Spare Parts Suppliers

[coburn]

Is it just me or is trying to get spares for older stuff just too much trouble. Of the two suppliers one I can never get hold of, the other took nearly two weeks to supply several very small items, two of which appear to be incorrect despite my best efforts in explaining what model of Webley they were for.

I am better off putting a wanted add on this forum?

[Arch.Stanton?]

I have had the same problem - in the end Chambers were the only supplier to get back to me . I've actually bought spares from the States quicker than trying to get anywhere with some people here in UK ........and the BBS is probably the best place next to Chambers .

[gedfinn 2]

Hiya mate, As we all know, the spare parts for the older guns are now becoming very scarce,
And in fact will cease to exist at all, ( Unless copy parts are made )
This will of course never happen, ( The Quantities are too small ) to gear up to,
Eventually " All " Old, Airgun parts will be used up, Where does that leave us ? When the likes of Mr T Robb, Chambers, Knibbs Etc have used up their spares ? Then What ?

Tell you,!! First off, the used Spares will be Re-Cycled to their maximum, After that its Specialist " One Off, "
I make them Myself ? But they are/can be time consuming? That sounds " Expensive " to me ? If I have to machine a part, & It takes 2, Hours to Fabricate, How much do I charge ?

Another Alternative is of course " Bin it " If the cost of replacement parts are " Unviable " The old gun,s are not worth the Effort ( Or are they )The Older spare " Airgun parts " will run out, !
Have a little patience , ( That is unless you can buy Elswhere ?? ) Cheers

[coburn]

Quite agree but if we keep buying the bits hopefully people will make them if the demand is there, just look at the stuff you can now get for the classic bike market. What will stop people using those suppliers is the length of time these people take to supply off the shelf items. In the same week I ordered some parts I ordered a HW70 from one of the mail order people (I am keeping names deliberatley out of this), It arrived next day by 10am to my work address as requested. Thats the service we should be getting

[gedfinn 2]

Hiya mate, Not wishing to be confrontational, But No one,!!! is making spares, There be any ?
When the " Present " Availability of ( New ) spares expires, Where will you get Meteor Piston,s Breech seals ( For many guns ) leather piston washers, Sights,Trigger springs, Barrels, Stocks, Sight,s,Piston,s,Etc, ?? " Nowhere "

I feel we are in a period, Whereby spares are available. ( But at a price ) and that this " Transitional " period will end ? IE No spares available ?
Am I painting a Bleak picture ? Yes I think so, ( I am only talking older gun,s here )

As an example, ? Where do you buy " Sharp " spares from,??, Pump head,s, Breeches, Etc, Meteor Pistons, are becoming rare, As are there Open sights, ( After more than a million gun,s ? ) How, !

I could go on to name another 20+ of the most wanted, But ! We all Know ?
I think the Open sights are the most difficult to locate, ? Who would want a Webley Mk 111 with a telescopic !

Save the Old gun,s/Parts Buy them for spares/Swaps you know it makes sense ? Cheers,

[tjg]

Hi gedfinn,
I think your right,spares will become more scarse,but the fact that we are talkin/readin about them on such a global scale "internet" must make them easier to source ?
TIM

[johnbaz]

coburn

stick at it with chambers, i needed a cocking shoe for an original 45, it took ages (well a few weeks!!) and the one that they sent bloodywell vanished in the postal system, he (hamish christie) had the decency to phone me up after my email asking him when the part was posted, he sent a second one out which, thankfully reached me and the rifle is shooting great now

i feel that they went that extra mile for a very low priced parts sale- it speaks volumes for chambers at the end of the day and they'll get my custom every time

john

btw, they only had four cocking shoes in stock, hopefully royal mail managed to return the one that they managed to lose making it still three in stock

[coburn]

Sorry gedfinn I thought that some of the parts suppliers commissioned some of the easier stuff to be made eg mainsprings, pins seals etc. I think there going to be very short sighted not to, sooner or later they are going to have no stock or business left. I agree on sight issue though, many sights were taken off airguns in the rush to fit scopes and are now long gone. However I recently bought via a net auction site a Parker Hale PH17B still in its original wrapper for 27 quid it even had the fixing screws with it. Now thats going on a suitable MK3 when I find one, not only is it cheaper than sourcing an original rearsight but a damn sight more accurate.

I bet there is loads of Webley stuff in collectors cupboards in those old factory parts trays they used to do. I am admit with some guilt I've got a couple of Senior piston rings gathering dust somewhere... (bought new in the early eighties in Simpsons of West Preston St Edinburgh)

[master_shriller]

John Knibbs has a lot of very early BSA spares made in India, he has been for a fair number of years now, pistons and seals, front and rear sights, screws, pins etc, they are not as good as the originals and may need a little fettling to make them fit, but at least you can get your old rifle back up and running.

Or sometimes other spares can be made to fit, I needed a piston for an early Lincoln Jeffries and although John Knibbs can supply them, I used an Original Model 50 piston and piston seal (as I have about 6 new ones), it was the same diameter, but I had to weld a bit on here and there and machine a bit off here and there, it worked perfectly

Ben

[wildoliver]

Well I ordered some parts from Chambers today for my cadet major, piston washer assembly, spring and breech seal (which is an arsehole to get the old one out) total cost including postage? Circa £25. The most vital bit was the top hat washer for the piston, I wouldn't bother setting to making one of those alone for the sake of £25! Plus the helpful friendly and most importantly knowledgable sales person, can't sing their praises enough!

[gedfinn 2]

Sorry gedfinn I thought that some of the parts suppliers commissioned some of the easier stuff to be made eg mainsprings, pins seals etc. I think there going to be very short sighted not to, sooner or later they are going to have no stock or business left. I agree on sight issue though, many sights were taken off airguns in the rush to fit scopes and are now long gone. However I recently bought via a net auction site a Parker Hale PH17B still in its original wrapper for 27 quid it even had the fixing screws with it. Now thats going on a suitable MK3 when I find one, not only is it cheaper than sourcing an original rearsight but a damn sight more accurate.

I bet there is loads of Webley stuff in collectors cupboards in those old factory parts trays they used to do. I am admit with some guilt I've got a couple of Senior piston rings gathering dust somewhere... (bought new in the early eighties in Simpsons of West Preston St Edinburgh)

Hi coburn, All the best mate, yes I saw the sight you bought ? Did you buy the Mk111 back block also, ? Cheers,

[coburn]

No I didn't win the trigger block and the hunt for a suitable MK3 continues. I've got one that I've had since the early eighties a series two but I want to keep that as I got it.

[gedfinn 2]

No I didn't win the trigger block and the hunt for a suitable MK3 continues. I've got one that I've had since the early eighties a series two but I want to keep that as I got it.

I do have 3, ???? cheers,