err I'm going to get hammered for this
Up until last week I was the proud owner of a .22 Mk1 HW80 bought new in '81, serial no 909... Stamped Edgar Brothers as they were HW importers then. Over the years it's had loads of mods- polishes, buttoned, delrin bits,trigger work, stock altered here and there, brass bling etc etc. Had thousands and thousands of pellets through it over the years and always sweet as a nut. It's main claim to fame was being number 1 shooter at the first Venom shoot in 81 or 82 ?? . Gerald Cardew was chronographing the rifles, the 80 clocked 18fpe
he just said "It must be dieselling put a few down the practice range and it will settle down" and passed it.
Those were the days hardly anyone had a chrono as you didn't really need one until the 80 came along. I bought one the week after, cut down the spring to lower it a bit and from then on it continually evolved with all the other bits and pieces being done to it.
Anyway last week I finally came to the conclusion I couldn't really use it properly anymore, age and various ailments have taken their toll and the weight was getting too much. Pondered long and hard about selling it, it was really nothing special except to me, well used but not abused and I decided I couldn't stand the thought of anyone else having it. So I powered up the bandsaw, chopped it up into small pieces including the stock and chucked it in the bin, I just kept the sawn off barrel, Rekord trigger and the sights for projects.
Sacrilege I know but I just didn't want anyone else to have it, shame but I have no regrets about it.