Traditional Springers - what’s going on?

[Bear-of-Grayling]

I’ve been watching the auction market and am seeing a resurgence for the traditional springer. Earlier German and British springers with the classic beautiful wood stocks are bringing prices I’ve never seen. Take for example the HW30/R7. These can still be bought brand new in the current “laser engraved” beechwood stock for around $300. For the most part the mechanics haven’t changed for decades. I’m seeing the older ones with the beautifully stained, hand checkered beechwood stocks bring double this and more. And not in “new” condition! I’m also seeing another resurgence for the old school diopter rear sight. This combination has always been my favorite. I’m just an “arm chair” marksman at heart anyway. I’d rather hit 3 out four with the diopter than everything with the scope. Don’t want to get up to pump anything up either. If I don’t feel like shooting that much, I can just look at it and smile. I would think the round table at Weihrauch would be taking notes. Evidently not. These are three of my favorites. The HW55S is about 50 years old, the HW35E is in 22 caliber and new last year and the HW30 has the traditional stock that is about 20 years old. All wearing the Weihrauch diopter sight. The Anschutz diopter also fits the newer Weihrauch 11mm dovetail. The HW35E is just about the last chapter in the traditional barrel cocker anymore. I think the more we talk about this the better chance someone is listening. I know there are some real dandy’s out there. Let’s see them.

 

[kingfisher61]

Folks are realizing that the old stuff is the good stuff. Quality of this Era doesn't even compare to the heyday times of the 80s and 90s.

 

[Elgreco]

"The HW35E is just about the last chapter in the traditional barrel cocker anymore."
Could you please further elaborate what you mean by that sentence?

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Thing is why do i want that above when there's all the plastic stocks, cheap shrouded soda straw barrled with the funky moderator chunk of plastic on the muzzles guns ? .. i mean why?

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

"The HW35E is just about the last chapter in the traditional barrel cocker anymore."
Could you please further elaborate what you mean by that sentence?

The build quality of HW35 is probably better than the original of 75 years ago. Checkered Walnut stock, pistol grip cap, white line spacers, positive locking barrel and super polished, deep blued mechanics. What other is there?

 

[AirNGasman]

Yes, I owned all the springers pictured above, and dozens more. But now a Maccari-springed, otherwise stock FWB 124D fulfills all my springer desires.

 

[beerthief]

MY HW35 (1987 i think) is a real barn find and beat / dirty when i bought it , now it just looks beat up and still shoots like a dream .
HW55 lot of wear but still shoots spot on . watched a lot of people look at it at a gun show , kind of made faces and passed it up .

 

[DualMagMike]

HW's- 30, 35, 45, 50, 54, 55, 77, 80, 85,90, 97, 98 &99

HW Tyroleans- R1's, HW55, HW77's & HW97

 

[Elgreco]

The build quality of HW35 is probably better than the original of 75 years ago. Checkered Walnut stock, pistol grip cap, white line spacers, positive locking barrel and super polished, deep blued mechanics. What other is there?

Ok the way I read it was that it was the last chapter in break barells in general when you meant in the HW 35 line. Because I was going to argue that it is not the latest chapter in the break barell world.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

When i look up somthing along these lines ots for sure UK, UK , UK.. dang near on every street corner auction or want ad. Then air guns there ate probably flooded as pb guns are here whete a nice one pops up so oftin and someone locked the high end bid in first day. If id know 40 years ago what today was id never just gave my stuff away as i did .. i think back and kinfa think maybe i should of held on to that one..

 

[MDriskill]

Keep in mind that the nutty prices on The Bay, etc., are not necessarily representative of the real world. Prices are much more realistic at airgun shows and airgun-oriented classifieds.

A personal fave is the Walther LGV with Olympia stock. The simple, clean stock is a masterful modern interpretation of pre-war styling cues, with ergonomics that are superb for either sporting or target work. The build and finish quality are amazing; even back in 1957, WHB Smith's classic book Gas, Air, and Spring Guns of the World singled out Walther (and Webley) as the two brands that stood above the crowd.

 

[wijib]

 

[Simplemann]

Folks are realizing that the old stuff is the good stuff. Quality of this Era doesn't even compare to the heyday times of the 80s and 90s.

You got that right! I've used and old Gillette safety razor and have quite a few of them that are over 50 years old that look/operate like the day they were made. Yes its true they don't make stuff to last anymore I've replaced appliances that were only five years old. I remember having an old kenmore dryer that was over 25 years old and was still going. An RCA color television that was 30 years old still working but not cable ready so it had to go. I have a brass fan that is close to 100 years old and still works. Okay I'm done off the soapbox.

 

[muddydogz]

Not to beat a dead horse, but after picking this up recently, I've come to appreciate the quality of the build of these classics. I'm happy to be part of this guns story even though i will be passing it on. It just doesn;t fit in for any of my needs. But if i had any inkling of being a 10 m target shooter this would definately tick the box. Like others have said, it's almost worth it just to look at. Some real beauties being posted here.

 

[uglymike]

There's something about that BSA AirSporter the speaks to me AirnGasman. Handsome rifle, wonderful wood.

 

[AirNGasman]

There's something about that BSA AirSporter the speaks to me AirnGasman. Handsome rifle, wonderful wood.

Assuming you mean the Don Robinson customized Airsporter (not to be confused with RON Robinson/me), it also spoke to none other than Tom Gaylord from across the room at a Texas airgun show a few years ago. We did some horse-trading, and he featured it in his (BB Pelletier) blogging.

 

[Slingworks]

Folks are realizing that the old stuff is the good stuff. Quality of this Era doesn't even compare to the heyday times of the 80s and 90s.

I agree to a point. After looking over my Hw35e made within the last few years and my new to me Hw90 I'd say it's only partly right. It seems much of the machine work on the newer HW guns is very finely done. (CNC). On the older guns I could find a few tool marks and edges looked like they were broken by hand. My 35e is flawless. Even the stock work on it is better than older models I looked at when I bought it. The 90 I have is nicely done, although I find the newer beech stocks to be lacking in grain/color and checkering patterns are a little lame.

I think allot of people just don't like the stocks and laser etching on the newer guns. They look "cheap" It turns me off at least.

 

[kingfisher61]

I agree to a point. After looking over my Hw35e made within the last few years and my new to me Hw90 I'd say it's only partly right. It seems much of the machine work on the newer HW guns is very finely done. (CNC). On the older guns I could find a few tool marks and edges looked like they were broken by hand. My 35e is flawless. Even the stock work on it is better than older models I looked at when I bought it. The 90 I have is nicely done, although I find the newer beech stocks to be lacking in grain/color and checkering patterns are a little lame.

I think allot of people just don't like the stocks and laser etching on the newer guns. They look "cheap" It turns me off at least.

Nicely put!

 

[numbertwo]

Speaking of stocks, the newer Weihrauch beech stocks with the laser cut checkering are rather amazing in the variety of the checkering; from sharp sections to alternate 'stippled' sections, all in the same checkering block. Both of my rifles have the 'M' in the pistol grip (Minelli?) and also the bag cut under the cheekwell, very appealing IMO. I'm wiping them periodically with Ballistol which is truly magical stuff. Yes, the laser etching may be described as 'production line' by some but those stocks are finer than practically anything in their price range. The HW30S is getting twice the range time that the HW50S gets, a testament to its handy sized perfection. Luv that thing!

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Speaking of stocks, the newer Weihrauch beech stocks with the laser cut checkering are rather amazing in the variety of the checkering; from sharp sections to alternate 'stippled' sections, all in the same checkering block. Both of my rifles have the 'M' in the pistol grip (Minelli?) and also the bag cut under the cheekwell, very appealing IMO. I'm wiping them periodically with Ballistol which is truly magical stuff. Yes, the laser etching may be described as 'production line' by some but those stocks are finer than practically anything in their price range. The HW30S is getting twice the range time that the HW50S gets, a testament to its handy sized perfection. Luv that thing!

I use Ballistol on rare occasions. Don’t like the smell. Can’t imagine it on a stock.