Beautiful guns, thank you for sharing. 
R10 and a 25 tube 97 that I have acquired over the years.
R10 and a 25 tube 97 that I have acquired over the years.
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Classic break barrel spring rifles
- Thread starter DualMagMike
- Start date
Well, I don't have any of those, but I do have a large collection of air rifles and pistols. As for vintage break barrels, Here's a couple. My Diana 24D .177 that still shoots well and is all original.
And my RWS 320M. I had to replace the leaky breech seal not too long ago. Also .177cal.
And a Chinese B3-2 with factory sling swivels in VGC. .177cal also.
I have several other break barrels, but they're of newer vintage. Like around 2016. Like my Hatsan striker 1000XS custom .22 springer that got a modded model 95 Turkish walnut stock. Darn accurate shooter, but hard on scope mounts until I shaved down one Hatsan scope mount to fit two of'em between the rings. Giving four bolts to stop movement finally. Easy to use and shoots great!
And it's original stock that now houses an Edge vortex .25 gas ram...
And my two Crosman limited edition GuideHawk NP's from 2016. I now have both the .177cal and .22cal versions...
.177cal;
.22cal;
And my RWS 320M. I had to replace the leaky breech seal not too long ago. Also .177cal.
And a Chinese B3-2 with factory sling swivels in VGC. .177cal also.
I have several other break barrels, but they're of newer vintage. Like around 2016. Like my Hatsan striker 1000XS custom .22 springer that got a modded model 95 Turkish walnut stock. Darn accurate shooter, but hard on scope mounts until I shaved down one Hatsan scope mount to fit two of'em between the rings. Giving four bolts to stop movement finally. Easy to use and shoots great!
And it's original stock that now houses an Edge vortex .25 gas ram...
And my two Crosman limited edition GuideHawk NP's from 2016. I now have both the .177cal and .22cal versions...
.177cal;
.22cal;
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Well, vintage is a relative term. The top two are older than the others, true. I do have way older rifles and pistols. But they aren't break barrel springers.
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No offense intended Leonard but "vintage" or even "classic" is not a "relative term". While you obviously consider them classics for being older, they aren't and it's not just older that makes a rifle fit the bill for either of the above terms. If you look at the rifles being posted, they didn't get to be considered vintage or classic just for being older rifles. The companies that made them, quality of build and materials, the almost cult like following air gunners have for them, guns that have stood the test of time and in a lot today still have their original parts because they were that well made. Of all the rifles you posted, only the Diana would be considered either.
The 320M while older is just a Chinese knockoff of the HW95 if memory serves. The Chinese are actually pretty good at it but still not classics.
Nothing made by Hatsan would be considered classic or vintage and Hatsan is for all intents the Turkish version of Crosman. Your Guidehawks, while older, aren't either. Chinese B3 anything have also never been considered either classic or vintage no matter how old they are.
Mike has an incredible collection of both classic and vintage guns and if you really want an education on them, read when he does post pics of that collection.
The 320M while older is just a Chinese knockoff of the HW95 if memory serves. The Chinese are actually pretty good at it but still not classics.
Nothing made by Hatsan would be considered classic or vintage and Hatsan is for all intents the Turkish version of Crosman. Your Guidehawks, while older, aren't either. Chinese B3 anything have also never been considered either classic or vintage no matter how old they are.
Mike has an incredible collection of both classic and vintage guns and if you really want an education on them, read when he does post pics of that collection.
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You know exactly what this post is and what it's about. I guess you don't remember who I am from the FB groups, hint it's why I have you as a hidden member for months AND blocked on FB. Stick to your own posts and off mine especially if you can't stay on topic!
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Man I love seeing springer collections and reading the history behind them. My buddies and I always knew when we were young that the “good rifles” were break barrels with wood stocks but our parents couldn’t afford them (or just wouldn’t pony up) back then. Now that I have rediscovered airgunning and my collection is growing again, these history lessons are helping me further understand the pedigree these fine rifles carry. Thanks for posting
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Beautiful rifle you have there, specie.
Same here, Moto. Don't know even remotely what I'd like to about the older guns, so when Mike posts, I read and always learn a few more things about them I didn't know. The man has an amazing collection and I very much appreciate when he shares it.
Same here, Moto. Don't know even remotely what I'd like to about the older guns, so when Mike posts, I read and always learn a few more things about them I didn't know. The man has an amazing collection and I very much appreciate when he shares it.
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OK my first gun was a Beeman HW35EB (Export Beeman) at the time Beeman flew to Germany and hand picked the guns he was going to sell over here and Weihrauch went along because Robert Beeman did more to spawn interest in quality Airguns in America that anyone before him. I still have my first catalog from Beeman Precision Airguns in 1975 and that's how we learned about the good stuff.
My HW35EB has nicer wood and a better finish than my other HW35 E (Export) non Beeman) and a 16" bbl instead of the 35E's 19" bbl. I have the 35EB set up with a Beeman /Williams Aperture rear sight, and have the other gun with the stock open sight on it. I use both of these guns as my Iron Sight Practice Guns and I shoot both about 3 times a week.
I paid $189 for the first one in 1977, found the 35E in a junk store a few years ago and gave $60 for it . It needed a stock refinish as there was pink house pain on it, all the metal was perfect and both guns are 1 hole guns at 10 yards. Both guns were made in 1976 or 77.
s
This is my Beeman R1 .22 and this photo doesn't do justice to the wood which has Fiddleback everywhere.
this one shows the Fiddleback and Leupold Scope.
I also have an HW 77 .22 It was not a Beeman gun and has a plain Beechwood Stock. good shooter!
And recently acquired an Air Venturi Avenger .25 But it's not a Springer. It is twice as powerful as the R1 and is a Repeater and that's why I got it.
In case you haven't figured it out yet,,, I am a Machinist Toolmaker by trade and this is my shop.
My HW35EB has nicer wood and a better finish than my other HW35 E (Export) non Beeman) and a 16" bbl instead of the 35E's 19" bbl. I have the 35EB set up with a Beeman /Williams Aperture rear sight, and have the other gun with the stock open sight on it. I use both of these guns as my Iron Sight Practice Guns and I shoot both about 3 times a week.
I paid $189 for the first one in 1977, found the 35E in a junk store a few years ago and gave $60 for it . It needed a stock refinish as there was pink house pain on it, all the metal was perfect and both guns are 1 hole guns at 10 yards. Both guns were made in 1976 or 77.
s
This is my Beeman R1 .22 and this photo doesn't do justice to the wood which has Fiddleback everywhere.
this one shows the Fiddleback and Leupold Scope.
I also have an HW 77 .22 It was not a Beeman gun and has a plain Beechwood Stock. good shooter!
And recently acquired an Air Venturi Avenger .25 But it's not a Springer. It is twice as powerful as the R1 and is a Repeater and that's why I got it.
In case you haven't figured it out yet,,, I am a Machinist Toolmaker by trade and this is my shop.
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