FROM METEORS TO MERLINS
The mid to late 1950s saw considerable BSA design and product modernisation. The driver for this was both to keep the product marketleading in appearance, features and performance, but also to reduce manufacturing costs.
The first all-new rifle to emerge in this era was the BSA Meteor in 1959, intended to replace both the Cadet and Cadet Major. The design utilised pressed parts, reducing costs considerably. At 41” long, weighing 5¼ lb and with a well-shaped stock, it satisfied both youngsters and adults, avoiding loss in sales due to the rationalisation of the two previous rifles down to one.
Initially in .177, but in .22 soon after, it had a worthwhile advantage over the Cadet Major. Radically, it had grooves pressed into the cylinder top to accept a plastic-bodied, 3x magnification telescopic sight commissioned from Elliot Optical in Birmingham and advertised with the rifle. Another first for BSA, who stole a considerable march on the competition. These early sights were primitive, rotating the turret wheels for elevation and windage moved the Crosshairs off-centre, but they
