Days of Old

[C3PO_1]

One aspect I love about this hobby / sport is looking back at the airgun scene when I was growing up in the late 70s and early 80s. I’ve bought a large batch of Airgun World and loving the pieces by Fred Grimwade (especially his review of the Webley Vulcan in 1980), the Country Gun columns by Arthur Shepherd, John Darling (of course) and Gerald Cardew and Geoffrey Boxall. I know that very sadly JD passed away many years ago, but what became of the others mentioned? Their contribution to my enjoyment is timeless.

[Maple]

So far as I'm aware, all of the people you mention are now gone.

[piggy589]

I showed a copy of John Walter's book I'd just bought to Nigel Allen.
He thought most people mentioned were still around.

That must have been over ten years ago.

[jonnyone]

All of the contributors you mention there gave me inspiration as a teen who was keen on hunting. Many of the articles were written so well you felt you were right there in a hide or stalking with them. I was never going to have the same success with my trusty Relum super tornado but it didn't stop me trying.
Rod Lynton and his Diana 50T01 article had me lusting after that gun and it's clover leaf groupings at 40 yards. The reality was somewhat different as I found out years later.
But all told those articles got me bitten by the collecting bug as well and I am pleased to own a good smattering of the top springers of those times.
Just gonna find my rose tinted specs a moment and will check back in later
Dave

[clueless]

All of the contributors you mention there gave me inspiration as a teen who was keen on hunting. Many of the articles were written so well you felt you were right there in a hide or stalking with them. I was never going to have the same success with my trusty Relum super tornado but it didn't stop me trying.
Rod Lynton and his Diana 50T01 article had me lusting after that gun and it's clover leaf groupings at 40 yards. The reality was somewhat different as I found out years later.
But all told those articles got me bitten by the collecting bug as well and I am pleased to own a good smattering of the top springers of those times.
Just gonna find my rose tinted specs a moment and will check back in later
Dave

Rod Lyntons articles were brilliant, it was like reading a batman script... "Thwakkk" and the scalley tail met his maker as the twin ringed milbro jet met it's mark

[steviebee]

Oh happy days, when serious airgunning was in its infancy, and being of a certain age was part of those times, I love trawling throo old "Airgun worlds", and looking at the prices!
It started a lifelong interest in all things shooting.
But coming full circle everytime back to airguns,and love the reviews of the guns of there day! Especially when a hw35 (£55) or Fwb (£79) was the top rifles of there time and still not being able to afford one!
I was lured into a single point sight, (£18) and was convinced by the adverts I wouldn't miss anything?
I was a close school freind of a guy called mark hunt whis mum was Cindy hunt (of Cindy's shooting shop) who was back in the day was one of the first shops to specialise in airguns only.
And Drapers of Nottingham back in the day when they traded in airguns as a side business from there hardware shop in Ilkeston in Derbyshire.
Very happy rose tinted days, I much more prefere the classic spring guns to modern guns.

[TonyL]

Happy days indeed.

The launch of Airgun World changed airgun shooting forever and we're all hugely indebted.

I also love to, when I can, pulling a late 70s / early 80s issue out for a quick flick through. A longer read would be nice.

Many of those influential characters now sadly gone and sorely missed.

In his article in the current issue discussing progress over the last 40 years, Jim covers many of the key developments and there are also some reprints of a couple of his early articles.....if you squint hard enough you can read that tiny print. Superb!

[MartynB]

I had originally kept every copy of all the airgun mags since day one, then had a purge keeping only articles / gun tests that I was interested in, then when I moved house in 2003 they all went into Tesco's paper recycle bins

[Big Seth]

I had originally kept every copy of all the airgun mags since day one, then had a purge keeping only articles / gun tests that I was interested in, then when I moved house in 2003 they all went into Tesco's paper recycle bins

Thats exactly what I did in the same year when I last moved house

[rapidresponse1]

the early days were good days

[piggy589]

The twin ring milbro jet,and here's us having to rough it with a dome head diablo

[steviebee]

Lol we struggle these days with 177 being 4.51, 4.52 and so on! Oh happy days when it was 177 or 22 simple as that lol.
Yes so many pellets that hit the scene when it was taking off, jets, Prometheus, lanes (with the middle bit between skirt and head) and a quick trip to the local fishing tackle shop would buy you a card box box of marksman for 50p, or if you could afford the extra 60p! A tin of those posh upmarket eley wasps!
And as for scopes, 4x15, 4x20 was the norm, but when funds was available I went large, and stepped upto a 4x32 a big leap forward back then.
I just took my freinds son shooting with me, with a nice old Bsf 70, he was amazed it could still do the business , best of it was he was very grumpy when he didn't hit a thing, saying it kicked to much! Oh the youth of today. Lol

[C3PO_1]

I had at the time a Webley Typhoon - regret selling that in 2007. I sold it here, I wonder if they still have it ...

[jonnyone]

Lol we struggle these days with 177 being 4.51, 4.52 and so on! Oh happy days when it was 177 or 22 simple as that lol.
Yes so many pellets that hit the scene when it was taking off, jets, Prometheus, lanes (with the middle bit between skirt and head) and a quick trip to the local fishing tackle shop would buy you a card box box of marksman for 50p, or if you could afford the extra 60p! A tin of those posh upmarket eley wasps!
And as for scopes, 4x15, 4x20 was the norm, but when funds was available I went large, and stepped upto a 4x32 a big leap forward back then.
I just took my freinds son shooting with me, with a nice old Bsf 70, he was amazed it could still do the business , best of it was he was very grumpy when he didn't hit a thing, saying it kicked to much! Oh the youth of today. Lol

Slight divergence off topic but speaking of youngsters being impressed by guns of yesteryear, a few years back I got chatting with my nephew who was keen as mustard to start a hobby shooting air rifles. I filled his head with talk of all springers that were Teutonic and out of all those chin wags he was inspired by tales of all things FWB Sport. So much so that I think it drove his mum (my sister) a bit scatty. So to make up for planting that seed I sold her a MK1 for what I paid for it (£50) after I'd give it a spit and polish tune.
It was a pleasure to see the little guy so taken with his new hobby. He practiced and practiced until he became quite an accomplished shot. He researched all things FWB so much so that when he had to give a class talk in school on a chosen subject, well you can guess the rest.
But here is the best bit. He took great pleasure in trouncing his mates when plinking with them and their cheaper (but newer and shinier) modern springers.
Classic air rifles I think will always be classic air rifles. And it's not only us (people of a ahem, certain age) appreciate that. It's surprising the youngsters these days who also recognise quality shooting iron when they see it!
Dave

[Edtwozeronine]

I follow a channel called Newtown Naughty Boy on YouTube, he's always promoting his book of the same name containing his memoirs of shooting up the townhall with his .22 airsporter and burning down police stations as a youth in the 70s. Perhaps you'd like his book OP?