Resurrecting a classic Falcon custom

[AirNGasman]

Those of you unfortunate enough to know me also probably realize I can be prone to the overuse of superlatives. Especially when talking about my pup Maggyy, red-heads, and GUNS. 

Some of you might have also endured hearing about my latest wood-working project which I've used a superlative I seldom use, to describe my anticipated results. I finished the wood work today, and will now send the Faclon FN12 custom-stocked pistol to Dave Slade at Airgunwerks to reseal and reassemble into a one-of-a-kind... "SHOWPIECE". 

As I understand it from the gentleman I bought the gun from, the stock was originally fitted to the Falcon by a guy I once knew; Van, at Air Hog. In the process of improving some of Van's less-than-impressive work, I've deduced the stock was actually an aftermarket custom stock (a Fajen, I think) for a Remington XP100 bolt-action pistol, that Van re-inletted for the Falcon FN12 (which was a 12" barreled carbine). The man I bought the gun from had added brass threaded inserts to the bottom of the grip, to attach an accessory carbine accessory stock. 

I removed the brass inserts, filled the holes with JB Weld to reinforce the grip stronger than wood, attached the Bocote grip cap pictured. then refinished the stock with the finish I use on my custom bows (Fullerplast). I find a "soft satin sheen" final finish almost as sexy as red-heads; and though considerably easier to aspire to than achieve, not nearly as difficult and problematic as a red-head!

Suffice to say I'm very pleased with the stock resurrection. Can't wait to get the one-of-a-kind Falcon FN12 pistol back into service, but I have a long period of anticipation to endure. Dave Slade being British American, hopefully he appreciates the classic British-made Falcon PCPs as much as I do. I have a lot of faith in Dave's work, and highly recommend him for most professional airgunsmithing needs.

Matter of fact one of my first professional writing assignments was writing a 1990s article for American Airgunner magazine about a Falcon FN8 pistol they sent me for the story. It was a dream assignment for this life-long airgunner and pistolero. I closed the article with a story and photo of taking a big Texas jackrabbit with an awesome offhand brain shot... at 53 paces!

Happy Shooting Y'all,

Ron 

 

[Flintsack]

Beautiful wood on that stock. Yes, it just screams XP 100. I wonder if it had a forend tip on it at one time?

mike

 

[Arzrover]

NICE stock, Ron !!

That soft satin look is my favorite and really shows the grain !

We have an FN19 RAPTOR and an FN12 HAWK. Falcons always seemed under appreciated in my eyes.... beautiful bluing, all brass and steel construction , and VERY good consistency unregulated. BlueBaby bought the FN12 at the 2000 Worlds in Minnesota during their auction. Wonderful little rifle that Wade Southerland set up for her. I like the Hawk action best, myself.

Congrats and be sure to show us how it shoots when you get it back from Dave. He's about as good as it gets, in my view.

Bob

 

[AirNGasman]

I don't think it ever had a fore-end tip Mike; because the fore-end length seems proportionate to the stock (and an XP100). Also, I can't imagine anyone removing a nice fore-end tip. "Yes, it just screams XP 100." Matter of fact if you look hard enough at the top photo you can see where I filled-in a notch at the ass-end of the stock with Brownell's stock-bedding compound (stained brown to match the wood somewhat). The notch no doubt for an XP100 bolt. 

The FN12 for this stock is a Hawk, Bobby. I bought an FN8 Raptor from Wade at an Arkansas airgun show, after Van promised thrice to look up and give me a a price for one he'd brought to sell, but never did. I didn't give him a fourth opportunity to sell it to me. I've always considered Falcons to be top-notch, classic, PCP exotica.

"Be sure to show us how it shoots". Not that I've ever been known to brag about any of my airguns, but if she shoots as well as expected I might not be able to resist. Thinking 20 foot pounds, and 3/4" groups at 50 yards. That would go a long way toward overlooking the fact it won't have any real practical purpose... other than being a fantastic shooting toy, of course. But come to think of it, isn't that largely what airguns are all about anyway? 

I spoke to Dave a couple weeks ago about working on it. He's a couple months behind in his work-load from being laid out for a month with Covid. Sure glad he's okay. Besides being an excellent resource for the airgun community, I thoroughly enjoy his wry sense of humor and easy banter. One of few individuals I've found that can keep up with me in a race to the bottom of adolescent humor... without even breaking a sweat or blush! He certainly belies the caricature of an uptight British gent. 

 

[Flintsack]

My bespoke Bowkett in 177. And a falcon hammer in 25. I think they’re going out chipmunk hunting this week.

I had the pleasure of shooting in the same foursome as David at the last nationals in 2019. It was really fun to meet him after so many phone conversations over the years. Obviously your new Pistola is in good hands.

 

[AirNGasman]

Nice pair of Falcons, Mike! And the only Leupold Gilmore sight I've ever seen other than my own.

As I searched for the photo of my Gilmore that I wanted to post, I came across a second photo of it also. Only then did it occur to me the two photos have something (else) in common, that I hadn't realized before.

As the Match Director for the pistol events at 2008 U.S. Field Target National Championships, I publicized we would award two pistol National Champion titles- Scope Pistol, and Iron Sight/Non-Magnifying Dot Sight. Apparently the Awards-Procurement Committee (of one) must have found the part about "/Non-Magnifying Dot Sight" too much verbiage to include on the plaque. Having since then served as an Awards-Procurement Committee (of one), I can relate and sympathize.

Truth be told, I was one of only two shooters of eight in the class to use a dot sight at 2008 Nats. And once I realized my 25/40 score was higher than all 7 other shooters combined, I mailed my first ever National Champion award to the highest placed iron sight shooter. That wasn't easy to do; but was the right thing to do. I don't regret it.

Of course the 2012 award has a good story, also. As seen on the 2012 plaque, the fact that Sporter Pistol class allowed iron and red-dot sights actually made it onto the award. Perhaps I was very motivated by the 2008 story above; consequently my resolve was quite 'hardened' at 2012 Nats. In the field of 14 shooters contesting Sporter Pistol, my 39/40 was 7 points higher than Second Place; second through sixth places separated by only three points (29-32/40). 'Long-in-the-tooth' airgunners might recognize several names here-

More than a little 'miffed' about missing my first perfect field target score by ONE point (on the last lane, OF COURSE), my hardened resolve cured even harder for the next pistol match; and I got my first perfect field target score in the Hunter Pistol event. In total, I brought home three National Champion awards from Oregon (including the 2012 Hunter Rifle Grand Prix title), and the three Texans that made the trip brought six National Champion titles back to Texas.

 

Sadly, a couple years ago I parted with my .22 Falcon Raptor above in a financially weak moment. So I'm extra motivated to have Showpiece resurrected and in my hands shooting.

If not too much trouble Mike, can you share the ballistics on your .177 and .25 FN8s?

Thanks Bud,

R 

 

[Flintsack]

Ron,

I have to go from memory here as my chronograph has been shot too many times by its owner…

I believe the 25 is right around 22 to 23 foot pounds. It absolutely loves JSB Kings, And some old Webbly mosquitoes that I have.

The 177 is shooting right up around 16 foot pounds. It’s an absolute hammer, and FT accurate.


I once shot a 59 out of 60, after missing the very first shot of the match.

mike

 

[AirNGasman]

Finally got the resurrection-project .22 FN12 pistol back completely resealed by Dave Slade, only to find it wouldn't rotate the magazine. Since it came to me with three mags, I converted the worst (condition) one into a single-shot tray with a lot of JB Weld and Dremelling.

She was getting 17.5 foot pounds, but an easy hammer-spring power adjustment brought it up to the 20 foot-pound level I wanted. Haven't had a chance for much serious accuracy testing yet, but so far she's shooting 1" five-shot groups at 50 yards. Think in still conditions she'll average closer to 3/4".

18.1 grain FX, 2650 PSI fill, 23 shot power-band- Low= 682, Hi= 706, ES= 24, SD= 6, Avg= 695 FPS/19.5 foot-pounds