HW/Weihrauch HW 55 stock variations

[Bear-of-Grayling]

 

IMHO-Absolutely the most gorgeous spring piston air rifle ever made. Bought one used in the 80’s. Bought one new win the 90’s. Always wanted the Tyrolean but I shoot from the other side. Sorry I didn’t get one just to hang on the wall. Enjoyed mine in the leagues for many years. The ones above just make my heart leap! They all do.

Merry Christmas 

 

[Green_Yamo]

IMHO-Absolutely the most gorgeous spring piston air rifle ever made. Bought one used in the 80’s. Bought one new win the 90’s. Always wanted the Tyrolean but I shoot from the other side. Sorry I didn’t get one just to hang on the wall. Enjoyed mine in the leagues for many years. The ones above just make my heart leap! They all do.

Merry Christmas 

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That stock is beautiful!

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Thanks Green_Yamo. I have always been and still am a sucker for blued steel and beautiful Walnut.

Why doesn’t Weihrauch with all the new machinery and their loooong historic past, bring some oldies back to us. I’d by a new 55 Tyro, hand checkered, fancy Walnut at what ever price they needed. And more for a lefty! 

 

[wijib]

Proud to own this one. Was pretty beat up but I restored it and re-blued. New leather piston seal, synthetic breach seal, Maccari spring, etc. Used London oil on the stock after I steamed out about a thousand dings and up to 600 grit plus 0000 steel wool. The best made, highest quality airgun I have ever owned....right there with the FWB 300 I had.

 

[MDriskill]

Here's another 55 stock variation, the "HWB Champ" Junior rifle, made late in the gun's production run.

Both the true ambidextrous stock (12" pull) and barrel (410 mm vs. 470 mm) are quite a bit smaller than a "normal" HW 55. It has an adjustable buttplate, and incorporates a barrel sleeve and movable trigger blade.

 

[wijib]

Here's another 55 stock variation, the "HWB Champ" Junior rifle, made late in the gun's production run.

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Both the true ambidextrous stock (12" pull) and barrel (410 mm vs. 470 mm) are quite a bit smaller than a "normal" HW 55. It has an adjustable buttplate, and incorporates a barrel sleeve and movable trigger blade.

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Mike, you always show the coolest stuff. That Junior is really a nice piece.

 

[MDriskill]

Thanks! It's an unusual little beast for sure. 

It feels REALLY small in your hands. Besides the 12" pull, the grip is crammed up closer to the trigger, and the low-hanging Weihrauch diopter occupies space where your thumb wants to be! The gent I got it from is about 5'-5" and had made a nice wood 1" butt spacer to improve things - but still never warmed up to it.

All of which raises the question of how a youngster small enough to hold it comfortably, could handle the weight, lol. Also odd that the flat-bottom fore end lacks an accessory rail.

There was one run of "Champs," sold through the German chain Frankonia I believe, which had an even odder stock. I've never seen one in the flesh, but it appears to have a safety and lack the movable trigger.

 

[r1lover]

MDriskill,

Very interesting! I may never get my hands on a Champ but I'm looking forward to pawing a friend's CM you are familiar with one day. As you pointed out in your original post, the M and S model stocks are great "all around" designs that lend themselves well to aperture sight or scope use and I prefer them to contemporary field gun stock designs. In the "classic" airgun arena though, to me, there is nothing like shouldering a springer in a dedicated 10m match gun stock design. Everyone should have one to shoot in their collection.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

 

[dasman]

Finding myself drawn more and more to springers. Love all the pics you gents share...Merry Christmas!

 

[MDriskill]

R1lover: thank you sir!

I predict you will like that CM. It spite of its rather "square" appearance, it's surprisingly light and ergonomic, one of my very favorite of the classic-era match stocks. I have my best-shooting 55 action wearing CM duds at the moment.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

My HW55T

 

[Green_Yamo]

My HW55T

Wow, beautiful! I've been looking for one of these for years with no luck. And prices just keep climbing higher and higher and higher...

 

[r1lover]

Bear of Grayling,

Another fabulous example Dan. That one is about as good as they get. Thanks for sharing.

 

[matthewsaenz]

Very nice! Great pics too!

 

[SpiralGroove]

Jeez Mike,
I really want to own a HW55 with Walnut stock ..... doesn't have to be a Tyro!
Kirk

 

[dpauld]

Wow Matt, those are a couple of stunners! Gorgeous wood, great condition, and one never gets tired of checking out the nifty little hand-hewn variations in shapes and checkering with those stocks.

I actually have three T's that date from rather different eras. Here is a poor pic of each LOL...

This one is from 1956. Early examples of Rekord trigger and insert-type front sight, 400 gr barrel sleeve, and lovely slender diopter sight with solid steel base. Note also the rounded red rubber buttplate, and fore end finger grooves on the stock.

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This one despatched in 1969. Beautiful full-coverage checkering and blonde European walnut of that era.

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And finally a late example from 1991. Same one pictured above, with Beeman markings and dark-stained walnut. Came with a 900 gr sleeve that I seldom use (!), 400 gr sleeve seen here. Probably has an OEM plastic piston seal.

View attachment 162271

I also have two other actions that were originally in Tyro stocks. No. 1404xx came to me as a German "club mule," in a re-finished CM stock. But the action is in fine condition, is actually marked "HW 55T" on the left breech block, came complete with OEM sights and a barrel sleeve, and has some of the most beautiful blueing I've ever seen. No. 8781xx is from the era that no longer marked the variant, but a very reliable previous owner told me it came from a Tyro. It arrived in an S stock, but I used it to replace the OEM rusty spray-painted action in another CM stock!

To be honest I've always doubted the claim of only 25 Beeman-marked Tyros...if it's true, I've seen a freakishly large percentage of them! Maybe the good doc was just remembering a single order or some such...

 

[SpiralGroove]

I wish someone who owns many HW55's would sell one to me .
I have the ability to repair anything but a ruined barrel or receiver .....

 

[specie]

Here's an oddball, a HW55TF from 1956, #40613, red pad, short dovetail, somewhat earlier trigger. It's a typical tyrolean stock, but without the cutout for the breech lock lever. Someone must have wanted the economy F model, but was willing to pay extra for the T stock? The blue on this gun might be somewhat better than on the later HW55? Breech block is stamped HW55T

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

Another HW55 Champ, and the only HW55 in my collection currently.

Serial No. 1423749 reported to be manufactured late 90s, and was purchased online several years ago.
I spaced the butt plate out 1 inch and it makes for a lively little match rifle that is very well suited to playing back yard sniper games with friends.

Solidly rested to zero the sights, the Champ gives up nothing to other recoiling match rifles with its preferred RWS Hobby pellets despite its lighter weight.
All in all, a very pleasant rifle to shoot and not as weighty as its full size competitors.

 

[dpauld]

That story of only 25 or less ever made in that combo may belong to the HW77 tyro imported by Beeman. How many of those have you seen ?
Anyways that is the story I got with mine from a very well informed collector with the goods and paperwork to back it all up.
I have that rare 1077N out of the Beeman/Santa Rosa/Catalog/1991/HW77 Tyrolean