Cheers. There was also at least one U.K. aftermarket silencer offered back in the day. My 52 came to me with one. Quite slim, quite short (though making the 52 at least as long as a 22” barrel HW35E) and doubtless not very good at quieting the thing, but it looks nice.

Given that the 48/52 has been in production for about 35 years, and that, at least in the US, it was a very popular and influential rifle, it just struck me that there’s - I think - a lot less written about its history and development than, say, the various Mks of HW80s, 77s, FWB Sports.

If there is such info, it’s probably buried on the old American dianawerk forum, which used to be quite good but in the past (?) five years or more appears to have congealed into irrelevance, due in part, I think, to the sad passing of one or more of the more active and constructive members.

Hoping that Drew or Driskill (to name but two) can add to/correct the above.