One for the collectors

[ptdunk]

Hmm. Sounds like Mike 'upgraded' it?

Did he move the stock to a different rifle?

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....hw55/#post-113

Bingo.

It's a different action, but the same stock, the stock is mid '60's and the action is 1980.

I wonder what happened to the original action....That serial number 163320 didn't appear on any other HW55's at that auction.
Was there much difference between the 1960' and 1980's actions?

Very interesting, again we are lucky to have a resource like your vintage airgun gallery.

Many Thanks Danny,

Matt.

[Garvin]

Bingo.

It's a different action, but the same stock, the stock is mid '60's and the action is 1980.

I wonder what happened to the original action....That serial number 163320 didn't appear on any other HW55's at that auction.
Was there much difference between the 1960' and 1980's actions?

Very interesting, again we are lucky to have a resource like your vintage airgun gallery.

Many Thanks Danny,

Matt.

Matt the earliest HW55s had external embellishments like a thick knurled ring on the trigger block and elaborate cross-hatching to the head of the breech lever bolt, but these were gradually dropped, presumably to save money. So by the mid-'60s all that remained was a simple radial groove on the trigger block. Soon after that even it was dropped.

[BTDT]

I wonder what happened to the original action....That serial number 163320 didn't appear on any other HW55's at that auction.

I've just checked the serial number of the HW55S that Mike gave me some years ago, and guess what

[ptdunk]

I've just checked the serial number of the HW55S that Mike gave me some years ago, and guess what

Ha! It really is a small world.
Can I ask what sort of stock does it have on it?
If we could date it I’m guessing it would be 1980

Cheers,
Matt.

[BTDT]

Ha! It really is a small world.
Can I ask what sort of stock does it have on it?
If we could date it I’m guessing it would be 1980

Cheers,
Matt.

I think it's a 55M stock with no identifying marks that I can find to suggest a date. It has a finger groove either side of the fore end rather than chequering, and is ambidextrous (no cheek piece).

[ptdunk]

I think it's a 55M stock with no identifying marks that I can find to suggest a date. It has a finger groove either side of the fore end rather than chequering, and is ambidextrous (no cheek piece).

Quick look in Hiller’s and It could be a 70’s/80’s HW55SM (standard match) if it has a thick curved rubber butt pad, or a mid 50’s/60’s HW55S (standard) if it has a thin butt plate.
Both have the finger groove and no cheek piece.

Lovely rifles,

Cheers for the info,
Matt.