3 estate sale springers. Which should I buy? Weihrauch HW98, Feinwerkbau Sport 124, or...

[DrummerDave]

This is my first post here. I grew up in the 1970s shooting a Crossman 760 Powermaster pumper and absolutely wore that thing out. Decades later I'm shooting a cheap a** Umarex Fusion II CO2 rifle for pest control. And when I ran across these 3 beauties at an estate sale a few blocks from home this afternoon, I got the fever for a springer. The sale was closing up and ushering us out, so I snapped a few rushed photos. They're open again tomorrow morning and I think I'd like to pick up one or two of these. All are in the $200 - $225 range.

The top one looks like a Weihrauch HW98. Is that a 'Deluxe'?

Middle one looks like a Weihrauch HW50.

Bottom one looks like a Feinwerkbau Sport 124, early 1980s vintage.

Any advisories, observations, suggestions, declarations, and humiliations would be appreciated.

 

[shambozzie]

Welcome aboard. Very nice fine. Buy all 3 as they are nice quality guns. Tons of info and a bunch of nice guys/gals here willing to help and answer questions.

 

[JP806TX]

If I were you, bring $1000 and buy all three. You can always sell at a profit...later (if they are really $200-$225)
Push comes to Shove, my money would be on the 98.

Edit:
OK maybe don't bring $1000...bring $650...and a case of beer..LOL

 

[PumaCarl]

Seriously, buy all 3, try them, and sell the ones you don't want here for a small, or even no profit. You can't go wrong with any of them. The 98 is the most powerful and holds beatifully. The 50 is just a superb lazy afternoon plinker. The 124's only take 18lbs to cock and have a very smooth shot cycle. You should try them all and keep the one that fits you.

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Get em all!
Then use them; they are lovely!

 

[whyzee]

Ask the question if you buy all three, will they throw in the two optics?

 

[DualMagMike]

The 124 will almost certainly need seals (if not already recently done) and is the base S model it appears to be missing the rear sight, there is no such thing as a 98 Deluxe and in .20 might be very desirable to some.

 

[maxtrouble]

Buy them all. Excellent chance at some high quality springers.

 

[jccams]

Have to agree, buy them all, once in a lifetime opportunity. I should add I have a HW98 in .20, waited 14 months for it recently. They are all nice guns and worth every bit of $225 each.

 

[MongooseV8]

I would offer them a deal for the whole lot and sell the ones I dont end up wanting.

But just a small heads up the 20 Cal will be a tad bit harder to find pellets for. Not all retailers carry them, and you will have a smaller selection. But I know a lot of guys really love the 20 Cal bores, especially in the UK.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Only humiliation i can think of is if i could not swing all 3 . Id be doing some smooth talking on a best price for them all ( opinion). Even if needing somthing like a spring or a seal thats easy no hassle if you get them at a price.

 

[DrummerDave]

Would it be sacrilege to ask if any of them can be fitted with moderators?

I'm starting to ponder if I can fit all 3 into my existing gun safe capacity.

 

[DrummerDave]

And many, many thanks for the responses!!

 

[MongooseV8]

Would it be sacrilege to ask if any of them can be fitted with moderators?

I'm starting to ponder if I can fit all 3 into my existing gun safe capacity.

There are a couple options for clamp on adapters but I dont think it would be easy for the 2 with front sights.

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Would it be sacrilege to ask if any of them can be fitted with moderators?

I'm starting to ponder if I can fit all 3 into my existing gun safe capacity.

That be the least of my worries to grab all 3 ..lol.

 

[jccams]

Would it be sacrilege to ask if any of them can be fitted with moderators?

I'm starting to ponder if I can fit all 3 into my existing gun safe capacity.

You can get a slip on Weihrauch moderator that retains the front sight for the 50. AoA had them not sure anymore.

 

[dgeesaman]

I wish I'd see any one of those at an estate sale for a price near that. 3 is a jackpot.

 

[PumaCarl]

DualMagMike makes a good point about the seals. That 124's serial number puts it at late 1981 -early 1982 build. The screws look like they have never been touched. It is very unlikely that the piston seal is still good and if I bought that gun I wouldn't fire it without taking it apart first and checking it. The other guns may be in the same boat too. Not a deal breaker at all though, all of these guns need work eventually, and these guns look very lightly used to begin with. And to answer your original question more precisely, If it were me, and I could only get one of these, I would absolutely get the 98.

 

[DrummerDave]

Can these be dry fired without damaging them, esp. the FWB? And would I be able to tell if one needed seals that way?

 

[Hateful McNasty]

Can these be dry fired without damaging them, esp. the FWB? And would I be able to tell if one needed seals that way?

No dont dry fire. They can claim you just damaged it and gig you for full asking price.. Look thing is know the value of the guns used in good working order then assume they need a tune . Figure 80$ for parts each . Spring seals moly breech seals. Base stuff. Give yourself a top dollar limit . Maybe start say 100$ a gun ( 300 total deal) and see if they bite cash in hand .

Then dicker from there. Maybe someone here can give you a baseline max price as is and try it.

if you cant get all 3 then do one , but it's knowing what it's worth + any repairs cause it's a "as is" deal. Let them know about the risk of having to do the tune jobs to help bargain in your favor .