Target Pistols (in general)

[zooma]

When I started my first airgun club in Exmouth in 1971 the Spanish made GAMO Centre under-lever air pistol was a popular choice for newcomers to the sport because it was readily available (and at a very good price) from most sports shops in the UK.

Rivals such as the break-barrel Original Model 5 and Walther LP53 were more expensive and did not score any better in the hands of most novice shooters, and in time these inexpensive air pistols gained a lot of respect from experienced shooters too as being a very accurate performer.

The under-lever was also a nice feature as it kept the barrel and sights "in-line" and avoided the "suspicion" (myth?) that the break barrel rivals may not be as inherently accurate because the alignment of the front and rear sights was never disprupted each time the pistol was cocked.

Being able to adjust the grip to give a more "wrist down" hold was also seen as an advantage to some owners who found the "military grip" of all its rivals did not suite them as well.

The GAMO Centre has become a classic in its own right and can still out-shoot many of its more expensive rivals and good examples are getting harder to find.

[zooma]

Since my last post I have "recovered" my pistol case that has my two GAMO Centre under lever air pistols in it, and they look to be in very nice condition for their age.

Along with these two air pistols are some interesting spare parts including a new spare adjustable grip assembly, a complete spare rear sight unit, x3 spare front sight tubular covers, x1 front sight assembly with tube cover and two more different front sight assemblies that are designed for use without the tube covers.

The last two front sight units may have come from the target model, but we bought these alternative sight units as the "rules" back then did not allow the front sight of any target air pistol to be covered (!) and these were easy to fit as "legal alternatives".

This covered front sight rule was largely ignored as it would render all of the early Original Model 5 and Model 6 air pistols as illegal too.......but of course they and the Centre air pistols were used in various competitions as they were all very popular target pistols.

I have also found a reprint of the Airgun World Volume 1 Issue 9 four page Gun Test on the Centre air pistol - along with the 1984 ASI price list that shows the retail price for the Centre as being £37.00.

ASI were also the distributers for Feinwerkbau (amongst others) back then and the Model 65 price was £216.74 with a walnut grip or £237.82 with the anatomical grip showing what superb value the Centre air pistol were back then!

On the same price list the FWB 300S Match was £273.49, the 300S Universal was £31415.48 and the 600 was £425.00. As a matter of interest the 300S Running Target rifle was £258.17 or £275.90 with a thumbhole stock.

It is interesting to note that the highly prized FWB air pistols and rifles have not actually gone up too much in value (maybe even lost a fair bit allowing for inflation) whereas the humble Centre air pistols have actually kept pace with inflation as a really nice example can easily fetch over £150 and even rough examples of Centres can still fetch £75 or more.

I will take pictures of my two Centre air pistols along with the case they are in along with all the spares mentioned above and the price list and review before putting them up for sale here on the BBS as a complete package.

I can also send these pictures by email to anyone that is interested in Centre air pistols that may like to see them.

[nishijin]

Since my last post I have "recovered" my pistol case that has my two GAMO Centre under lever air pistols in it, and they look to be in very nice condition for their age.

Along with these two air pistols are some interesting spare parts including a new spare adjustable grip assembly, a complete spare rear sight unit, x3 spare front sight tubular covers, x1 front sight assembly with tube cover and two more different front sight assemblies that are designed for use without the tube covers.

The last two front sight units may have come from the target model, but we bought these alternative sight units as the "rules" back then did not allow the front sight of any target air pistol to be covered (!) and these were easy to fit as "legal alternatives".

This covered front sight rule was largely ignored as it would render all of the early Original Model 5 and Model 6 air pistols as illegal too.......but of course they and the Centre air pistols were used in various competitions as they were all very popular target pistols.

I have also found a reprint of the Airgun World Volume 1 Issue 9 four page Gun Test on the Centre air pistol - along with the 1984 ASI price list that shows the retail price for the Centre as being £37.00.

ASI were also the distributers for Feinwerkbau (amongst others) back then and the Model 65 price was £216.74 with a walnut grip or £237.82 with the anatomical grip showing what superb value the Centre air pistol were back then!

On the same price list the FWB 300S Match was £273.49, the 300S Universal was £31415.48 and the 600 was £425.00. As a matter of interest the 300S Running Target rifle was £258.17 or £275.90 with a thumbhole stock.

It is interesting to note that the highly prized FWB air pistols and rifles have not actually gone up too much in value (maybe even lost a fair bit allowing for inflation) whereas the humble Centre air pistols have actually kept pace with inflation as a really nice example can easily fetch over £150 and even rough examples of Centres can still fetch £75 or more.

I will take pictures of my two Centre air pistols along with the case they are in along with all the spares mentioned above and the price list and review before putting them up for sale here on the BBS as a complete package.

I can also send these pictures by email to anyone that is interested in Centre air pistols that may like to see them.

Wonderful info.

I have sent you an email as per your pm, keen to see what deal we can strike.

Many thanks.

[zooma]

Wonderful info.

I have sent you an email as per your pm, keen to see what deal we can strike.

Many thanks.

Hope you enjoy the two Centre air pistols (and spare parts) and that they give you many years of pleasure.