Oscar Will Bugel Spanner

[Stefran61]

I have been asked by a friend to research a gun he recently acquired.
We believe this to be an early bugel spanner by Oscar Will, it has an octaganal barrel and is rifled measuring 0.2" at the breech.
Any information would be much appreciated, especially a date of likely manufacture.
Not sure of a value so that would help also.
Photos in link below.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/nMgjSMK

Many thanks
Steve

[ptdunk]

Looks like a later model, I believe 1920’s -1950’s? Octagonal barrel is supposed to mean pre-war.

Value depends on the condition, eg:the Nickel plate on the cylinder etc, and wether it has ‘Original Will’ markings (Oscar Will) or ‘Original’ or no markings at all which mean it’s a copy.

Maybe £300-500

Video on them from AirArmoury:

https://youtu.be/x80G4ginncw

Cheers,
Matt

[Stefran61]

Thanks Matt
This has the marking 'original will' on the octagonal barrel just forward of the breech. The nickel plating is in reasonable condition, there is no rust but some pitting of the barrel which looks to have been reblued.
A restoration project by someone but lovingly executed.
Steve

[ptdunk]

Thanks Matt
This has the marking 'original will' on the octagonal barrel just forward of the breech. The nickel plating is in reasonable condition, there is no rust but some pitting of the barrel which looks to have been reblued.
A restoration project by someone but lovingly executed.
Steve

That’s great it’s an Oscar Will one.
Only just scrolled down to see all the pics.
Looks really nice, I think that collar in the middle of the cylinder was for resting it in a mount on a shooting gallery.

I have an unmarked one and they are really great to shoot.
This last iteration of the gallery gun is so much easier to cock and shoot then the earlier crank wound and side lever versions.
They were originally designed to shoot darts, but some later ones were rifled apparently.

My one was very slammy until I sorted out the piston seal, which had shrunk a bit.
It shoots almost silently now, they are quite low powered.

They have very interesting springs..pics of it stripped here:
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....ner-stripdown/

Lovely guns.
Cheers,
Matt

[Garvin]

Between the collars there used to be a leather strip, presumably to prevent wear when handling ie. in a shooting gallery.

[Stefran61]

Many thanks for the replies, i will pass this info onto my friend.
Regards
Steve