What rifles replaced the Webley Mark III in the 70’s?

[MDriskill]

Interesting they went to a side lever for their top of the line, were there other side levers at that time?

Yes. I’d have to look up production date details, but Hammerli and Air Arms both made sidelever, tap-loading springers in the same general time frame.

Again, here’s a great (and reasonably-priced these days) history of that period in airgunning:

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-sear...r/john-walter/

There are 4 editions of "The Airgun Book," published about 1981, 82, 84, and 87. The true nut like me will want all of them of course, but for whatever my opinion is worth, the 3rd one (red cover) is the best all-round for springer history. The 2nd adds very little to the 1st, the 3rd has much new information and some great sidebar articles on obsolete models and company histories. The 4th has many early PCP models but drops much of the older springer info.

I picked up the 3rd Edition on a trip to London in 1985...basically had it memorized before I got home and have been a hopeless addict ever since, LOL...