Curious is anyone could date a LGV air rifle I inherited from my father. I'm thinking its early 70's. Any info would be great thank you. 
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Inherited Walther LGV
- Thread starter bowhunter623
- Start date
Much better than average grain on that one. In excellent condition. I personally would remove the barrel weight, and shoot it a lot while remembering your dad.
mike
mike
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They're nice and called a Walther Special or Spezial, should have counter wound springs like the FWB's. Here's mine
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Looks like its twin Dualmag! I did have to replace the piston seal on it tho...what a pain that was to find...almost had to get it out of Germany but found a place in the US that had em....now it's back to 100%. Thinking if I will keep or let it go
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I only recall seeing the one main spring on the piston when I replaced the piston seal. I found the piston seal in Ohio I believe it was....ran $60 with shipping...took a bit to get to me. The rifle is now back to 100%. Like I said I may keep it or sell.
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It will come out as 1 piece but OEM is 2 springs that are counter wound to offset torsional rotation supposedly and they are connected by a plastic sleeve. FWB300's have virtually the same setup. This is the FWB below, the Walther has a longer plastic sleeve in the middle adjoining the 2 springs but same principal. With the heavy barrel weight and low power these rifles barely move and are considered by some to be the most "PCP like" recoiling springer around.
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I don't recall what the spring looked like...but picture you showed looks familiar. What is the current value of these rifles?
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I think if it was 70's it would say west germany. box from my dad's (now mine) west german rifle. After I posted this I went and got the rifle out of the safe and although the box says west germany the roll stamp on the rifle just says germany. so once again I am mistaken. apologies.
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I was actually thinking it may have been pre 70's but then I read your whole comment...got my Hope's up! Ha. So far it's looking early 70's if not 70 on the dot. Walther themselves couldnt go off the # I gave them.
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Here’s a thread that may help (scroll all the way down to get most info on Walther serials):
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/americanvintageairguns/serial-numbers-walther-weihrauch-and-feinwerkbau-t7279.html
The LGV was introduced about 1963, and the LGV Spezial about 1969. Late LGV’s and early LGVS’s have the same stock and are hard to tell apart, and other options and small changes can confuse the issue further. The counter-wound end-to-end mainsprings, and maybe a slightly modified trigger, seem to be the true separator between the models.
Your gun is a late LGVS, which had a revised stock and a heavier receiver tube with the scope grooves milled in; earlier ones had a welded-on scope ramp. So your guess of the early 1970’s is probably right on.
It’s interesting that these guns continued to be commercially successful in the age of recoilless match rifles (Anschutz 220 hit the market in 1960, the FWB 150 a couple years later, and the Diana 60 in 1963). Says a lot about the quality of Walther airguns!
If the main seal on your gun needs replacing - very likely - there are adapters that allow the use of modern Weihrauch seals.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/americanvintageairguns/serial-numbers-walther-weihrauch-and-feinwerkbau-t7279.html
The LGV was introduced about 1963, and the LGV Spezial about 1969. Late LGV’s and early LGVS’s have the same stock and are hard to tell apart, and other options and small changes can confuse the issue further. The counter-wound end-to-end mainsprings, and maybe a slightly modified trigger, seem to be the true separator between the models.
Your gun is a late LGVS, which had a revised stock and a heavier receiver tube with the scope grooves milled in; earlier ones had a welded-on scope ramp. So your guess of the early 1970’s is probably right on.
It’s interesting that these guns continued to be commercially successful in the age of recoilless match rifles (Anschutz 220 hit the market in 1960, the FWB 150 a couple years later, and the Diana 60 in 1963). Says a lot about the quality of Walther airguns!
If the main seal on your gun needs replacing - very likely - there are adapters that allow the use of modern Weihrauch seals.
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For what it’s worth, here are two Walthers living at my house for comparison.
On top is LGV, serial 231788. Per the thread referenced above, this gun may date from about 1966, give or take. The rounded “Olympia” stock is to my eye really beautiful - handles superbly and is an interesting modernized take on earlier classic German styles.
On the bottom is LGVS, serial 244882, from around 1968. Walther fans call this the “UIT” stock - note the shallower, straight-sided fore end compared to your later gun. Again, this stock was shared by late LGV’s and early LGVS’s. Note the straight trigger blade and matte-finished barrel sleeve which differ slightly from the LGV. The paperwork that came with the gun proves it is indeed a “Spezial,” must be a very early one.
Whoever was in charge of buying Walther’s stock blanks should be in the airgun hall of fame, LOL! You seldom see an LGV without eye-catching wood.
BTW both these rifles were re-sealed with an HW 30 seal on an adapter, as mentioned above. They both shoot extremely well.
On top is LGV, serial 231788. Per the thread referenced above, this gun may date from about 1966, give or take. The rounded “Olympia” stock is to my eye really beautiful - handles superbly and is an interesting modernized take on earlier classic German styles.
On the bottom is LGVS, serial 244882, from around 1968. Walther fans call this the “UIT” stock - note the shallower, straight-sided fore end compared to your later gun. Again, this stock was shared by late LGV’s and early LGVS’s. Note the straight trigger blade and matte-finished barrel sleeve which differ slightly from the LGV. The paperwork that came with the gun proves it is indeed a “Spezial,” must be a very early one.
Whoever was in charge of buying Walther’s stock blanks should be in the airgun hall of fame, LOL! You seldom see an LGV without eye-catching wood.
BTW both these rifles were re-sealed with an HW 30 seal on an adapter, as mentioned above. They both shoot extremely well.
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I rest my case.
I keep this old photo - shot with sketchy eyesight (mine) through iron sights - handy for the know-it-all, anti-springer PCP snobs in my life, LOL. You have yourself one mighty fine air rifle in the LGVS.
I keep this old photo - shot with sketchy eyesight (mine) through iron sights - handy for the know-it-all, anti-springer PCP snobs in my life, LOL. You have yourself one mighty fine air rifle in the LGVS.
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Think I am going to let it go...if anyone or know anyone who maybe interested message me. Thanks
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