Reply With Quotei'm sure others will come up with better ideas but the half stocked diana 27 with the superb trigger.not powerful but very accurate and nicely made.
may also be employed in conjunction with a drawn reciprocation dingle arm, to reduce sinusoidal repleneration
I know very little about the air guns made before WWII, other than some BSA underlever are nice guns. There’s books written about them.
But what about the break-barrels? I understand BSA made one and Greener made one, and Haenal did too as well as Diana.
Which is the best if the breed in terms of accuracy, power and build quality?
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i'm sure others will come up with better ideas but the half stocked diana 27 with the superb trigger.not powerful but very accurate and nicely made.
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Another Diana 27 fan here.
Award-winning Airgun Anorak
The prewar Diana 35 DRP was basically a larger, more powerful version of the 27. Also with the lovely double pull trigger and walnut stock.
See them together here:
Diana 27 bottom, 35 middle
Vintage Airguns Gallery
..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.
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Not as well know but the FLX XX is probably as nice a prewar break barrel as you will find. The last rifle in the group of 3 in the Gallery is mine and the machining and bluing is as good as it gets.
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....-xx-air-rifle/
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Haenel Mod II break barrel. I got one. Very well made
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Absolutely stunning craftsmanship. The hand checkering on that walnut!
Originally Posted by 45flint
may also be employed in conjunction with a drawn reciprocation dingle arm, to reduce sinusoidal repleneration
I agree that is one beautiful air-rifle, like a Mannlicher of the same period.
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Haenel for me too!
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My missus has a Diana 27 that is very accurate:
https://youtu.be/889pWxlysQY?si=Ossm2Q3CsV18J9dO
I'm a big fan of my 1920's Millita, although it took some fettling to get it shooting really well:
https://youtu.be/qgBp0hVuNHU?si=0rCw_L4m-5tajB-2
I would be interested in adding a Heanel one day.
That FLZ is gorgeous, don't think I've ever seen one for sale.
Cheers,
Matt
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Webley Service for me - well the barrel is used as a cocking lever!
I also used to own a lovely Ansonia Millita type with a gorgeous stock.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...xjMg2oi5ynX70d
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...XdNkBB39PPQEdT
John
Currently looking for Baikal Makarov pistols with the following prefixes to the serial number: 98, T01, T09, T21, T22
Prefer boxed or cased but will consider loose examples too.
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This third rifle I think was FLZ’s final attempt to take it up a notch from rivals Diana and Haenel. Prewar they were huge in exporting air rifles abroad. Shame they never survived WW2. Probably unnoticed is this final version moved the trigger adjustment to the tube.
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agree with you there,that is really nice
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My vote goes to the Britannia. I've owned several. They're compact, powerful, accurate, beautifully balanced, easy to work on, and they have two power settings and a rock-solid breech latch that automatically adjusts for wear. IMHO, it's the Mary Poppins of pre-war break barrels -- practically perfect in every way.
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I am lucky to have obtained a Britannia over here in the US. It is a very unique rifle but not sure perfect in every way? If perfect I think the in stock spring system would have carried on into modern airguns? Its profile is not really graceful? The quality of it finish is not comparable to the bluing that was developed after WW1: mirror blued finishes there.
The balance to me is totally centered in the stock and the lack of a forearm a bit annoying and odd looking?
Last edited by 45flint; 28-03-2024 at 11:58 AM.
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