Rare Spares.

[Abasmajor]

Hello,

There's an interesting discussion regarding the problem of sourcing original parts for older guns in the latest issue of Air Gunner magazine.

Those of us who regularly like to shoot the guns in our collections are always mindful of the possibility that sooner or later some component or other will fail necessitating a replacement part. Some original spare parts are just not available anymore which means either leaving the gun non-functional or having a replica part made. I personally couldn't live with a non-functional gun, so have either made minor parts myself or had somebody with the appropriate skills make them for me. I do however always place any broken original parts in a small bag and keep them with the gun as a part of its history.

I'm sure none of us would condone the breaking of a functioning, collectable gun to make a profit on selling the parts separately, but I have certainly bought guns in very poor condition cheaply just to obtain spares for my own use.

There are also specialist collectors who collect spares as they would pellet tins, oil cans, literature etc, especially the rare cardboard box sets originally issued to Webley dealers.

So, do we have a duty to stop using the rarer guns completely inorder to fully maintain their integrity or do we continue to use them sparingly for their originally intended purpose and replace any broken parts with non-original components ?

Regards

Brian

[Phil Russell]

I think this has been asked some time ago although maybe with a slightly different twist to it. My own view is that I want all of my meagre collection to work and work as original spec if possible. So, like you, I will make a replacement part if I can or if an original replacement part is what I consider to be prohibitively expensive. With the gun working, would I use it all the time? It depends ... if I consider the gun to be 'fragile' then I might get worried about further malfunctions that I could not fix either due to my ability or to the cost. In this case I would most likely just fire the gun very occasionally to satisfy myself all is well. If I consider the gun to be bomb proof then I have no worries.

Interestingly I do not really count leather piston washers, breech seals or sometimes mainsprings as anyway 'collectable' so have no qualms or fears of making them if needed. And if, e.g. a self tapping screw has been bodged into a gun and destroyed the original threading, I have no problem with me retapping the hole to a size that will get the gun working and making/modifying a suitable screw to provide an aesthetically identical / pleasing appearance compared to the original.

I would always keep broken parts as a reference.
Cheers, Phil

[DT Fletcher]

There are also specialist collectors who collect spares as they would pellet tins, oil cans, literature etc, especially the rare cardboard box sets originally issued to Webley dealers.

Interesting that you would mention the Webley boxes. I was starting to get deep into collection original Crosman literature and as a by product ended up buying a few defunct
Crosman Service Stations with all the spare parts just to get the paper. Ended up collecting parts too. One of the places I searched was the local Regional Crosman Service Station, Ollie Damon's here in Portland, OR. With permission, I went through their stock of spare owner's manuals and other spares in the upstairs room Amongst all the boxes of manuals was also a Webley box of spares. Lovely looking thing that was completely full, because they almost never serviced any Webleys there. Then, one day, the owner decided to get rid of all of the "junk" upstairs and paid a guy $500 to haul it away. My comment to the guy was that I would have gladly paid him $500 to haul the "junk."

For several years, while working at Intel, I would as part of my job travel around the US visiting our customers and distributors. Usually, I could be finished by noon and then would hunt down the nearest Crosman Repair Station in the area. Usually little could be found but every once in a while a small treasure was found. But I still regret the one that got away.

[averageplinker]

Hi Brian,

I always think it is up to the current owner what they do with their air rifle or pistol, whether that be wrap it up in cotton wool and hide it away or to use it as it was intended and service it as appropriate. I fall into the latter category.

If I buy anything old or collectable I will most likely go for a shooter rather than for a mint example. Admittedly I have only 1 very old, and rare (?) item and it is a complete basket case so I wil have no qualms about refinishing it, getting parts remanufactured etc.

Cheers

Rich.

[AC all day]

Hi i would like to put another spin on this....as i have a large collection of A/C guns and do use them, Brocock no longer have any spares and so i have had to collect spares when and as to suppliment my collection( where the law allows) in case anything breaks.

[RetroBloke]

For me, how I use a gun depends on how rare/fragile/irreplaceable it is.
A mainstream Webley etc can normally be fixed it it breaks but try finding replacement plastic grips for a 60-year old rarity.

Some vintage car groups have been asking the same question - restore and display it indoors, or maintain it and use it regularly?

I prefer to use older things rather than display them, the downside is that bits will break over time.
It will be interesting to see what other folk think.

cheers,
Pete

[abellringer]

I have said before on the forum several times that as an ex service agent for several British makers and importers and as an avid collector of all bits airgun I have a large collection of mainly post war spares and scopes for several makers, and with the cometh of 'old age' I am actively trying to sell as much as possible, I don't want the earth for parts and have now built up a circle of buyers who seem amazed at what is available. Like so many members I like to keep things as original as possible, but unless purchased new and kept in that condition for future sale, I do like to shoot my guns whatever age they may be [ the oldest now about 1903]. So if anyone wants to add an e mail address to their diary, add ray210645@yahoo.co.uk. Message to 'Mods' if this is not an acceptable post please remove it, I don't intend to break the rules just for trying to help but will fully understand if removed.

[trevor1]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hunt...1132644516.htm

[flogger]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hunt...1132644516.htm

Sore point with me my kit was recently stolen, full with extra bits and pieces.Roly.

[El Garro]

Only my own opinion but I think it's a shame not to use the old guns. I've sometimes broken a knacker that's pitted or battered to the point of no return.
I've sold bits and bobs on and made a couple of quid , I know it's a supply and demand thing but occasionally you see rare or hard to come by parts for ridiculous prices, it makes me cringe but each to their own eh.
A lot of parts can be repaired or made so it's not all doom and gloom. Others are like chickens teeth sadly. Gonna be filing a piece of metal to make a foresight for an old thing in the next couple of weeks. Can't wait

[gingernut]

I see no point in having nice old guns and not shooting them.

At the top end of the Classic Car scene many cars are bought as pure investments which seems cynical and or silly.

This may be so with some collectors of airguns too.
But it's your money and your choice.

[thisisdonald]

I shoot all my old guns... sadly I dont have many now... if one were to break.. I would weigh up the cost of repair against the actual value of the rifle..if it was too much money (something I have in meagre supply) then I would try and make the part. if it was beyond me, the gun would be broken for spares if it was more profitable than selling as a project... it may seem heartless to some, but it will go twaords other projects and hopefully someone would be able to complete their project gun as a result. I always use and always at no reserve. Ive had cracking bargains on there and I like to pay it back.. as long as I dont lose out on postage, the buyer can have it for 99p if they win - no sour grapes... it all adds to the karma pool.

[Shed tuner]

If I buy anything old or collectable I will most likely go for a shooter rather than for a mint example.

Ditto

[DT Fletcher]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hunt...1132644516.htm

Wow! That's something else! The spares kit that I just missed was for the rifles and was quite small in comparison, as I recall.

[ogilkes]

Gosh, there is always that one terrible regret!

Interesting that you would mention the Webley boxes. I was starting to get deep into collection original Crosman literature and as a by product ended up buying a few defunct
Crosman Service Stations with all the spare parts just to get the paper. Ended up collecting parts too. One of the places I searched was the local Regional Crosman Service Station, Ollie Damon's here in Portland, OR. With permission, I went through their stock of spare owner's manuals and other spares in the upstairs room Amongst all the boxes of manuals was also a Webley box of spares. Lovely looking thing that was completely full, because they almost never serviced any Webleys there. Then, one day, the owner decided to get rid of all of the "junk" upstairs and paid a guy $500 to haul it away. My comment to the guy was that I would have gladly paid him $500 to haul the "junk."

For several years, while working at Intel, I would as part of my job travel around the US visiting our customers and distributors. Usually, I could be finished by noon and then would hunt down the nearest Crosman Repair Station in the area. Usually little could be found but every once in a while a small treasure was found. But I still regret the one that got away.