I refuse to rise to the bait of IJ's amusing trolling.

Oh, all right then.

Compared to most of the largely rubbish contemporary pistols when the Johnstone-Fearn Webley came out in 1924 or so, the Webley was streets ahead. It is a poor design in ultimate performance terms, and if I had to shoot a 10M match with a classic springer, it would not be my choice. But it's a surprisingly good shooting proposition despite its design limitations, the older ones are beautifully made and finished, and about four generations of British air gun shooters grew up either owning one or wanting one. So they are just nice.

My first air pistol was a Webley, but at the same time I wanted a 3-litre Ford Capri when I grew up. I now know for sure that a 3-litre Capri was actually a bit of a crap car. But I still want one.

This whole vintage/classic thing has to accept the role of nostalgia. I mean, I have nostaligic feelings for the Mk1 Airsporter, although it came out twenty years before I was born.

I guess this is why some people collect Gats. Weirdos.