This bicycle had to have a maximum weight of 22lb to be used for airborne objectives. The war office asked BSA to manufacture a new pedal bicycle in 1941. Other countries including the Netherlands, Sweden, India, South Africa and Ireland also ordered the M20. At the onset of war, the British government requisitioned all 690 M20s BSA had in stock, and ordered an additional 8,000 motorcycles. The British armed forces chose the BSA M20 motorcycle as their motorcycle of choice. 303 Browning machine guns to the tune of 600 a week in March 1939 and at its peak they were producing 16,390 a month by 1942. were the only factory in the UK manufacturing rifles. In 1953, they separated the bicycle and motorcycle business and then in 1957 they sold the bicycle business to Raleigh.īy the start of the Second World War, BSA Guns Ltd. was set up in 1919 to manufacture bicycles and motorcycles. Then in 1908 they went back to manufacturing bicycles for their own company.
In 1905, BSA made their first experimental motorcycle. They were supplying 1,200 rifles per week which eventually re-equipped the entire British army. Bicycle production was halted in 1887 because BSA concentrated on the manufacture of the Lee-Metford magazine loading rifle under contract to the war office. They started off making the Otto Dicycle and during the 1880s they started to produce safety bicycles. It involved producing accurately machined standard parts in large numbers but at low prices. The gun factory was ideal for the manufacture of bicycle parts. BSA BicyclesĪ new direction had to be found and in the following year (1880), BSA started to manufacture bicycles. This contract lasted until 1879, when they were forced to shut down for a year due to a lack of work (as there’s not much demand for guns in peace time). They imported innovative machinery from the USA which meant they were able to develop guns with interchangeable parts.īSA agreed their first contract with the war office in 1868. Initially to supply arms to the British government during the Crimean war.
In June 1861 encouraged by the war office, a group of gunsmith members from the Birmingham Small Arms Trade Association formed the Birmingham Small Arms company. In this article, we are going to go over a brief history of BSA as a company and give a short review of some of their top selling air rifles. Throughout their time, they have been responsible for making some of the best guns ever made.
The Birmingham Small Arms Factory, known as BSA are one of the top air rifle producers in the world and have been making guns since 1861.