New airgun website

[Craig-P]

Beautiful collection, Geoff and well done on producing a great site.
Keep well mate, Craig.

[Craig-P]

Are all Spartans engraved? Do they still make them?
I'm looking at putting money aside for the new leshiy 2 but always loved the look of the Spartan

that’s a good question, and one for Shaun Hill at ISP. All Spartans are made to order from scratch. I don’t believe there are any pre-manufactured parts. Don Blocksidge did all the engraving but he must’ve stopped by now. He has to be close to 90! Don had something of a monopoly on the engraving scene - at least at a rate and quality that worked for the airgun world. I very much doubt the high end engravers will work for the rate that is required to make a hand built airgun feasible. I always regarded Shaun’s work as unbelievable value for what it is. A hand built, engraved rifle. Regulated and superbly accurate. Wrapped in gorgeous high end Turkish walnut for the price of a premium (mass marketed PCP). It was always a no brainier to me. But as I mention the manufacturing process did rely on a series of craftsmen coming together one of which was ‘The Don’ - Mr Blocksidge.

Spartans are made however you want them. They can be engraved, plain, matt, polished, colour case hardened or whatever the customer wants as, like Geoff has already said, they’re hand made to order and spec.
My friend Don Blocksidge was still doing the engraving for the Spartans and other special orders, right up until last week. However he’s since taken ill and I sadly doubt there’ll be any more work from him. We’d much rather see Don enjoying himself and taking it easy than stressing to meet a deadline.
Engraving can still be arranged however, we’re just unsure of the price at the moment. The 30+ year working relationship with Don obviously reflected in the price charged and made engraving more accessible/affordable - this relationship and setup will now have to be created with another source.
So perhaps the terribly sad ending to an era but the beginning of a new chapter.

Best, Craig.

[les allam]

Just had a look at all the stunning guns you have on there :cool.
The 80 and the Tomahawk Cobra are my favourite’s.
Great site.
Les..

[GSMN1]

Spartans are made however you want them. They can be engraved, plain, matt, polished, colour case hardened or whatever the customer wants as, like Geoff has already said, they’re hand made to order and spec.
My friend Don Blocksidge was still doing the engraving for the Spartans and other special orders, right up until last week. However he’s since taken ill and I sadly doubt there’ll be any more work from him. We’d much rather see Don enjoying himself and taking it easy than stressing to meet a deadline.
Engraving can still be arranged however, we’re just unsure of the price at the moment. The 30+ year working relationship with Don obviously reflected in the price charged and made engraving more accessible/affordable - this relationship and setup will now have to be created with another source.
So perhaps the terribly sad ending to an era but the beginning of a new chapter.

Best, Craig.

thanks for the update Craig. When you see Don, please wish him well from me. ATB pal. 👍🏼

[Dodder]

Wish I'd never looked at that damn site - utter porn for a 57yr old into airguns! My own collection now looks pathetic!

[Craig-P]

thanks for the update Craig. When you see Don, please wish him well from me. ATB pal. 👍🏼

I will do mate.
Best, Craig

[Moss74]

A great website and a cracking collection, some real beauties there
Thanks for sharing them, Martin

[Gamocfx]

Congratulations on building the website you certainly seem to have mastered it. I can't stop looking at the .177 Cobra, the quality of your stocks and metal work is mind blowing! Just like Dodder I am now looking at my rifles and slowly shaking my head... well done Sir!

[WILBA]

Wish I'd never looked at that damn site - utter porn for a 57yr old into airguns! My own collection now looks pathetic!

Why say that. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Be proud of what you own and not worry about what others have.

[GSMN1]

Why say that. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Be proud of what you own and not worry about what others have.

I'd like to second this thought. Well said Chris. The site was built to celebrate guns, our sport and hobby, to inspire, inform and put a smile on a face. Not to make anyone doubt there own collection. That was never the intention, and good photos are merely a matter of technique. We've had free ads removed from our world, and too many restrictions imposed for my liking.

On that note, if anyone has any history, interesting facts, data on any of the marques that Ive posted info on, Id be very happy to include and credit where necessary. Just a thought.

[GSMN1]

Im looking for user feedback on the site. Anything to improve, add, delete or amend. Id really appreciate genuine feedback, although recognise i could be leaving myself open to a bit of stick!