BSA Scorpion Air Pistol
Encyclopedia
The BSA Scorpion Air Pistol was an air pistol made in Birmingham UK by Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) and first produced in 1973. It was a spring powered, single-shot
weapon available in .177 (4.5 mm) and .22 (5.5 mm) caliber
s. The Scorpion came in 2 versions, the Mark 1 and Mark 2, differences are not easy to spot as earlier models developed and changed but still remained designated Mk1's. The easiest way to differentiate between the various models is by the serial number
prefix, located beneath the barrel joint.
PA - Scorpion pistol Mk1 .177 1972 - 1985
RA - Scorpion pistol Mk1 .22 1972 - 1985
PB - Scorpion pistol Mk2 .177 1985-1994
RB - Scorpion pistol Mk2 .22 1985-1994
MK2 versions are recognised by a scope rail, which was milled into the top of the cylinder allowing the user to add a special telescopic sight
with a longer eye relief
.
but the internal dimensions are different and parts are not interchangeable. The trigger is adjustable for pressure, but cannot be considered to be a target trigger. The pistol has an automatic safety catch
which is disengaged by operation of a short lever lying next to the shooter's thumb position. Many of the external parts, such as front and rear sights, are identical to those fitted to the contemporary BSA Meteor and AirSporter rifles. Early sights were die-cast alloy, later ones plastic. The gun can prove to be a little heavy to shoot for any period of time and the moulded plastic grip was designed for right hand shooters.
The Scorpion was one of the highest powered pistols of its day and at approximately 5.5 ft•lbf (7.5 J) of energy for both calibers it was close to the UK legal power limit for a air pistol, It is still comparable to modern weapons such as the Weihrauch HW45
.
Priced at about £20 when first launched in 1973, it was BSA's first air pistol. The standard kit included a bottle of oil, a small tube of pellet
s, a pressed steel target holder with targets, and a barrel extension to provide extra leverage
when cocking. Original packaging was in a polystyrene
tray with a printed cardboard
outer sleeve. In 2009 a .22 Mk2 Scorpion pistol in good order, in its original packaging and accessories, sold for £170 in the UK.
Good examples of this pistol are still available, however many have been poorly maintained and although most parts are still available from specialist suppliers, some are in short supply and restoration is neither straightforward nor cheap.
A full stocked "carbine" version of the gun, the The Buccaneer
was produced from 1977, neither the Scorpion or Buccaneer remain in production.
In the James Bond
film 'Octopussy
', Octopussy
(Maud Adams
) and her team use BSA Scorpion pistols loaded with tranquilizer
s to fight off Kamal's men.
Single-shot
Single-shot firearms are firearms that hold only a single round of ammunition, and must be reloaded after each shot. The history of firearms began with single-shot designs, and many centuries passed before multi-shot designs became commonplace...
weapon available in .177 (4.5 mm) and .22 (5.5 mm) caliber
Caliber
In guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
s. The Scorpion came in 2 versions, the Mark 1 and Mark 2, differences are not easy to spot as earlier models developed and changed but still remained designated Mk1's. The easiest way to differentiate between the various models is by the serial number
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
prefix, located beneath the barrel joint.
PA - Scorpion pistol Mk1 .177 1972 - 1985
RA - Scorpion pistol Mk1 .22 1972 - 1985
PB - Scorpion pistol Mk2 .177 1985-1994
RB - Scorpion pistol Mk2 .22 1985-1994
MK2 versions are recognised by a scope rail, which was milled into the top of the cylinder allowing the user to add a special telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
with a longer eye relief
Eye relief
-Eye Relief and Exit Pupil:The eye relief of a telescope, a microscope, or binoculars is the distance from the last surface of an eyepiece at which the eye can obtain the full viewing angle. If a viewer's eye is outside this distance, a reduced field of view will be obtained...
.
History
The gun was a firm favourite among shooters in the 1970s and 1980s, the piston, chamber and barrel are similar to the BSA Meteor Air RifleBSA Meteor Air Rifle
The BSA Meteor is a Break Barrel spring powered Air Rifle made in Birmingham UK by Birmingham Small Arms Company and first produced in 1959. It was the 1st air rifle to have the ability to fit a telescopic sight. and remains one of the worlds best selling air powered weapons with over 2 million...
but the internal dimensions are different and parts are not interchangeable. The trigger is adjustable for pressure, but cannot be considered to be a target trigger. The pistol has an automatic safety catch
Safety Catch
Safety Catch is a sitcom on BBC Radio 4 created by Laurence Howarth and written by Howarth and John Finnemore. The series was first broadcast in 2007. It is about Simon McGrath , a man who works in a job that he does not like - the arms trade. The show mocks issues of morality, although Howarth...
which is disengaged by operation of a short lever lying next to the shooter's thumb position. Many of the external parts, such as front and rear sights, are identical to those fitted to the contemporary BSA Meteor and AirSporter rifles. Early sights were die-cast alloy, later ones plastic. The gun can prove to be a little heavy to shoot for any period of time and the moulded plastic grip was designed for right hand shooters.
The Scorpion was one of the highest powered pistols of its day and at approximately 5.5 ft•lbf (7.5 J) of energy for both calibers it was close to the UK legal power limit for a air pistol, It is still comparable to modern weapons such as the Weihrauch HW45
Weihrauch hw45
The Weihrauch HW45 is an air pistol manufactured by Weihrauch & Weihrauch. It is more commonly known in North America as the Beeman P-1.The Pistol is described as a sporter and is available in three different calibres: .177, .20 and .22. The HW45 is used for target shooting, plinking and...
.
Priced at about £20 when first launched in 1973, it was BSA's first air pistol. The standard kit included a bottle of oil, a small tube of pellet
Pellet (air gun)
An air gun pellet is, for the most part, a non-spherical projectile designed to be fired from an air gun. But this is not always the case.Pellets differ from bullets used in firearms because of the pressures encountered; firearms operate at pressures of thousands of atmospheres, while airguns...
s, a pressed steel target holder with targets, and a barrel extension to provide extra leverage
Lever
In physics, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to either multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object or resistance force , or multiply the distance and speed at which the opposite end of the rigid object travels.This leverage...
when cocking. Original packaging was in a polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
tray with a printed cardboard
Cardboard
Corrugated fiberboard is a paper-based material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. It is widely used in the manufacture of corrugated boxes and shipping containers....
outer sleeve. In 2009 a .22 Mk2 Scorpion pistol in good order, in its original packaging and accessories, sold for £170 in the UK.
Good examples of this pistol are still available, however many have been poorly maintained and although most parts are still available from specialist suppliers, some are in short supply and restoration is neither straightforward nor cheap.
A full stocked "carbine" version of the gun, the The Buccaneer
BSA Buccaneer Air Rifle
The BSA Buccaneer was a Break Barrel spring powered Air Rifle first produced in 1977 , by the Birmingham Small Arms Company . It was manufactured in both .177 and .22 calibers and marketed as introduction air rifle for younger shooters with a muzzle energy of 5.5 ft•lbf of energy...
was produced from 1977, neither the Scorpion or Buccaneer remain in production.
In the James Bond
James Bond (film series)
The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
film 'Octopussy
Octopussy
Octopussy is the thirteenth entry in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's title is taken from a short story in Ian Fleming's 1966 short story collection Octopussy and The Living Daylights...
', Octopussy
Octopussy (character)
Octopussy is a fictional character in the James Bond film of the same name. She is played by the Swedish actress Maud Adams.-Biography:...
(Maud Adams
Maud Adams
Maud Solveig Christina Wikström , known professionally as Maud Adams, is a Swedish actress, known for her roles as two different Bond girls: in The Man with the Golden Gun , and as the title character in Octopussy .-Early life:Adams was born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström in Luleå, Sweden, the...
) and her team use BSA Scorpion pistols loaded with tranquilizer
Tranquilizer
A tranquilizer, or tranquilliser , is a drug that induces tranquility in an individual.The term "tranquilizer" is imprecise, and is usually qualified, or replaced with more precise terms:...
s to fight off Kamal's men.
