Weihrauch would find it impossible to build a Mercury. While I like their engineering, they’ve never made a graceful rifle, with the possible exception of the late model HW30S.
Graceful, swoops lines, massive mainspring preload, heavy piston with ‘O’ ring, hazardous and tricky disassembly, chunky but sweet barrel-latch, basic but serviceable trigger.. it’s about as far away from a Weihrauch as a Relum Tornado.
Where to begin.... A barrel that went through the breech block, rather than stuck on top.
Decent metal open sights.
A sturdy pivot bolt, rather than the cheaper pin.
Shims on breech block to prevent marking.
Dovetails cut to a decent length and depth, rather than just scratched into the cylinder.
A fully adjustable two stage trigger, with a blade that doesn't flex.
Better quality piston.
Deep blued finish, rather than paint.
Have I missed anything?
I'd love to see the meteor, mercury and airsporter relaunched, and built to the same standard of HW or Air Arms offerings.
And yes again.
Shame. As, has been mentioned, the Mercury was a very graceful rifle with fine handling. A rifle that just felt natural being dragged around the fields for hours without causing fatigue. Maybe a little "rangey" feeling, though, so maybe a carbine version will have handled even better? Capable of decent accuracy and the trigger can be set up for relatively nice, clean let-offs although, obviously, it'll never be a Rekord.
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- August 3/4, 2024.........BOING!!
You've obviously never seen a later Mercury or S version, they have bluing and breech bolts, the S has metal open sights and metal fake two stage trigger blade, the pistons are pretty well made, just let down by the buffer washer set up, I can't say I've ever had a problem with the scope grooves once you have proper fitting mounts, so most of your list was improved upon, still not to HW/AA quality but much better than the earlier versions.
Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in
The metal finish was, most definitely, far better on those later ones, Pete.
BSA's attempt at the breech bolt wasn't the best example of how it should be done, however. The latch itself, as mentioned above, and on another recent thread, is very good.
Like yourself, never had issues with the scope grooves if using quality mounts.
Never been impressed with the quality of the pistons on the examples I've owned, though.
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- August 3/4, 2024.........BOING!!
P.S....@ wickerman....do enjoy. They're still a good rifle and able to keep delivering many years of sterling service. A little piece of yesteryear.
Plus they're easy to work on (once you've learned how to handle the end block, and especially if preload isn't excessive) and parts availability still, seemingly, good.
Last edited by TonyL; 13-03-2024 at 06:55 AM. Reason: Serviceability.
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- August 3/4, 2024.........BOING!!
Far too many rifles to list now, all mainly British but the odd pesky foreigner has snuck in
Re my comment on post #9 re a carbine, I seem to have a hazy memory that they might have made a carbine at some point? Was it the 635? I imagine that with the shorter barrel and, maybe, a little weight added to the butt, handling would be even quicker......
THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
NEXT EVENT :- August 3/4, 2024.........BOING!!
I own a couple HWs a 97 and a very nice 1979 hw35e in .177 engineering second to non even my early webley mk3 far better made but the mercury does have its charm with the handling and the accuracy ......it also reminds me as a kid drooling over the guns in the two racks in my local sports shop....one rack webley and one rack bsa.....with the premier and junior pistols in a glass cabinet with webley starting pistols....happy days
have looked at the jaws and there is no barrel movement not bad for 50 years and the sight mounts gripped fine
Custom BSA S10 .22 PAX Phoenix Mk 2 .22 Custom Titan Manitou .22 (JB BP) HW77 .22 FWB Sport Mk1 .22 Sharp Ace .22 Crossman 600 .22 Berretta 92 .20 Desert Eagle .177