FWB Sports

[jonnyone]

Well, since I have picked up yet another of the above I wanted to check with the 'Sport aficionados on here as to the differences between the different "marks".

Of the five I have, some simply have Feinwerkbau/Oberndorf on the breech block. One has Mk11 below it. One has Series Mk11 on it and I have a known Mk111 which I assumed had the archetypal "dan dare" muzzle weight. I say assumed since I saw one advertised more recently and this really did have what I can only describe as a "trumpet" shaped weight whereas the one I have is parralel sided with deep grooves machined into it with a post foresight screwed into the top. This threw me a bit as until that point I assumed all Mk111s looked like mine??

Anyhooo. For those in the know can you explain what are the obvious (and perhaps less obvious) differences between the Mk1, Mk11, Mk111 models please.

Thanks!

Dave

[I. J.]

There is also some differences in the safety catch. One mark has a square hole cut into it.

[jonnyone]

There is also some differences in the safety catch. One mark has a square hole cut into it.

Thanks Ian,

Will check that tomorrow. I gave an "oldie but goodie" early one to my nephew a few years back (its the one you helped me with the plastic trigger after I snapped one) . From memory this had a subtle difference with the cheek piece and the other ones I have but I cant recall what?

Another difference from memory is pistol grip checkering? I'm sure I recall some panel shape differences????

Would be good to get some info on these.

Thanks again for the input.

Dave

[Muskett]

MKIII:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...9/IMG_3192.jpg
MKII and III:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...9/IMG_4654.jpg

My favorite MkII set up:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...e/IMGP6760.jpg

The earliest used to have some red paint on the safety, it wasn't done very well so why they probably stopped. Biggest issue with Sports is that the body tube diameters changed depending what they had in stock or tooled up that month at the time. No two triggers are quite the same.

I.J. has a walnut one I believe.

[jonnyone]

MKIII:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...9/IMG_3192.jpg
MKII and III:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...9/IMG_4654.jpg

My favorite MkII set up:
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/z...e/IMGP6760.jpg

The earliest used to have some red paint on the safety, it wasn't done very well so why they probably stopped. Biggest issue with Sports is that the body tube diameters changed depending what they had in stock or tooled up that month at the time. No two triggers are quite the same.

I.J. has a walnut one I believe.

Thanks muskett. Your pic of the mk111 is the type I have. Identical muzzle weight. Angular stock near pistol grip. No reference to it's mk111 designation on breech block though. Mine still has the shiny importers label on the cylinder tube and I think it does reference it as mk111. Bit daft on such a quality gun. Same as using plastic for the rear sight mind!
Incidentally the one at the weekend came with an Apel one piece mount. A first for me. I have a feeling that the whole gun may have been bought as a package from one of the outlets back in the day.
Thanks again
Dave

[I. J.]

MKIII:


I.J. has a walnut one I believe.

You believe correctly sir. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Airs...ml?sort=6&o=34

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Airs...ml?sort=6&o=35

I also have a couple (124 & 127) with factory left hand stocks.

ATB
Ian

[Muskett]

I.J. I continue to live in envy

I do think the MKIII is a very collectable rifle because of its rarity. I would keep yours in best condition if possible for there are plenty to be had for shooting. There aren't too many models of Sports to collect, and plenty were sold as they are such a fine rifle to shoot. A few customs and fully tuned to be had too. But not too many so its not an endless endeavour to collect most examples ever offered.

I showed the Apel mount with cross pin in the picture. The Optima 4x40 compliments the rifle too. A Moonlighter would as well, as would a Kassnar or Tasco. ASI 4x40 would be another option if you could find one and at one point was the type shown in early Air Gun Worlds.
Sports are best shot freehand as they are fidgety and not particularly forgiving being so light weight. They all want to shoot straight even if hard to drive.
Ever Sport trigger is different and most can be made "quite" nice. Same could be said of the Webley Omega though most are close to similar. They will never be a HW Record unit.
Lastly, the barrels are soft and can bend, especially if you let them "fly". Worst if done with a moderator. They still shoot straight even with a banana barrel. Theobens do it too, as do quite a few German rifles.

I'm a huge fan of the Sport having had one, 124, in my teenage years until I upgraded to a Theoben. Don't think I'll ever not have one.

[jonnyone]

You believe correctly sir. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Airs...ml?sort=6&o=34

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Airs...ml?sort=6&o=35

I also have a couple (124 & 127) with factory left hand stocks.

ATB
Ian

Very tasty indeed Ian. Being a Beeman custom I guess it originates from across the pond? I think our American cousins have a hankering for the FWB too?
I think its a mark of their engineering and quality that even to this day they can still hold their own against modern contemporaries.
Dave