Given an old HW35 - Help required!

[siphuncle]

Hi all. I've just been given an old Weihrauch HW35. I can;t seem to find a serial number anywhere. There are some faint numbers in crayon inside the stock which look like 705498 possibly.

The condition is mixed. barrel seems straight but barrel and action may have been painted in some sort of black coating. stock revarnished at some point. sights bent and need replacing.

I'm looking to get a rough date for it and some suggested next steps as I'd like to get it roughly to something period accurate.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

pictures are on imgur here: https://imgur.com/a/dDBEmy5

[Bruno27]

I have 660XXX manufactured 1977 with number lhs end block
705498 should be ~1979 Weirauch database

[CapitalBee]

Initial thoughts:
Some HW's had serial numbers on the back of the cylinder block. Others had the serial number on the barrel. If yours is a bitza (made from multiple donors), you could end up with an air rifle without a discernible serial number visible. The barrel is an older one (with a slot cut into the breech block upper face to locate the rear sight and keep it straight), as is the 'ballbag' pistol cap stock. You've not shown the safety configuration, but single sided safety, between 1976 and 1980 IIRC and after that, double sided safety (visible on both sides of the cylinder block). No safety, is obviously pre-1976.
If it's fitted with a leather piston seal, I'd probably leave it as is (don't go with a steel synthetic seal conversion as it just reduces the operational stroke within the cylinder and adds weight to an already heavy piston). If original, you'll find the spring guide is steel with a cut crucifix formed at the base to locate the spring. They're not the best fitting of guides and you might want to fit custom guides when servicing it, to reduce spring 'twang'.
Only other thing I'd suggest is check how clean the trigger mechanism is, as they can clog up with dried up original grease from its' manufacture.

[look no hands]

Take an angle grinder to it, it's the only way to improve it

[WILBA]

I wish Ian was still here. He hated the hw35 as much as me lol. could this be an import as some imports don't have serial numbers. All hull cartridge imported gun do I think.

[WILBA]

Take an angle grinder to it, it's the only way to improve it

The stocks make excellent gate posts to as perfectly shaped.

[MartynB]

Take an angle grinder to it, it's the only way to improve it

I was wondering how long it would take

[CapitalBee]

I wish Ian was still here. He hated the hw35 as much as me lol. could this be an import as some imports don't have serial numbers. All hull cartridge imported gun do I think.

IJ? I think his collection of HW35's was bigger than my entire collection!

I'm sure he'd have had a witty put down for you 35 haters as well.

I've decided, I'm going to bring my '35 to the bash in May; at least it'll keep you guys off my table and give me some elbow room!

[look no hands]

IJ? I think his collection of HW35's was bigger than my entire collection!

I'm sure he'd have had a witty put down for you 35 haters as well.

I've decided, I'm going to bring my '35 to the bash in May; at least it'll keep you guys off my table and give me some elbow room!

I shall bring my HW35 customisation tool

[CapitalBee]

I shall bring my HW35 customisation tool

I'll bring my baseball bat and attack ferrets

[siphuncle]

Initial thoughts:
Some HW's had serial numbers on the back of the cylinder block. Others had the serial number on the barrel. If yours is a bitza (made from multiple donors), you could end up with an air rifle without a discernible serial number visible. The barrel is an older one (with a slot cut into the breech block upper face to locate the rear sight and keep it straight), as is the 'ballbag' pistol cap stock. You've not shown the safety configuration, but single sided safety, between 1976 and 1980 IIRC and after that, double sided safety (visible on both sides of the cylinder block). No safety, is obviously pre-1976.
If it's fitted with a leather piston seal, I'd probably leave it as is (don't go with a steel synthetic seal conversion as it just reduces the operational stroke within the cylinder and adds weight to an already heavy piston). If original, you'll find the spring guide is steel with a cut crucifix formed at the base to locate the spring. They're not the best fitting of guides and you might want to fit custom guides when servicing it, to reduce spring 'twang'.
Only other thing I'd suggest is check how clean the trigger mechanism is, as they can clog up with dried up original grease from its' manufacture.

Yes the safety is single sided. that date range matches with the serial number on the stock, so its probably in that range.

Sounds like a new internals kit might be the way to go.

not quite sure what to do about the thick black coating over the action...

[TonyL]

Take an angle grinder to it, it's the only way to improve it

Nob!

[look no hands]

I'll bring my baseball bat and attack ferrets

That's bloody cruel, why attack ferrets with a baseball bat, I know they can be viscous little buggers but do they deserve that.......and who the hells bringing ferrets anyway

[look no hands]

Nob!

Yes but a nob with taste

[MikeHW45]

Take an angle grinder to it, it's the only way to improve it

The only way to make it shoot like a BSA