Sorry if I sound a bit ingenuous but its not as if there was standardisation across the custom houses. The Top Hats, Laserglides, and piston customising, was only just coming online. Each custom house had their own way.
I'm sure you were getting the results and adding magic to the factory fodder. Whatever was going on in each custom house was quite secret. I suppose to protect the sales angle. Commercial numbers kept in house too.
Nothing wrong with that. What customers were buying were a mishmash too. Basic, stage 1,2,3, all kinds of work going on.
By the recent reports of rifles that have been opened up to see what was done its all so varied. No one can say exactly whats was done without looking and a good few it seems are a lot less than expected or first thought. Reports seem just so varied.
Was the first FTS the same as the last? 75-100 over a few years is not heaps. I don't know.
To add to the confusion owners played and switched parts about too.
Any light on what was really done, and when improvements kicked in, would enlighten us all. Frankly for the collector its all a bit buying blind.
What should a collector look out for?
Absolutely I am no espert. I'm more: if it shoots well its fine. Nice if a few who do have more info shared some of their findings. I think it would interest a lot of people as its part of airgun history. Maybe I just haven't been payed enough attention and all the info is out there?