Airmasters Mastersport FTS/Vmach

[murkywaters]

So I posted up a few weeks ago about a rifle I bought through an auction (original post), I could see it was a HW77K with a serial number dating it to 1986, with the chrome action, moderator and walnut stock I could tell it was something special, but I wasn't sure on what it consisted of being the auction was online so I couldn't try it out - sight unseen just online pictures.

With the action being chromed this threw me out and still does, I would love to more about this specific gun, why, when and where the chrome was applied, was it an Airmasters one off or a previous owner decided to have it done, either way it fits right into the mid 1980's where Airmasters were producing these beautiful guns.

Once I got the gun home you could see it had been sat around for a few years, the chrome had tarnished, the stock was flat and dull but in really good condition with no dings dents or chips, so I stripped it all down to restore. This is when I knew the internals were not FTS unfortunately, it had a Vmach kit installed and badly, the piston was really tight in the comp tube and the chrono confirmed this with 8ftlb, so I sized the piston seal, cleaned, fettled, polished and used correct lube in small amounts, its now at a consistent 11.2ftlb, the action has come up really nice with a light polish of Autosol.

The stock, I love this stock, it has some stunning figure to it combined with being an iconic shape from the era, it just needed the right treatment, after preparation I have been adding thin light coats of Trade Secrets Rapid oil and drying for a few days, this is where the figure has really started to pop, after drying I couldn't wait to rebuild it.

Now it is all back together with a Tasco scope to match the rifles age and it really is a stunner, at the moment it could do with a tin or two pellets through it just to bed in the internals properly so I'll enjoy doing that.

Below is some images I took this morning, thanks for reading

[Mach 1.5]

STUNNING...but I would pop a Tasco 2-7 x 32 AG on her. Mach 1.5

[HW777]

Airmasters stock, chromed 77 action and a V Mach kit, what a result.

The must important part though, is it a .177 ? lol

[murkywaters]

STUNNING...but I would pop a Tasco 2-7 x 32 AG on her. Mach 1.5

Thanks, yeh I'll keep an eye out for one or a 3-9 x 40 of that era.

Airmasters stock, chromed 77 action and a V Mach kit, what a result.

The must important part though, is it a .177 ? lol

Yeh it is .177, obviously the stock is Airmasters but the action has an Airmasters moderator/underlever clip, its a strange one of whats happened to the internals..

[Garvin]

Thanks, yeh I'll keep an eye out for one or a 3-9 x 40 of that era.



Yeh it is .177, obviously the stock is Airmasters but the action has an Airmasters moderator/underlever clip, its a strange one of whats happened to the internals..

Wonderful pics! Pure eye candy.

[webb22]

A nice bit of patient tlc there mate - well done you - she’s a stunner 👍

[Muskett]

So very much an 80's rifle. A very nice example indeed.
The Chrome I like as its shows where people were trying to bling and go somewhere else other than bluing. Now we have carbon, and other finishes.
A fine example to add to any collection, nice one.

[vintage]

Very beautiful indeed

[joffy]

Or a Zeiss 3-9x36 if you are feeling flush

Or a kassnar beta

[RustyBuzz]

Or a kassnar beta

Maybe not so much the Beta 3.

Whilst a nice scope, these were very much FT rifles and the Beta 3 reticle is all wrong for FT - ie too thick and too wide between posts. And I seem to remember that they had no top post and that the thick posts were square across the top which removes another important point of reference when compared to those with pointed tips.

Zeiss 6x32 or 3-9x36 was the dream. Tasco 2-7AG was good enough or one of my personal favourites the Tasco 3-9x40 TR. Also the Weihrauch 3-9x40 as these are great scopes and would be an excellent match you can find one.

Oh, and thanks to Tony, Tom, Mach et all for their kind comments

[Duggan]

Gorgeous rifle and photos thank you for sharing and all of the contributions.

[ptdunk]

Recently found this in July 1986 Airgun world:

[IMG][/IMG]

Great to have the ‘thumb up’option.
Really beautiful stock, way ahead of its time.

Great find mate,
Matt.