Hi Pete,

1915 BSA rifles aren't, by themselves, rare. They are unusual though in that BSA switched to the MkIII* standard late in 1915 production before it was an authorized practice to do so. The MKIII* pattern wasn't approved until 1916 and BSA was the only maker to go against the MKIII specification before being officially allowed to. They likely would have suffered serious consequences if the anticipated switch the MkIII* production had not been approved in 1916.

MAny of the 1915 BSA rifles will have a shallow spot on the forestock where the blank was formed to permit the front volley sight to be inletted, but obviously that inletting was never cut.

They're neat guns.