There’s a move on the horizon, so I’m going to sell some springers to lighten my load. I have a Weihrauch springer that was imported by EAA that I’m trying to identify. There are no identifying marks except Made In Germany and the EAA import stamp. It’s clearly a Weihrauch by the quality of the piece. It has a break barrel that’s very long. The power plant is longer than my HW97 but not as big around. The sides of the forearm have light finger grooves. And it has iron sights like the other Weihrauch. Any ideas what Weihrauch model this would be and maybe the age?
I read this forum some but don’t have knowledge enough to contribute much. Thus the reason I just joined. Thanks in advance for any help.
Steve
His description doesn't really sound like an HW35, with the exception of the finger grooves and long barrel. He said the compression tube is longer than the 97 but smaller in diameter. Isn't the tube on the 35 (and HW80/R1) the same diameter as the 77/97? The 35's tube isn't all that long, either. I don't have a 97 to measure but the tube on my 35K, at just under 14", is only 3/16 of an inch longer than the tube on my HW50S. Both of those, the 35 & 50S, are over an inch shorter than the R9's tube.
I posted the above pics of Steve's rifle from the OP.
I'm not familiar with the importer stamped on the receiver, but I'd say with a pretty good degree of certainty that it's an HW95. Same internals as an R9 but a longer "standard" barrel and slightly different stock.
Admin edit: EAA is European American Armory ( http://eaacorp.com/)
I posted the above pics of Steve's rifle from the OP.
I'm not familiar with the importer stamped on the receiver, but I'd say with a pretty good degree of certainty that it's an HW95. Same internals as an R9 but a longer "standard" barrel and slightly different stock.
I think you're on the right track, Limbshaker. I remeasured the tube on my R9 and from the transfer port to the back end it's 13¼", just as Snickair said his measured. (I included the barrel fork in my measurements above.) But I think it's more likely a version of the HW85 which shares the same power plant as the 95 but comes with the long barrel. Far as I know, the 95 has always had the shorter carbine barrel.
I always thought the HW85 was the R10, with the threaded rear block?
But I see Krale still sells an HW85, that's the HW95 with the slide in plug rear block and a 19" barrel.
Thanks for keeping me straight guys!
Either way, thats a pretty neat stock on the OPs rifle. Like that grip cap.
You're right, Limbshaker. The early 85s, along with the R10, did have the screw-in rear block. But somewhere along the line they did away with the screw-in block and went to the slide-in style. I'm not sure when that happened.
Yeah, that is a cool stock. Has a kind of 1970's look to it, but I don't think the 85 was around until maybe the mid-1980's.
Steve, I almost forgot about this. This website might help give you an idea of the age of your gun. It's the Weihrauch Database.
You can check your serial number against this list. It's a long list so may take a bit to load.
http://www.weihrauch-database.eu/thelist
Or you can put your serial number in here and see what it says.
http://www.weihrauch-database.eu/dywp
Please let us know what you find out about it's age.
I looked on the Weihrauch website and compared some specs. By the few specs that they give, it appears that you are correct that it is an HW85. The only difference is my stock has the finger grooves and the rifle is not so marked. The second link above puts it at 1993-95 and the first link shows other HW85's about that time period, thus it's the oldest airgun I have. It appears to be very hard hitting but I have no chrono to tell the velocity. The spec chart said 950fps, but we all know how that works. It also cocks easier than the 77 and 97 because of the longer barrel. Thanks for all the help folks. You are a wealth of knowledge.
Steve
I think Steve is right about it being a BSF. It was probably imported by Robert Law in Grantsville WV. I have owned one or two similar rifles in the past but I can't remember how they were marked. The gentleman I bought one from told me he had bought it from Bob Law in person.
Bob in WV
I agree that the stock's cheek piece looks similar to some of the BSFs, but the rest of it looks like HW to me. The barrel has the dovetail grooves for the front sight like HW, the rear sight has the 4-notch rotating leaf and cover over the base like HW, and the barrel block has the same contoured bevel around the top as my HW35. And it has the Rekord trigger and safety. No disrespect intended, but that all says HW to me so I'll stick with my thought that it's a version of the HW85.
Here's the link to Weihrauch's HW85 with photos for a comparison.
https://www.weihrauch-sport.de/air-rifles/hw-85-hw-85-k?lang=en
BSF rifles were made in Bavaria between the mid '30s and late '80s when the brand and tooling were sold to HW, which was located nearby. Besides their own branding (Bavaria), they made rifles for large retail houses like Wischo (model 55), ARH, Beeman, Kendell and others. these rifles feature a raised scope rail and the decent BSF, two stage trigger. There were also a tap loading, semi-match style underlever (model 54) and the Model 70-72 series which were differentiated only by caliber. All rifles were robust and reliable and were notable mechanically for their long action design.
When Weihrauch took over, rifles were made for smaller companies and trading houses - Marksman and several others - on BSF tooling, often with no markings. Some of the same rifles were made on HW machinery for other purchasers. For example, the Marksman model 60 is an HW-77 clone made on BSF tooling. The Marksman 56 FTS is and HW-98, and the Beeman R-11 is a Model 56 with a shrouded model 58 barrel. Old Marksman catalogs show the BSF tooling guns being upgraded with the Record trigger around 1989.
Given Weihrauch's history of mixed tooling and styles, my guess is that the unbranded mystery rifle could have been made for small retailers from a mixed bag of parts. The endcap and 19 5/8" barrel could indicate an enhanced Model 70 with a Record upgrade, but until the rifle is disassembled, all that could be said for certain, is that it was made after 1989 by Weihruach.
But in any case is a great find and a keeper!
Agreed, it's obviously of Weihrauch manufacture. But everything about that action says HW85 (Mk2 with the slide-in block) to me. And as you said, Weihrauch was known to use various parts around that time so it's very possible that they used leftover BSF or Marksman stocks on the 85 Mk2 action for this model. But Weihrauch is also known for assembling rifles to the importers specifications, such as stock style, barrel length, and caliber. So this gun may have been specially made for EAA.
I think if it was mine I'd drop EAA an email. They may have records from when this gun was imported or may even have a company historian who could shed some light on it. EDIT: An email to Weihrauch with some photos might turn something up, too.
In any event, it's a great looking springer and would be a nice addition to a collection.