Why was the Webley Viscount such a flop?

[Thegreg]

These were effectively long-barrelled Trackers, but while the Tracker sold in the tens of thousands I think the Viscount had a rather disappointing couple of years (?) before it was discontinued.

Did fashion at the time favour a short barrel? Did the Viscount have a place?

The rarity of them might suggest that the value among collectors would be quite healthy, but whenever one does turn up no one seems interested in it!

It's probably one of the most least-recognised Webley's ever made. I'd be interested to hear the BBS collector's opinions on them?

Cheers
Greg

[MDriskill]

These were effectively long-barrelled Trackers, but while the Tracker sold in the tens of thousands I think the Viscount had a rather disappointing couple of years (?) before it was discontinued.

Did fashion at the time favour a short barrel? Did the Viscount have a place?

The rarity of them might suggest that the value among collectors would be quite healthy, but whenever one does turn up no one seems interested in it!

It's probably one of the most least-recognised Webley's ever made. I'd be interested to hear the BBS collector's opinions on them?

Cheers
Greg

That’s a really excellent question! The Viscount had to be one of the best-looking air rifles of all time...lovely lines, nice stock detailing, fantastic fit and finish on the metal bits, great size and balance. Also rather quieter to shoot that the Tracker thanks to the longer barrel, all in all one of my favorite modern Webleys. I owned a walnut-stocked one briefly and it is amongst the rifles I most regret selling!

Note that the “Viscount” name died before the long barrel did, however. I’ve seen several guns labeled “Tracker” with the long barrel at gun shows here in the US. No doubt the carbine was much more popular, yet there may be more examples of the long-barreled version of that action out there than you think.

[Josie & John]

I think you hit the nail on the head with fashion dictating the popularity of shorter barrels. That sexy barrel weight also added to the Tracker's looks and it was marketed as a handy little carbine. A walnut stocked Tracker deluxe is certainly one of the best looking air rifles Webley ever made IMHO.

I never got around to buying the walnut stocked Beeman/Williams aperture sighted Viscount I always wanted at the back of my mind!

Towards the end of production, Webley dropped the Viscount name and marketed two Trackers: the Tracker Carbine and the rifle version, so you will see long barrelled 'Viscounts' marked as Trackers.

Definitely an underrated classic.

John

[bill57]

I've said it before, the Viscount with the Osprey heavy barrel could have been a great gun, with balance and handling that would put others to shame. It's on my project list, unfortunately at the moment I only have a .22 Tracker action and a .177 Osprey barrel so it's a bit more complex. Anybody got a .177 Tracker cylinder?

[DM80]

I owned a viscount deluxe years ago it was a lovely looking gun one I regret moving on I also think they shot nicer than the tracker due to the full length barrel think back then every body went carbine mad and sadly the viscount didn't sell very well no were near as many as the short carbined tracker which is also a nice little airgun,

Dave.

[Geezer]

Also, back then, the break-barrel ruled the roost. The only lever-cocked rifles that got any real traction were the Airsporter as BSA’s flagship prestige model, and the Tracker and the military-style Jackals, because of they were different. The Viscount, which I agree looks and handles superbly in walnut, just wasn’t different enough. Then the HW77 cane along (with which the Viscount could not compete on performance) and suddenly break-barrels were for farmers in barns, and all serious shooters had to have an underlever.

[mrto]

I think you hit the nail on the head with fashion dictating the popularity of shorter barrels. That sexy barrel weight also added to the Tracker's looks and it was marketed as a handy little carbine. A walnut stocked Tracker deluxe is certainly one of the best looking air rifles Webley ever made IMHO.

I never got around to buying the walnut stocked Beeman/Williams aperture sighted Viscount I always wanted at the back of my mind!

Towards the end of production, Webley dropped the Viscount name and marketed two Trackers: the Tracker Carbine and the rifle version, so you will see long barrelled 'Viscounts' marked as Trackers.

Definitely an underrated classic.

John

Quite right. I have a long barrelled Tracker,mint still with hang tag,but no box,unfortunately!