Vintage “Groovy Stringers”

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Just acquired this HW55S. Earlier 13mm dovetail model. This gun appears to be ”new old stock”. Looks like it just came out of the box. Being a lefty I’m happy to have a ambidextrous 55 back in my life. Not a Beeman import. Probably before Beeman. It originally came from ARH. I think it has a nice color for a Beechwood stock.
Show us your groovy guns.

 

[UncleB]

Very nice, did it come with that rear sight?

 

[DualMagMike]

HW EL54 Barakuda, glass viles of ether and round shot.

Beeman HW35 RDB1 chrome

Air Arms TX200 SR MKII (left hand action)

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

What do the vials do?

 

[jkingrph]

Just acquired this HW55S. Earlier 13mm dovetail model. This gun appears to be ”new old stock”. Looks like it just came out of the box. Being a lefty I’m happy to have a ambidextrous 55 back in my life. Not a Beeman import. Probably before Beeman. It originally came from ARH. I think it has a nice color for a Beechwood stock.
Show us your groovy guns.View attachment 322255View attachment 322256

Nice, I think those older beech stocks had better color than the one's now. My olf FWB 124d, from ARH back in 1975 has similar color.

 

[DualMagMike]

What do the vials do?

They make the rifle go, BOOM! The gun is designed to be INTENTIONALLY dieseled by igniting the ether fumes. No, I have not and will not do it... It can be fired without using that effect but needless to say when ether is used it's a dramatic difference in fps. Very rare air rifle especially with the viles and round shot.

 

[mj102]

Hey DualMag , love your Barakuda

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Very nice, did it come with that rear sight?

No. I had an extra one. Wish it did. Now I’m looking for an extra one again.

 

[r1lover]

Congratulations on a great find and good on ye mate for having the foresight to have an extra 13mm HW diopter laying around "just in case". That's a gorgeous gun in very hard to find condition. LOVE IT!!!!

 

[AirSupply]

I had no idea what you meant by groovy! Now I get it. Feeling groovy.

 

[cjtamu]

That HW55 is a beauty. Going to have to have on someday. And the Barakuda is insane. I can’t imagine how hard one is to find.

Edit: Depressing to look at the stocks HW USED to make.

 

[AirSupply]

Looking again at the 55. It really does look brand new. Quite a find.

 

[crowski]

Bear-of-Grayling very nice rifle. Enjoy your gem. Crow

 

[JayDee24ca]

That HW55 is a beauty. Going to have to have on someday. And the Barakuda is insane. I can’t imagine how hard one is to find.

Edit: Depressing to look at the stocks HW USED to make.

There are two of them for sale at the moment at Canadian Air Collector in Vancouver.

 

[KWK]

That HW55 is a beauty. Going to have to have on someday. And the Barakuda is insane. I can’t imagine how hard one is to find.

Edit: Depressing to look at the stocks HW USED to make.

Barakudas come up occasionally. Not super rare. Keep your eyes open. Hard to find a complete set up. Or one that doesn't come with "a nice patina" or "normal wear". Most sellers ask too much for them and don't sell from what I've seen in the past. What would you even do with one? Other than collect it. And I get that aspect for sure. I have many collectable guns just sitting there.

 

[KWK]

This one's groovy. Sitting in the box since the 80's.
I have a couple others

 

[KWK]

This one’s groovy. Second air rifle ever offered with scope grooves.
But you don’t know what it is

Here’s a hint

1959
EDIT Airsporter Mk2

 

[KWK]

Very groovy from 1959. First air rifle ever offered with scope grooves
What’s it?

 

[c801tfd]

I submit these groovy springers

 

[DualMagMike]

Barakudas come up occasionally. Not super rare. Keep your eyes open. Hard to find a complete set up. Or one that doesn't come with "a nice patina" or "normal wear". Most sellers ask too much for them and don't sell from what I've seen in the past. What would you even do with one? Other than collect it. And I get that aspect for sure. I have many collectable guns just sitting there.

As I mentioned they ARE quite rare with only a few hundred ever produced. What would you do with it, also mentioned they work just fine without using ether. I have seen no more than about 4-5 come up for sale in the past 5-10 years.