It the end of the year- Your best purchase and maybe one that surprised you?

[45flint]

Best purchase was my Beeman Westley Richards, this probably being the best. The biggest surprise was a Japanese SKB53 rifle. I was not expecting the quality in this early Japanese rifle. Cherry stock was surprisingly nice and a wood you just don’t see on a rifle, bluing awesome, nice aperture, had the look and feel. My first Japanese rifle. Was so used to see their cheap BSA copies, total surprise.

[isobar]

nice looking rifle that,not to mention the pistol.

[MDriskill]

The SKB is gorgeous, I didn't know (or had forgotten LOL) they made springers. The elegant slender, tapered lines of the stock are beautiful - it looks like a race-prepped Webley Mk 3!

Well this one will make most of you yawn, but my best was this addition to my HW 55 collection: an early Beeman-marked "M" variant. Long story short, it has some interesting transitional details that fill in some gaps in this model's overall history. Also in superb cosmetic condition, and a fine shooter.

[coburn]

Well this one will make most of you yawn, but my best was this addition to my HW 55 collection: an early Beeman-marked "M" variant. Long story short, it has some interesting transitional details that fill in some gaps in this model's overall history. Also in superb cosmetic condition, and a fine shooter.

That certainly does not make me yawn! A beautiful HW55 about a year apart from my own 55M. I'm sure you'll agree but those 70's era HW's are among the best air rifles ever made.

[MDriskill]

Thanks! The "HW 55 geek" details on this one include: oldest example I have seen with a fore end accessory rail, and Beeman markings. But also: newest one with old-style 13mm sight rail spacing, and serial on the rear receiver instead of the barrel. Tiny but interesting (well...to me anyhow!) changes were afoot in 1975.

[WebleyWombler]

'Beeman Westley Richards' ? Was that not made before Bob Beeman was born?