Thanks Johnnyone! I find this forum most useful for sounding out problems and receiving feedback. I then deposit the subject rifle with Protek and make a point of informing readers of the diagnosis and solution. My own skills are poor in this department but that does not mean I do not take a careful interest in the technical activity! Protek, meanwhile, only deal with airguns, so that is their single focus.

It might be worth your while trying to find the circlips, assuming they were in working order, as finding individual replacements rather than bulk replacements could be difficult.

Meanwhile, I have found what seems to be a near mint 45 in .22 and will travel to inspect it next week with a view to purchase. I gather it was made in 1984. This will complement my .177, which I will collect next week from the repair bench. I have always found these to be first class rifles and, I gather, the leather washers were amongst the last used, given the manufacturers had moved to synthetic. On the other hand, I think they had produced these washers at their best and they worked well. It seems they need the very minimum of lubrication, unlike, for example, the old Mk3 or Airsporters, which almost required oil as part of the firing cycle.

This collecting thing is rather dangerous and I think I must try to call a halt at about 10 rifles. That said, I am nearly persuaded to try a modern springer to see if there is much difference. I suspect there is little. When I showed a friend my recently purchased FWB 127, he thought it was as good as and perhaps better than his HW97. I suppose there is so much that can be invented in the process and then it becomes rather difficult to improve, other than via the trigger or balance or, perhaps, recoil.

I am also tempted by the Anchutz 335, of which I have read good things.