Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 16

Thread: Hw70

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Prague, Czech Republic
    Posts
    1,531

    Hw70

    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Battle, East Sussex
    Posts
    2,783

    Hw70

    From an HW brochure from 74 showing the new 70 I reckon they came out about then.

    The earlier one with the brown grip and seperate HW medallion in the grip is the one to go for, the grips are less prone to cracking and the metal finish is better.

    The black grips crack on a regular basis (I've got a black gripped one on its second grip). I bought mine new in 2006 and it was fitted with a safety which sets each time you cock the pistol, overkill really as it also has a beartrap. I ordered a new grip from Chambers after a few years and the one they sent had no provision for the safety! but I removed the safety bar and it fitted perfectly. This second grip has also cracked.

    They are a good pistol but I feel the later grips do let it down, HW also do a version of the 70 called the Black Arrow which has a different grip shape, is scope only and comes with a barrel weight.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Prague, Czech Republic
    Posts
    1,531
    Thanks Coburn. This one still needs some though.

    Matt

  4. #4
    eyebull's Avatar
    eyebull is offline Even a stopped clock is right twice a day
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Borehamwood
    Posts
    6,769
    Have you used one before? The triggers are very vague IMO (I have a brown plastic grip/medallion version).
    Otherwise nicely constructed though.
    Good deals with these members

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Cheshire
    Posts
    860
    I bought one in 2000, mail order from Kranks - and as it happened, they had to get one in from HW for me.

    It had the safety catch on the left hand side of the grip, which may have come as a surprise to me - bear in mind my knowledge of this gun came from Walter's The Airgun Book - and a horrible, cheap, brittle feeling plastic grip, medium brown with a moulded-in woodgrain effect. The grips had the HW logo moulded into them, not a separate medallion inset.

    Maybe I didn't persevere with it as much as I should've, already having a HW75 and '40, but I found it a bit of a disappointment. And yes, the grip started to crack - if you're familiar with the HW40 and the material used in that, the '70 simply bore no relation.

    Regards,

    Iain

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Battle, East Sussex
    Posts
    2,783

    Hw70

    Iain

    I ordered my 70 thru Uttings in 2006 and despite the add showing a brown gripped version, a black one duely arrived!. However as yo say even the later brown gripped version (molded in logo) is fragile compared to the earlier 70 with the seperate medallion.

    The earlier grip is a better coloured and "grained" bakelite style of plastic, the later is far thinner and more brittle.
    Last edited by coburn; 25-04-2013 at 06:52 AM.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    GUILDFORD
    Posts
    8

    HW 70 date

    Hi. I have an HW70 serial no.027462 which I am informed by Weihrauch was delivered in 1974. This is my favourite pistol which I use extensively at my club for practice and competitions. It is very accurate after plenty of practice and the trigger I find excellent. The original stock has not cracked and is well balanced. This is the stock with the separate medallions.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Middleton, Manchester
    Posts
    1,393

    Hw70

    As you thought, this pistol was introduced in 1970. The first models up to SN 66000 were considered unsafe, as the chamber cap could fly off and hit you in the face! The gun was modified after this SN in 1976, so be careful what you buy if you intend to use it. The optional safety catch was introduced in the late 1990s and the black version in around 2000. This data is from John Griffiths's Encyclopedia, but I can't find any info when the brown stock design changed. I had one of the first models and always found it to be disappointing. It wasn't really a target pistol, and didn't have enough power to give tin cans a good clatter.
    Life is to be enjoyed, not endured.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Wellingborough
    Posts
    48
    Hi,

    I had one of the pre-production models from Edgar Bros years ago and we announced it in our mailing shots in May of 1971. That doesn't mean it wasn't introduced in 1970 and the name would suggest that (or 1969!).

    Regards, David

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    near rotterdam,netherlands
    Posts
    3,579
    https://i.postimg.cc/624Dfswb/487401...46023262-n.jpg
    https://i.postimg.cc/5QwTDwXw/487827...83475200-n.jpg
    https://i.postimg.cc/47cShzbr/486054...47321384-n.jpg

    Heres mine. With medaillon. With box and leaflet. Pretty rare as set?
    Compared to my Black Arrow. SN in the 72xxx so should be safe to use.
    ATB,
    yana

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Walsall
    Posts
    435
    I'm currently servicing a n early one with the separate medallion in brown grip. It does have slight deformities around the 4 screws in the grip, but no cracks. I've never heard of an end cap coming out as there's about15mm of thread involved, plus a locking grubscrew. To be fair I've only ever had to work on a couple in 50 years of experience. Oddly I own one, which wouldn't cock, so I fitted a new sear, nothing else is faulty but it still won't cock ??? so it sits in a drawer with other ''odd'' models. Good luck with your search, I confess I now know more of it's history and variants, as I'm not that much informed on this pistol.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Retford, Notts
    Posts
    40,405
    Quote Originally Posted by abellringer View Post
    I'm currently servicing a n early one with the separate medallion in brown grip. It does have slight deformities around the 4 screws in the grip, but no cracks. I've never heard of an end cap coming out as there's about15mm of thread involved, plus a locking grubscrew. To be fair I've only ever had to work on a couple in 50 years of experience. Oddly I own one, which wouldn't cock, so I fitted a new sear, nothing else is faulty but it still won't cock ??? so it sits in a drawer with other ''odd'' models. Good luck with your search, I confess I now know more of it's history and variants, as I'm not that much informed on this pistol.
    I have one with the brown grip. I love this pistol. Very mild mannered, excellent trigger and easy-to-access accuracy.
    Sometimes, when cocking it, about a quarter of the way into the cocking stroke, it comes to a stop. Usually returning the barrel to the closed position and trying to cock again resolves the issue. Sometimes it takes two or three attempts and flicking the safety catch on and off to "clear".
    The last time I used it I experienced no such glitches. So I haven't removed the grip and investigated as yet. I was guessing that it might have something to do with the anti-bear trap sticking, but could be wrong? I will take a look at it at some point, but can live with it for now.
    I would have another in a flash.
    THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
    NEXT EVENT :- July 19/20, 2025.........BOING!!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    near rotterdam,netherlands
    Posts
    3,579
    My hw70 black arrow has the same. It doesnt stay cocked. But it dóes cock the trigger. I just close the barrel, pull the trigger till it clicks and recock and all is fine. I bought is as a new pistol and never touched the trigger but the shop I bought it from did think it was a trigger issue (set too light)
    ATB,
    yana

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Retford, Notts
    Posts
    40,405
    Thank you.
    THE BOINGER BASH AT QUIGLEY HOLLOW. MAKING GREAT MEMORIES SINCE 15th JUNE, 2013.
    NEXT EVENT :- July 19/20, 2025.........BOING!!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2024
    Location
    Driffield
    Posts
    1,469
    I've just got hold of an early HW70, the medallion bakerlite grip one, serial number 79** so quite early. No cracks in the grip


    It's managing 1.5 joules, the breech seal looks newish, and the ancient piston seal isn't that bad at all, it's the type you can't buy so I'll soak it in silicon oil for now.

    The insides were smeared in 1970's axle grease, which wasn't far off solid & may be the sole reason for the low power. The spring is sat on a not that well fitting steel spring guide & has 50mm of preload. It's fairly loose inside the piston so it could take a thick sleeve to up the weight from a mere 69 grams

    The spring & guide sit inside the screw in rear block, there isn't the intermediate piece as shown in the manual for the later model with safety catch & grub screw into the rear block

    Manual with parts diagram for later model https://d1cwyabrhvevux.cloudfront.ne...70-05-2015.pdf


    The transfer port seems large, maybe 4mm, but then it's only got a short barrel.

    I have a Welsh Willy Dagda spring is a good fit in the piston, but the rear block would need a fraction of a mm removing on a lathe to fit the larger spring. I've got an airsporter spring guide that fits the spring well but that would also require resizing on a lathe to fit the end block

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •