We where spoilt in the 80's for Custom Rifles.

[Mach 1.5]

Just looking at the custom stuff back then, we had -
Airgun Centre - Zephyr 77 / 80
Airmasters - Dominator, Stalker, FT, FTS.
Cindy Shooting Shop - Piranha, Vixen
Colchester Airweapon
Gunsport
Kestock - Predator
Northern Arms - Sierra range
Streatham Armoury
Venom Arms
Worcestershire Black Powder Supplies

All offering great custom rifles.
Mach 1.5

[les allam]

There was definitely a big choice, judging by all the names you have just mentioned.
Unfortunately for myself,I didn’t have a great paying job back then and could only dream about getting a Venom custom rifle.
With the sad passing of Steve Pope and V-Mach, I can’t think of anyone who does such bespoke work anymore.
Regards
Les..

[T 20]

I have an Airgunworld annual (1986 ?) somewhere that has an A to Z listing of custom airgunmakers with photographs of their products.

Sadly they all seem to be gone now.

[HW777]

There's a saying, you don't know what you've got till it's gone and I wonder how many of us want to kick our arses for not taking up what was on offer back in the day ?

JW hand made rifles seemed expensive at the time, they are now probably the most expensive secondhand rifle you can buy And yes I did ponder buying one more than once.

Venom/V Mach were at the top of their game, if you had the cash, exhibition grade stocks and bespoke work were there for the taking.

Airmasters work was spot on and who would say no to a 4 barrel Hw77 now days if the price was right.

ISP and LSD are the only 2 that I can think of that could build your dream rifle or find yourself a retired highly skilled engineer with a workshop and get them to build that rifle that no one else seems too want to, being Air Arms or Weihrauch.

[AC all day]

We sure were spolit but we also had John Bowkett, Steve Harper, Whiscome and Airlogic, plus a certain Mr Robinson doing stocks

[look no hands]

The one I always wanted was the Imperial Double Express.

Pete

[TonyL]

We certainly were spoiled for choice back then. And I think much was due to the launch of a certain new airgun-specific magazine in 1977, bringing with it the new Age of Enlightenment and respect for air-powered guns, leading onto the birth of FT, further driving development.

[Craig-P]

The one I always wanted was the Imperial Double Express.

Pete

I really wanted one of those, too - but at £550 they were out of my reach at the time. There was one for sale on GunTrader not so long back, I think it was around the three grand mark.

[Black Beard]

I think that the development of cheap Chinese tooling has done for the commercial airgun tuner. Anyone can do it themselves and airgun owners like to tinker. 3D printers will make this worse (or better, depending on your point of view). PCPs don't help as the gains from tuning are less than on a Springer.

On stocks, the skills just disappeared as people got old and retired.

[Craig-P]

I think what made Venom Arms stand out from the rest was their range of abilities extended to the world of powder burners, too. Even back in those days of the full on custom houses, there wasn't many who worked their magic on all platforms.

[T 20]

The one I always wanted was the Imperial Double Express.

Pete

Possibly, the only gun left that would interest me is a Worcestershire Black Powder HW80 Magnum.



All the best Mick

[BTDT]

Possibly, the only gun left that would interest me is a Worcestershire Black Powder HW80 Magnum.



All the best Mick

Was it called the 'Maraudermax', Mick?

[look no hands]

I really wanted one of those, too - but at £550 they were out of my reach at the time. There was one for sale on GunTrader not so long back, I think it was around the three grand mark.

I think it's still for sale but it's just under 2.5k now

Pete

[les allam]

I think it's still for sale but it's just under 2.5k now

Pete

Go on Pete, it’s only money.
You can’t take it with you ldgrin.
Les..

[BSFNUT]

Was it called the 'Maraudermax', Mick?

Yes Jim, HW80 with Anschutz barrel and lock grafted on .