Went up to beautiful New Hampshire yesterday to visit my friend Scott Blair. He's not just a good friend, but an awesome Gunsmith. We have been collaborating on a few FWB124 builds. So, the day started with putting the finishing touches on the 3 variants pictured. The pictures show just how versatile this rifle design is. As all true classics, the design stands the test of time!
From left to right....first variant is a rifle that was produced over 40 years ago by Robert Law at the old Air Rifle headquarters. He took what he called an F12CX (aka FWB124D) and did his deluxe tune to it. Then he fitted the action into the F120 walnut stock. This stock looks bulky and heavy, but its surprisingly lightweight and ergonomic. It also hides the cocking lever....very cleverly!
I stumbled across the F120 stock last year on Jim Maccari''s Air Rifle Headquarters site. Just a very lucky find! It was unfinished. I sent it to Scott and he did all the work you see. Notice the grip cap. That's all hand fashioned to match the old style. The spacer is Holly, the cap Rosewood. I was apprehensive about checkering the grip, but then I saw a super fancy F120 on Paul Watts Springgunnung site with checkering, so I figured...why not? So I had Scott copy the design as an homage to PW. Lol. IMO, Scott hit a home run with this one.
The middle 124 is a stock that I bought from Steve Corcoran right before he closed his shop. It was beautiful and sleek and I had to have it. Scott designed the grip checkering on this one. Another home run.
The action was in need of a tune, so Scott installed a JM 'Soft' tune kit. He also replaced the trigger with a stainless steel one. All in all, the end result is my dream 124! This one I call the 'Slimline'. I had no trouble with one hole groups at 30 yards with it! Easy to cock and shoots with a soft thud. The trigger is something special too. Unlike any 124 I've ever shot. I'm super pleased with the final product.
Last is my factory walnut 124D. This one came with the original box and paperwork. I have 2 other factory walnut 124Ds, and this one is the prettiest by far. Scott didn't have much to do here. Just some open sites as it came topped with a 66R originally . I wanted to show an original along with the old and newest style stocks for this timeless classic.
The day was definitely a memorable one. Sharing the rifles and having fun working out the project all led up to yesterday's visit. It's what our sport does....brings people together to enjoy these wonderful rifles. Scott and guys like him that we are blessed with in our community are definitely an asset and deserve all our thanks.
I liked your posts for 2 reasons...….First you gave credit to airgunsmiths. They are worth every penny!!!
Second, your rifles were iron sight equipped, I am really getting into iron sights.
Have you ever tried something called "Eagle Eye" with iron sites? I am quite ignorant.
I, like you, am a consumer of tuned airguns. I have no desire to work on them I just enjoy the improved performance of a tuned airgun. Money spent to a airgun smith is truely money well spent.
THAT is a very nice trio of 124s! Open sights or scoped, what's not to like when it comes to looking at classic springers? Add in some custom stocks and the drool flows, lol. And apologies to Scott, JM, and Steve C as I do admire their stock work, but I think that factory walnut 124D is my favorite.
Went up to beautiful New Hampshire yesterday to visit my friend Scott Blair. He's not just a good friend, but an awesome Gunsmith. We have been collaborating on a few FWB124 builds...
Nice set of rifles by all means. I don't think I missed it, but I'm assuming we're not looking at 'mirror images' here, and you are a lefty.
I've never owned a 124, but like them very well when tuned. Some are indeed surprised there is a nice, crisp, 2-stage trigger design hiding behind the way some of them get delivered. I know them as well as I do because I got to do test shooting after tuning them for others.
I'm surprised that with all of the 124's I've tuned, and there have been A LOT of them, no one ever brought me a 127. I wonder what the production ratio is of .177 caliber vs. .22 caliber, because the latter version seems to be very rare based on what I've handled.
If it was me, I'd be tempted to put a scope on at least one of them. Once tuned, they certainly have the range and accuracy for it (granted, sometimes you need to touch-up a damaged muzzle crown, but not a biggie to do that).
Went up to beautiful New Hampshire yesterday to visit my friend Scott Blair. He's not just a good friend, but an awesome Gunsmith. We have been collaborating on a few FWB124 builds...
Nice set of rifles by all means. I don't think I missed it, but I'm assuming we're not looking at 'mirror images' here, and you are a lefty.
I've never owned a 124, but like them very well when tuned. Some are indeed surprised there is a nice, crisp, 2-stage trigger design hiding behind the way some of them get delivered. I know them as well as I do because I got to do test shooting after tuning them for others.
I'm surprised that with all of the 124's I've tuned, and there have been A LOT of them, no one ever brought me a 127. I wonder what the production ratio is of .177 caliber vs. .22 caliber, because the latter version seems to be very rare based on what I've handled.
If it was me, I'd be tempted to put a scope on at least one of them. Once tuned, they certainly have the range and accuracy for it (granted, sometimes you need to touch-up a damaged muzzle crown, but not a biggie to do that).
Thanks for sharing--have fun!
Ed
In reference to the 127...got one in the middle of a total resto. Poor thing was stuck in a shed for years!
I have one 127 that could use a little TLC if you have time. Lol
In so far as production ratio of 124 to 127, that's just another FWB mystery. Part of the mystical quality of these rifles is how little information there is about production. There are so many subtle differences that occur throughout the historical run. From hand checked grips with palm swells to flat pressed checkering, plastic triggers and metal triggers, plain front sites to insert sites and the list goes on! Who knows what or why these nuances exist. That they do is the intriguing part.
You are so right about the trigger Ed. With just the right tweet there is a perfect sweet spot. You know them well!
In so far as a scope, I have a couple of 124s that I was lucky enough to receive scoped. They are both plain Janes as far as my 124's go, but they have the sweetest triggers and can shoot a flea off a dogs butt from 30 yards easy! Lol So, I try to save the bluing on the rail on these real pretty ones. However, I'm leaning towards putting one on the Slimline.
I liked your posts for 2 reasons...….First you gave credit to airgunsmiths. They are worth every penny!!!
Second, your rifles were iron sight equipped, I am really getting into iron sights.
Have you ever tried something called "Eagle Eye" with iron sites? I am quite ignorant.
I, like you, am a consumer of tuned airguns. I have no desire to work on them I just enjoy the improved performance of a tuned airgun. Money spent to a airgun smith is truely money well spent.
Thanks for your post.
Don
I have an eagle eye on my FWB150. Works great! Thanks for your input.
In reference to the 127...got one in the middle of a total resto. Poor thing was stuck in a shed for years!
I have one 127 that could use a little TLC if you have time. Lol
In so far as production ratio of 124 to 127, that's just another FWB mystery. Part of the mystical quality of these rifles is how little information there is about production. There are so many subtle differences that occur throughout the historical run. From hand checked grips with palm swells to flat pressed checkering, plastic triggers and metal triggers, plain front sites to insert sites and the list goes on! Who knows what or why these nuances exist. That they do is the intriguing part.
You are so right about the trigger Ed. With just the right tweet there is a perfect sweet spot. You know them well!
In so far as a scope, I have a couple of 124s that I was lucky enough to receive scoped. They are both plain Janes as far as my 124's go, but they have the sweetest triggers and can shoot a flea off a dogs butt from 30 yards easy! Lol So, I try to save the bluing on the rail on these real pretty ones. However, I'm leaning towards putting one on the Slimline.
Thanks for posting.
JC
It so happens that I do have space in my schedule to work on a 124 or 127 if you mean it. I also have a brand new JM Twister spring that he stopped making about 3 months ago, it cost a good deal less than his complete kits. With all due respect to some previous posts and their authors, kindly ignore any info that seems to say the Twister spring is harsh, and slower than his full kits--I have that all worked out, and have had it so for a long time now.
There's a thread from today about a Tasco scope that fits and works well on those rifles. But it sounds like you have a few Beeman scopes there. If still functioning correctly, they're great optics too.
If it works for you, you can email me at edward73@sbcglobal.net. or, for even more info, copy and paste the URL that shows up in my signature below. So far, I don't think anybody's even noticed my new site since my son activated it online--lol (new--still under construction). Recent tuning work has come from word of mouth, posts read here, and another FWB 124 job that came from what my customer said is a dedicated FWB 124 forum--the latter is a new one on me, never heard of such a thing before.
This looks to be the right link to that Tasco scope--other sites have similar prices, but not free shipping like Amazon. In fact, I think I remember reading that Amazon is extending their free shipping-no minimum purchase deal through the end of 2019. (I can hear Wal-Mart stores nailing up 'Out of Business' signs across the country):
I have never heard of a dedicated FWB124 forum. I would like to know more about it.
I will contact you to talk about the 127. Thanks for your help.
I may try to contact him to see what forum he was talking about. It has me wondering too. He said he really likes the rifle now. It was a pawn shop find--pretty beat up when I got it.
It's interesting to see how the North American custom FWB Sport stocks by ARH and Beeman have carried over the exposed breech block of the original.
In the UK in the 1980s the style, as epitomised by Airmasters, was to cover the breech by extending the fore end. This does expose the stock to damage if you're careless during cocking, because of the wide cocking arc on the Sport (which helps make it so easy to cock, of course) but if you're careful it's OK.
I have never heard of a dedicated FWB124 forum. I would like to know more about it.
I will contact you to talk about the 127. Thanks for your help.
I may try to contact him to see what forum he was talking about. It has me wondering too. He said he really likes the rifle now. It was a pawn shop find--pretty beat up when I got it.
And, I'll be here. Thanks.
I did a Google search using "FWB124 Forum" and came up with a couple of possibilities where he might be reading about them. Nothing concrete in the way of a precise answer, though.
This could be a possibility, although I don't see anything referencing me as a source of repairs. If I find more, I'll let you know:
I have never heard of a dedicated FWB124 forum. I would like to know more about it.
I will contact you to talk about the 127. Thanks for your help.
I may try to contact him to see what forum he was talking about. It has me wondering too. He said he really likes the rifle now. It was a pawn shop find--pretty beat up when I got it.
And, I'll be here. Thanks.
I did a Google search using "FWB124 Forum" and came up with a couple of possibilities where he might be reading about them. Nothing concrete in the way of a precise answer, though.
This could be a possibility, although I don't see anything referencing me as a source of repairs. If I find more, I'll let you know:
I see what you mean. I don't see much of a 124 forum there. Nice to see people who appreciate them though. I've often wondered why the R1 got a book and the 124 no.
I see what you mean. I don't see much of a 124 forum there. Nice to see people who appreciate them though. I've often wondered why the R1 got a book and the 124 no.
Could have been the now defunct "classicfwb" blog.
It's interesting to see how the North American custom FWB Sport stocks by ARH and Beeman have carried over the exposed breech block of the original.
In the UK in the 1980s the style, as epitomised by Airmasters, was to cover the breech by extending the fore end. This does expose the stock to damage if you're careless during cocking, because of the wide cocking arc on the Sport (which helps make it so easy to cock, of course) but if you're careful it's OK.
Personally, I like the extended stocks. I think they give their rifles an 'elegant' look (I'm probably stealing a Robert Beeman application of the word).
However, for the extended design to work well, IMO the width of the stock needs to be sufficient to leave ample wood where the breech block is hidden. I think it was one of the R9 stock designs that had a somewhat-too-narrow width for my liking. The fore ends of the stock were thin enough that if you grasped the stock at that location, the forks flexed inward toward the breech block. I always felt that was an accident waiting to happen, although, to be honest, I don't remember anyone ever posting that theirs broke.
Is that the 124 you bought from Hawaii, having no idea it was a factory walnut until it arrived?
Enviously,
Lance
Hi Lance
This one posted here is NOT the surprise Walnut 124 from Hawaii. I got this one a few months back. It came with all the paperwork and the original box plus a 66R scope, muzzle break and sling. I will try to post a picture of it another time as this sites picture posting keeps freezing up on me. Better yet, I'll send it directly to you.
This had a beech stock originally. The stock shown is a Jim Maccari Myrtl Tyrolian trimmed up, finished & fitted by me. A bit of Paul Watts buttoning & Shroud on a shortend barrel.
I think all springer fanatics should have at least one FWB 124 added to their collection. It is so easy to cock for the amount of power you get it is ridiculous! If I had shot this gun before my HW50s then I probably wouldn't have bought the HW50s.
I could not agree with you more. So smooth and easy to operate, and the accuracy never ceases to amaze me. I have some very nice springers besides the FWB, but if they all had to go but one, it would be the one left. Mine has the checkered stock, is a Beeman stamped gun, and is still like new.
This had a beech stock originally. The stock shown is a Jim Maccari Myrtl Tyrolian trimmed up, finished & fitted by me. A bit of Paul Watts buttoning & Shroud on a shortend barrel.
Hi Chip
That is one honey of a 124 Tyro!! Beautiful job finishing it. Plus PW put his touch to it...that's awesome!
Love those JM stocks!! Where would us 124 guys be without him? Scary thought!
