Sharp Innova

[Drew451]

There is an Innova for sale over on Gun**** with a highly unusual stock. Looks good to my eyes.

[ratpellet]

Imo the real attraction of the Innova is the simplicity of design, accuracy, durability and basic functionality and to me its pretty much perfect as it is, no offence to people who want to jazz it up, just my two cents, sometimes you don t need to improve on perfection eek

[RustyBuzz]

Pretty sure, indeed, that Galway made an Innova silencer and adaptor. I think a few others did too.

As Louis suggests, they had a burst of popularity in the early 80s.

Despite the rise over here of German springers, the late 70s saw a small fad for American pumpers, like the Sheridan, Crosman (including the much hyped Whaley/Marshall “customs”) and the Benjamin.

Compared to them, when introduced in 1979 or 1980, the Innova was short (34”), light (4.5 lbs), and in U.K. form only needed four pumps to make maximum power.

The US guns were typically a bit longer and heavier (Sheridan/Benjamin 37” and 6lbs) or much flimsier at similar weights to the Innova (Crosman 766/2200 - about 5 lbs). And they all needed 8-10 pumps to approach 12 ft-lbs.

In those pre-PCP days, a really light, recoilless, accurate, full-power carbine had a lot going for it in many people’s eyes.

At least one individual used an Innova a bit in early FT. I can’t recall if he developed biceps like Arnie or nearly had a heart attack, or something in between, but he did prove that a 40-shot course of fire and a pumper, even an Innova, were not the best combination.

If you are of a certain generation (mine) you will always have a soft spot for the Innova, whether you owned one or not, and despite its shortcomings.

Sharps of all types were very popular in FT at the start, which was fricking amazing as it was shot against the clock in those days. 5 shots in 90 seconds.

My father, John Welham was one, Dave Stevens from Iceni another, he turned up at one heat with a Pan Target, which is the only one I’ve ever shot, but the most successful ‘sharp’ shooter of that time was a chap called Les Burrows.

[Craig-P]

Sharps of all types were very popular in FT at the start, which was fricking amazing as it was shot against the clock in those days. 5 shots in 90 seconds.

My father, John Welham was one, Dave Stevens from Iceni another, he turned up at one heat with a Pan Target, which is the only one I’ve ever shot, but the most successful ‘sharp’ shooter of that time was a chap called Les Burrows.

Shaun and I were talking about Les Burrows just yesterday (Shaun had recently serviced a GC2, hence the Innova correlation). I remember Dave Stevens - he used an Innova with an extended pump handle, which was fitted with a Zeiss 6x36 and wore one of your fathers FTS stocks if I remember correctly. He went on to use a modified Daystate Midas in a similar setup.

[RustyBuzz]

Shaun and I were talking about Les Burrows just yesterday

How funny is that Craig? Les was very good with his Sharp. It was always worrying if you were sitting on a top score and Les was yet to shoot. My memory of Les is of him wearing that bucket hat, matchstick stuck out the corner of his mouth and targets falling.

I think that Dave Stevens set himself up as a rival tuner to us in the mid 80s, think he called himself Scorpio or something. I don’t remember him having one of the old mans stocks but he may well have done. A good shot was Dave.

[pumpygun]

My favourite rifle as my avatar and username might tell you!

[MartynB]

If you are of a certain generation (mine) you will always have a soft spot for the Innova, whether you owned one or not, and despite its shortcomings.

Yes, I had several Innova's, loved them, always used the Sharp specific Sportsmatch one piece mount and never over tightened

Last Sharp I had was the Ace and used the same mount, in fact, I still have it

[I. J.]

Yes, I had several Innova's, loved them, always used the Sharp specific Sportsmatch one piece mount and never over tightened

Last Sharp I had was the Ace and used the same mount, in fact, I still have it

The Ace mount by Sportsmatch was relieved on the side making pellet load easier and also underneath between the dove tails because of the high curvature of the barrel.

I once saw an Ace were the owner had filled the barrel down in two places so their two piece mounts would fit.

ATB
Ian

[MartynB]

The Ace mount by Sportsmatch was relieved on the side making pellet load easier and also underneath between the dove tails because of the high curvature of the barrel.

I once saw an Ace were the owner had filled the barrel down in two places so their two piece mounts would fit.

ATB
Ian

I'll have to check the mount I have, it has the cutaway for pellet loading, will see if it's relieved between the dovetails

Edit : Just checked and it is relieved between the dovetails

[I. J.]

I'll have to check the mount I have, it has the cutaway for pellet loading, will see if it's relieved between the dovetails

Edit : Just checked and it is relieved between the dovetails

This man knows his onions.
So a true Sharp one piece mount then. There was a similar one produced for the Falcon range of pcps.

ATB
Ian

[MartynB]

This man knows his onions.
So a true Sharp one piece mount then. There was a similar one produced for the Falcon range of pcps.

ATB
Ian

I gave it a good look over and couldn't see any chips or marks on the mount and rings or screws / hex bolts

Not often I get a compliment from I. J., I'll take it

[I. J.]

Not often I get a compliment from I. J., I'll take it

That’s because I rarely part with anything especially ‘condiments’

[SCW22]

Thank you for all the replies and the pic of the sharp’s, jealous in a word.

Can I ask how many pumps you normally have to do for full power. I’m doing 4 and getting 8fpe a fifth is very difficult to pump.

Cheers steve

[WILBA]

Thank you for all the replies and the pic of the sharp’s, jealous in a word.

Can I ask how many pumps you normally have to do for full power. I’m doing 4 and getting 8fpe a fifth is very difficult to pump.

Cheers steve

if i remember right its 7 pumps on the innova for full power. and 5 on the ace for full power. id rather a break barrel springer these days than a pumper as to muh effort. same reason i bought a divers tank and stopped using my hand pump!

[SCW22]

Wow if it’s seven mate I’ll never get there. After 4 it feels like it’s going to snap.