A Diamond in the Rough - New to Me Feinwerkbau 124 Sport Deluxe and Heirloom

[c801tfd]

This is now the second FWB Sport Deluxe I own, recently purchased it on an auction site for not to bad a price at just over $300. This one has a plastic trigger and based on the S/N was made around 1977-78. While it is not as rare as once thought for the 124 this one also comes with the mis-mark stamp of JNC for this Beeman San Rafael Air Rifle. Also it comes with the original front and rear sights and a Beeman (Williams) BPA S82 peep sight, that is currently missing the aperture, luckily I found someone who had theses as new old stock and the replacement aperture should be here tomorrow.

All that has been done so far was to give it a general exterior cleaning and mechanical inspection. I did fire it once to check cocking, smoothness and to see if the seal was toast, to my surprise the rifle performed as intended. However, not being able to determine if a tune was performed in the past and seeing what looks like gear lube in the cocking slot, I feel inspection indicates that I will be doing a new tune if I get enough free time and will use Jim Maccari (ARH) tune kit/ parts or looking for someone to perform the tune if I can’t carve out the time to do one. Once done I plan on enjoying this rifle for a very long time and giving my sons one of these when I decide I can no longer shoot them, so I figure that should be another 40 or 50 years from now.

 

[thebeav]

Feinwerkbau makes nice stuff. I've only had their handguns, a model 65, 80 and now a model 2. Always enjoyed them.

Good luck with your 124 !

 

[wildcj5]

Nice rifle, a 124 has always been on my bucket list. So far I haven’t marked it off but it is a long list.


I will just leave this here.



https://www.airrifleheadquarters.com/catalog/item/8000185/10447916.htm

 

[c801tfd]

I have to agree, Feinwerkbau does make some great items. Also thank you for the stock upgrade idea, I may just do that in the near future as well. I am also contemplating an upgrade to a metal trigger but cannot find a source that has them available, guess I will keep looking or be happy to have the plastic one on this rifle.

 

[wildcj5]

I have never ordered from them but you could try here. Talk about $$$!



http://m.airgunwarehouseinc.com/airarfe.html

 

[wildcj5]

https://youtu.be/93EhNKQqrKo

 

[Flintsack]

I bought my 124 from B&B supply in Minneapolis in 1980. I still have it. Awesome incredible rifles.

mike

 

[c801tfd]

My dad bought the first Feinwerkbau 124 Sport Deluxe back in 1979, he removed the sights and put a muzzle brake on and mounted the Beeman Blue Ribbon scope with appropriate mounts back then as well. Still has the scope on it and has only been off once that I know of between now and 1979 and that was to have the seal replaced in around 1994. When I get home I will post some pictures of that one.

 

[c801tfd]

I forgot to add my Dad purchased his Feinwerkbau at Agra Feed Store in Helena, MT when they were located on National Avenue. I also remember my Mom was so mad at him for buying it, but oh the fun we had with it hunting gophers, rabbits, doves, snakes and the list goes on, funny thing is he did the shooting and I collected the kills. My greatest memory was of my dad using his air rifle was him taking out a young Coyote that was stalking our chicken coup, all I remember him telling me was the shot he took was intended for between the eyes but since he was shooting off-hand the rifle moved a little and the pellet ended up penetrating the eye socket and the rest is now history - my brother has the tanned pelt of that Coyote.

I inherited my Dads Feinwerkbau in 2017 and just this year due to COVID and schools being shutdown in the spring my 2 sons ages 17 & 15 nagged me into submission to check it over so they could shoot their grandfathers air rifle. Until this year the last time and only time he allowed me or any of my brothers and sisters to shoot his FWB was in May 1983 the year I graduated from High School. Funny how that worked out because all of us kids could shoot any of his rifles during hunting season or for target practice but none of us ever dared touch his baby and prized possession and only air rifle he ever owned the venerable Feinwerkbau 124 Sport Deluxe .177 cal. - Thank You Dad.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

https://youtu.be/93EhNKQqrKo

Interesting video. Mine shoots to the right but I think it's my one piece scope mount causing it. I have a 11mm to picinnay droop mount coming and just received my Warne low rings. Time will tell. Sold my Sig ASP20 and the Whiskey3 4-12X44 is going on the 124

 

[c801tfd]

The Feinwerkbau 124 Sport Deluxe my Dad purchased new in 1979

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

Nice ! Is that a RWS muzzle brake on that ? Could have sworn I seen that rifle on Ebay.

I believe based on serial number mine is around 1975.

 

[Houli]

Yes, very nice, my favorite springer to shoot/collect, and the Blue Ribbon model 66 scope balances out the rifle nicely.

GoldenState, it's a Beeman muzzle brake.

Cheers

 

[c801tfd]

GoldenState, no the rifle with the scope and muzzle brake has been in our family since around August/September 1979 and will never be listed for sale anywhere, as for the muzzle brake I really don’t know since I was busy with other things back then such as football, cars and girls. However, I would assume it is a Beeman product as Houli indicated.

 

[c801tfd]

I would hazard a guess the a 1975 124 would have a 4 digit serial number possibly 10 - 12000 at the furthest end of spectrum. I am just amazed at how well these old rifles perform when cared for properly.

 

[c801tfd]

The 124 that I got this week had the sight aperture missing. After scouring the internet for two days, I finally located exactly what I was looking for and ironically found it in an old gunsmith shop in Frenchtown, Montana just 130 miles west of where I live. The aperture is from “new old stock” he still had in his store. I had to pay $12.00 for the aperture and $7.00 shipping. The original price of $1.25 must have been outrageous in the 1970’s.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

GoldenState, no the rifle with the scope and muzzle brake has been in our family since around August/September 1979 and will never be listed for sale anywhere, as for the muzzle brake I really don’t know since I was busy with other things back then such as football, cars and girls. However, I would assume it is a Beeman product as Houli indicated.

The Beeman brake finish was more matched to the barrels bluing. Pretty sure from the lighter color and style that's a RWS model.

 

[GoldenStateAIRGUNer]

I would hazard a guess the a 1975 124 would have a 4 digit serial number possibly 10 - 12000 at the furthest end of spectrum. I am just amazed at how well these old rifles perform when cared for properly.

I looked and my SN and it is 15387. So it's probably made around the same time as yours.

 

[Guest]

I think it's a RWS, or Dianawerk MB. I think it's cast aluminum or "pot metal", painted originally a satin or flat black, and may say "Dianawerk-Rastatt" on the front edge. I think it's a slip fit on the muzzle. The Beeman MB is machined aluminum, sometimes/not always labeled "Beeman", anodized gloss black, mounted with a set screw. The Dianawerk actually resembles a real muzzle brake as used on a modern cannon or WWII german tank gun, and with open slots. The Beeman is more a cosmetic piece or handle? I think the Dianawerk version is original to your early gun...some real trivia here?

 

[DualMagMike]

the RWS will be easily distinguished by a line running down the ribbing where the Beeman has none and all the ribs are unbroken.

RWS