BSA Sportsman Five .22 LR Bolt-Action Rifle | 25-Inch Blued Barrel, Hardwood Stock, KD-Prefix 1950s Production
This BSA Sportsman Five is a post-war British .22 LR rifle built in Birmingham between 1951 and 1955, as indicated by its KD serial prefix. Designed for small-game and target work, it combines a smooth cock-on-closing bolt, a 5-round detachable magazine, and traditional iron sights. Its 25-inch carbon-steel barrel, hardwood stock, and Birmingham nitro proofs make it a representative example of BSA’s well-regarded sporting rimfires of the era.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The rifle displays significant finish loss, numerous handling marks, and visible surface rust in several areas. The bore remains bright.
What’s Included
- BSA Sportsman Five bolt-action rifle
Produced during a limited post-war run of roughly 58,500 units, the Sportsman Five reflects BSA’s transition from military contracts to civilian sporting arms. The KD-prefix places this example squarely in the mid-production years, adding context for collectors tracking variations within the series.
The cock-on-closing bolt, inherited from BSA’s miniature-rifle lineage, offers a short, fluid motion that keeps the shooter on target between shots. An integral magazine release catch secures the 5-round detachable box, maintaining the rifle’s streamlined profile.
A 25-inch carbon-steel barrel delivers reliable rimfire accuracy. The unhooded blade front sight pairs with a folding leaf rear sight featuring a stepped elevator for precise elevation changes without tools.
The hardwood stock wears an oil/varnish finish that highlights the rifle’s utilitarian British styling. Birmingham proof marks (crown BV, BP, NP) verify that the action and barrel passed nitro proof testing before leaving the factory.