use of the Parker-Hale "roll-off" mounts.” ”Just a small point here there were two versions of the Monarch the 1st pattern had the same action as the Majestic complete with scalloped left wall and dovetails for the Parker-Hale rings. the 2nd pattern Monarch had a smotth toped action that took scopes mounts that would fit the Rem 700 action so it would be more acceptable to the American market.” ”BSA is of course Birmingham Small Arms of England. The first of the modern line of BSA rifles came to the States in the mid nineteen fifties. There is some confusion as to the actual name of this model but I have seen it described as either the Royal or the Hunter model. These rifles were basically of the mauser pattern incorporating the long mauser extractor. They were fine quality guns, but a bit expensive to produce. By the late fifties, these rifles had given way to the BSA Majestic series. This model incorporated the push feed system that was by then becoming prevalent in the States. It also set the basic pattern for the subsequent BSA models. The next successor model was the Monarch which included some simplifications. Further while both the Royal and the Monarch series had an integral receiver scope base dovetail (mated to Parker Hale mounts), the Monarch dispensed with it. The monarch ‘ruled’ until perhaps the late nineteen sixties at which time the last of these nice BSA rifles reached the American shores in the form of the CF2 model. In some technical action details it was a throwback to the Majestic model though still excluding the integral dovetail receiver pattern. The Majestic and CF2 are considered just a bit more desirable than the Monarch action although the styling of some of the CF2 stocks was a bit radical and less than popular. The good about all these series was that they were made ‘the old fashioned way’, (much like the pre-64 Winchester model 70) from solid steel billets for receiver and bolt, which involved labor intensive machining. The Royal rifles had come in three action lengths, with the largest only accommodating the 30-06 class cartridges. The several later models were apparently offered in only the two longer lengths which eventually included two short magnum chamberings. I own several of the Royal series and find these rifles quite nice. (Photos of one in 243 Win. below) I have owned a Majestic with a comparable personal evaluation. The now defunct firm of Herter’s marketed both the later BSA push feed actions (as I recall the Majestic series) and complete rifles which they assembled. These were not up to the BSA standards in fit/finish though apparently still quite functional. In speaking particularly of the latter two models, I need to attribute my knowledge, actually recollections here, to Frank DeHasse’s book “Bolt Action Rifles”. There a detailed description of all four models can be found along with his expert evaluations.
If anybody knows something about the story of the Highlander Churchill riffles, please comment - I dont know much about this little riffle and its history, think they were build in Italy for the USA market in the 80s. I am sure somebody out there is familiar with the "Highlanders" and their story..
Did found some tex about the BSA Monarch used here in this episode and the BSA riffles in general.
If somebody is interested in BSA riffles and their history read here below:
BSA Monarch
”.30-06 started April 66 with SN 7L2000 thru 7L4650 in Feb. 71. ”
”"The Monarch had several very good selling points; it was very stylish and attractive to look at, it was exceptionally well balanced, it was also light in weight and extremely accurate." The barrels were spill bored and each rifling groove cut indicvidually. A factor that adversely affected sales was the receiver ring machining that only allowed the use of the Parker-Hale "roll-off" mounts.”
”Just a small point here there were two versions of the Monarch the 1st pattern had the same action as the Majestic complete with scalloped left wall and dovetails for the Parker-Hale rings. the 2nd pattern Monarch had a smotth toped action that took scopes mounts that would fit the Rem 700 action so it would be more acceptable to the American market.”
”BSA is of course Birmingham Small Arms of England. The first of the modern line of BSA rifles came to the States in the mid nineteen fifties. There is some confusion as to the actual name of this model but I have seen it described as either the Royal or the Hunter model. These rifles were basically of the mauser pattern incorporating the long mauser extractor. They were fine quality guns, but a bit expensive to produce. By the late fifties, these rifles had given way to the BSA Majestic series. This model incorporated the push feed system that was by then becoming prevalent in the States. It also set the basic pattern for the subsequent BSA models. The next successor model was the Monarch which included some simplifications. Further while both the Royal and the Monarch series had an integral receiver scope base dovetail (mated to Parker Hale mounts), the Monarch dispensed with it. The monarch ‘ruled’ until perhaps the late nineteen sixties at which time the last of these nice BSA rifles reached the American shores in the form of the CF2 model. In some technical action details it was a throwback to the Majestic model though still excluding the integral dovetail receiver pattern. The Majestic and CF2 are considered just a bit more desirable than the Monarch action although the styling of some of the CF2 stocks was a bit radical and less than popular. The good about all these series was that they were made ‘the old fashioned way’, (much like the pre-64 Winchester model 70) from solid steel billets for receiver and bolt, which involved labor intensive machining.
The Royal rifles had come in three action lengths, with the largest only accommodating the 30-06 class cartridges. The several later models were apparently offered in only the two longer lengths which eventually included two short magnum chamberings. I own several of the Royal series and find these rifles quite nice. (Photos of one in 243 Win. below) I have owned a Majestic with a comparable personal evaluation. The now defunct firm of Herter’s marketed both the later BSA push feed actions (as I recall the Majestic series) and complete rifles which they assembled. These were not up to the BSA standards in fit/finish though apparently still quite functional.
In speaking particularly of the latter two models, I need to attribute my knowledge, actually recollections here, to Frank DeHasse’s book “Bolt Action Rifles”. There a detailed description of all four models can be found along with his expert evaluations.
If anybody knows something about the story of the Highlander Churchill riffles, please comment - I dont know much about this little riffle and its history, think they were build in Italy for the USA market in the 80s. I am sure somebody out there is familiar with the "Highlanders" and their story..