I posted these questions on the Collectable airguns board a couple of days ago, but got no replies (I suspect because the HW70 contains no walnut for them to pore over), so I wonder if anyone on here can help...

Working abroad, I'm missing my guns, and so have been considering buying a HW70 to keep me occupied. A quick bit of googling suggests that it was introduced in 1970; I want an early one, 1980 or earlier, to fit into my collection.

I've seen three grip styles, all plastic: the first a walnut effect, the second brown with artificial grain, and the third (latest) black. I also note that earlier pistols lack a safety catch.

Can anyone give me some dates on when the grip changes took effect, please?

Also, does the serial numbering follow the usual HW sequence (so I can date it from the same list used for dating rifles)?

Any other tell-tale signs that a pistol might be an earlier model?

Thanks in advance,

Matt