Thread: ANTQUE AIRGUNS,and THE NEW ADULT TOYS

Hey Guys and Gals,
Just in case you've run out of ways to spend money on stuff that's really cool but not necessary,Ive been collecting old airguns for at least 20 years,and there is some really nice stuff out there from when quality was king and people took pride in there work. These aren't your kids Red Ryder but some seriously high powered toys for when you don't want to leave your backyard.With a good backstop these thing are a blast,and they keep you sharp for the real ones. Also go to Airguns of Arizona.com and see what they have for us grownups,you wont believe your eyes,I bought an FX airgun that you charge up with a scuba tank to 3000lbs,and it spits out a .22 cal pellet at 1000 fps. Charging this thing still scares the you know what out of me,but its sooo quiet and accurate you have to see it to believe it. I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows about these, so any else out there got this madness? Ill post some pics when I go into my safe,but I have so many I really lost count,and I keep finding them hidden all around the attic and basement.Because when you see them ,that's the time to buy them. Next well get into Watches,oh brother...............

I have a air gun, not sure what model or make but i use it for shootign rabbits and what not out of my garden and into the frying pan. But i dont know anythign about the older ones.

Look for the old Crosman's,there made like real hunting rifles and pack a wallop.
Also extremely accurate

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

Look for the old Crosman's,there made like real hunting rifles and pack a wallop.
Also extremely accurate

you must mean the older model 2200 magnum...from before they reduced the size of the valve due to the idea that they were overpowered...apparently they would blow out the seals when fully pumped so they canged the recomendation to only 8 pumps for the older models and changed the valve on the newer ones.

I had to have a restoration done on one that I inherited from my late uncle...it sure is quite the little tackdriver.

there are, however, more powerful and more accurate rifles out there. spring piston rifles (as far as I know) are generaly thought to have the most power,but for an inexpensive reliable hunting airgun I would probably look at a pneumatic benjamin sheridan (like the model 392). once you get into the $200 range though I would rather spend the money on a nice little .22 rimfire.

Antique airguns? How about the one on page 5 of this pamphlet: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1803 to 1806, A Portrait of Army Leadership

Hi,

Spring-piston air-rifles of good quality go on (with maintenance!) virtually for ever

I have one I got forty (40) years ago, and it still shoots sweetly.

My Air-Arms TX200 (in 0.177) is just superb

Unless you hold the rifle on a Firearms Certificate, we in the UK are restricted to sub 12ftlbs for air-rifles (and sub 6 ftlbs for air-pistols).

Have fun !

Bets regards

Russ

Originally Posted by Grizzley1

,
Just in case you've run out of ways to spend money on stuff that's really cool but not necessary

I've run out of money to spend on stuff that's cool but not necessary.

I do still have my Webley MK III, bought new in 1968 for about £10.
I also have a BSA Cadet Major, given to me on my sixth birthday.
These days, in the UK, a gift like that would probably result in a visit from the child protection agency.

Originally Posted by PhatMan

Hi,

Spring-piston air-rifles of good quality go on (with maintenance!) virtually for ever

I have one I got forty (40) years ago, and it still shoots sweetly.

My Air-Arms TX200 (in 0.177) is just superb

Unless you hold the rifle on a Firearms Certificate, we in the UK are restricted to sub 12ftlbs for air-rifles (and sub 6 ftlbs for air-pistols).

Have fun !

Bets regards

Russ

Hi Russ, Here in the U.S. we have the freedom to play with full on scuba tank powered airguns,these things charge up to 3000 psi and spit out a .22 cal pellet over 1100fps,depending on the weight of the pellet,and these ,at least my FX is a real tack driver.
That being said ,its no fun charging it up that high,still puckers me up a little,but nothing
bad has happened and it VERY effective on the squirrel population

Originally Posted by PhatMan

Hi,

Spring-piston air-rifles of good quality go on (with maintenance!) virtually for ever

I have one I got forty (40) years ago, and it still shoots sweetly.

My Air-Arms TX200 (in 0.177) is just superb

Unless you hold the rifle on a Firearms Certificate, we in the UK are restricted to sub 12ftlbs for air-rifles (and sub 6 ftlbs for air-pistols).

Have fun !

Bets regards

Russ

I don't know if you are aware or the existence of these ,but they used to make a spring piston gun called the Barracuda,which used a drop of either,or WD-40 in the chamber behind the pellet,which caused an effect called dieseling,I don't recommend this practice
but I have tried it with a Webley Vulcan,It let off a crack like a 30-30,and went through my friends chrono at well over 1200fps,with a very heavy pellet.If you ever come across one of these there worth some big money.keep your eyes open.
Griz

Griz,

I think Weihrauch used to make an air-rifle in the 50s/60s (70s ?) that used ether to provide the fuel !

The effect known as 'dieselling' is a well known phenomenon in spring-piston air-rifles, and used to be the bane of users - it usually arose from excessive lubrication of the compression chamber - in those days in the UK we had only mineral oil to lube our air-rifles with (3 in 1)

It was a good moment when the modern silicone/moly based lubes came out for air-rifles

For the very high-power air-rifles, the pre-charged are much nicer to shoot. I have shot a few Firearm Certificate rated spring-piston riles, and they are not as pleasant to shoot as the lower powered ones - they are much harder to ****, and have an unpleasant 'twang' on firing. Interesting though

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ