oh Mann! thanks for sharing the pictures @dpauld ... the design and those lines.... piece of art!... @Michigander 's advice is worth giving a try, i bet...
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Old Springers stored for years - how to lube/clean before use - vintage mint cond/NOS Beeman imports
- Thread starter dpauld
- Start date
I think I will not touch those older new ones yet. I have some newer ones in the green box I can start shooting and get familiar with. I could use those nice Blue Ribbon scopes though and put them on the newer rifles. I would like to find some springers in .20 caliber like my Sheridans
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Yes, that seams to be the consensus. All those in that photo fit in that pristine vintage collectibles catergory and should not be touched. I was looking a little closer at the HW55 and I do not think it is a Beeman import. I will try and date it from the serial number. It is mint perfect, just beautiful stock... thanx for your input. I have some newer ones in the green boxes I can shoot. They are only 10 years old or less, I think ??? I am going to look for .20 caliber springers now, thanx again, D
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1) "Springers 10years back would have leather washers" Actually, no. Very few (if any other than cheap no name imports) springers 10 years ago still used leather piston seals. They were mostly phased out in the 70s.
2) "They (leather washers) turn too hard to bring back to their original flexibility" usually not the case. A soaking in neatsfoot or similar oil will most times get them back to functioning fine.
3) "The Main spring is usually lubed with moly grease" Most all are NOT lubed with moly grease from the factory.
Just for the sake of accurate information..
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If you can, it might be fun to hear how you came by these? Someone REALLY knew what airguns to collect at the time, and maybe just liked to look at them, not use them? This fella was king of the gun case queen set???
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Thanks, @thumper appreciate Your time providing for the corrections.
I’ve seen old guns here in India being repaired in local shops like toys…
Talking to those people it feels like even when they found the springs clean, they are at peace only after they’ve applied grease to the spring.
So i assume I’ve mostly seen the cheaper ones with them having leather Piston washers/seals.
They’d sell these repaired ones for 25-30USD max…
So yeah, I’d second Your inputs being correct for @dpauld to consider.
(Make some videos of the repair and chrony, Buddy… those are treasures, really)
Thanks again
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or perhaps many "Collectors" like myself buy way more stuff than they will EVER be able to use.
We shoot our handfull of favorites and pile up boxes and boxes (or gunracks and gunsafes) full of our "Collection".
I have re-claimed two bedrooms, 3 closets, and half my office back selling off my "Collection" over the last 2 1/2 years after COVID closed my business.
The collection many of these springers came from was Amazing that way.
Everything was rare and special...The Ol' Boys really did know their stuff !
What is sad is when they die off and that first hand knowledge goes with them
Maybe I am the "Gun Case King" now ,ha
We shoot our handfull of favorites and pile up boxes and boxes (or gunracks and gunsafes) full of our "Collection".
I have re-claimed two bedrooms, 3 closets, and half my office back selling off my "Collection" over the last 2 1/2 years after COVID closed my business.
The collection many of these springers came from was Amazing that way.
Everything was rare and special...The Ol' Boys really did know their stuff !
What is sad is when they die off and that first hand knowledge goes with them
Maybe I am the "Gun Case King" now ,ha
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you have no idea... one guy had many "Trophies" from several dif. genres of air gun elite items. They would have Benjamin and Sheridan stuff I was after and I would try and work a package deal adding many others I was not really after but could tell they were special. I just wish I would have bought them all now. There was some special made stuff like Venon Shop Boxed sets/un-used. Who buys a Venon Shop rifle and doesn't shoot it ?? That is the better question, why buy modified/custom stuff, unless you are just having fun (and reading a lot of Air Gun Mags). I see the same thing in collecting vintage hot rods = magazines sell product !
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Thanx for the good advise Gentlemen... Don't think I'll mess with the Older springers at all... I looked up the serial number on that HW55M and it is much older than I thought 1969. 53 years old and doesn't look like it has ever been used. It is too nice to even risk a scratch or putting any wear on it. The HW77T has been fired a few times already so maybe I'll start shooting that one. There is no wear but the guy told me it was his favorite one to shoot. I should put the 66RL scope back on exactly as it was too . There is a personal note on the receipt signed by Gary at B&B. Looks like he set it up and supertuned it. All the boxes on the Beeman Inspection tag are checked, select condition stock, select group, etc... The catolog number is 1077N. I think I'll keep that one and shoot it myself...
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I think I found the rear sight to the HW55M. It was wrapped up in one of the cases. Is this the right one that came with this rifle ? Thanx, david 
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That looks like the correct sight. It would be definitive if you measured the width of the dovetails. The older Weihrauch‘s measured 13 mm and that is pretty unique. So if your HW55 measures 13 mm and your sight fits it has to be the right one. There are others on this forum who know far more about this than I do.
Jay
Jay
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I think that Jay is spot on correct.
That is a Weihrauch rear sight, and it will either fit or it won't.
I believe that you have found the correct sight for your rifle.
That is a Weihrauch rear sight, and it will either fit or it won't.
I believe that you have found the correct sight for your rifle.
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That’s the original Weihrauch Diopter for your 55M. Word of caution. The gun looks new and to keep it that way when putting on the sight, remove the locking pin screw (big round top knob) all the way out. Slide on the diopter and with a flashlight look down to a hole in the receiver. Make sure it is EXACTLY perfectly over the hole and gently thread on the stop pin. If it stops short and you force it in a hole it will mare the receiver hole.
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it fits, thank you, it is a 1969 HW55M and that is the sight that came with the rifle. I matched all the other factory sights I had with their respective rifles as well. Now I have a dozen scopes and mounts to figure out
This match style rifle is all new to me. Pretty impressive piece of gear if you ask me. Quite the step up from a Williams Peep, LoL
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I'm thinking the second hole, but I may not even mount it. I don't want to handle that one anymore. There is also a small bag with a tool and several other styles of crosshair inserts for the front site. Do you think that also came with this rifle ? I think it all goes together
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Yes. All part of that rifle when new. Again, be very careful when mounting the diopter. The second hole is the best one for the 55M. It’s a show piece.
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I saw one of these sights sell for almost $200 the other day on Ebay, and it was not in so great of condition either , not like this one. This one is that older 13mm I believe. I looked up the serial numbers and the rifle is a 1969. It looks like it has never been used, not a scratch on it, no wear anywhere. I don't even want to handle this thing anymore and get a bit nervous when I take it out of the case. I don't know how it made it this far without getting scratched or dinged. It is almost as old as I am and I have many scratches and dings, LoL
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