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Thread: Last & First

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
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    Last & First

    Hammerli 480 - Last CO2 and First pcp air pistol. All in one model.

    480 was the model name as that was the criteria for the muzzle velocity.
    The first thing that strikes you as you examine the 480, is the overall sense of quality and precision that the gun presents. It is akin to the feeling one gets when handling a Rolex, or sitting astride a BMW (Other makes are available ) motorcycle - it just immediately says "quality".
    Cosmetically, it's combination of dark french walnut grips, aerospace alloy machined surfaces, and carbon fiber bits create a pleasing palate. This is a gun that will draw attention when you remove it from the box. But for all of this diverse aesthetic nothing gets your attention as much as the crackle finish on the air reservoir located under the barrel. It is a large tube (over 4 cm in diameter) that is finished in a two-tone black on yellow. The best way I can conjure to describe it is thus - think molten lava. We have all seen footage of a lava flow at some time in our past. Do you remember how the surface cools and becomes black, then cracks and shows the molten red lava through from beneath? This is the same effect only in molten yellow. In actuality, this effect is created by coating the carbon fiber wrapped, aluminum cylinder in a black lacquer that contracts as it dries. This finish effect is obviously varied from cylinder to cylinder, giving each one a unique pattern. Look at the pictures of both pistols to see the wide variety in pattern.

    Only made in this dual format for about 1 year. Each pistol is dated 94.

    It's a 200 bar fill pressure or bulk fill adaptor. Remaining pressure can be checked with the manometer supplied with each pistol. To switch between air or CO2 you must first ensure that the cylinder is completely empty and a tool is provided to drain the cylinder.
    The overall length of the pistol is approximately 16" (410 mm), with a barrel that measures 9.75" (250 mm). This gives the shooter an excellent sight radius of 13.5" (340 mm) to work with. The grip will have a familiar feel for those lucky enough to have owed one of this pistols' siblings in the .22 standard or free pistol variety. It is well formed out of a piece of figured, dark french walnut and sports Hammerli's excellent ergonomics and a fine stipple in the lower grip section. The palm shelf is adjustable, and the entire grip angle can be rotated on its axis by about 10 degrees. This allows the shooter to fit the grip of the 480 to a very fine degree to his or her individual needs.

    The engineers and designers at Hammerli spent approximately 5 years in R&D on the 480 before prototype production, and another year or so before the very first pistol rolled out the doors of the Swiss firearms plant in 1994.

    [IMG]
    DSC01426 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01427 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]
    [IMG]DSC01428 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01429 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01433 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01444 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01448 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01454 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

    [IMG]DSC01460 by Mark Davis, on Flickr[/IMG]

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    What a beautiful piece of match airgunning history, Mark! Thanks for sharing this. The boxed example looks factory fresh!
    Vintage Airguns Gallery
    ..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
    In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.

  3. #3
    eyebull's Avatar
    eyebull is offline Even a stopped clock is right twice a day
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    Beautiful.
    What's going on at the end of the barrel, is it a built-in air stripper?
    Good deals with these members

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Yep, air stripper

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