Hy-score time capsule - 803 Sportster boxed

[Re01312]

In the early 1950s BB guns were common in America controlling most of the airgun market. Pellet guns were not as well received as BB guns. Hy-score's 803 was latest US air pistol back in the 1950s. American Airgunners expected airguns that shot BBs.

[ccdjg]

In the early 1950s BB guns were common in America controlling most of the airgun market. Pellet guns were not as well received as BB guns. Hy-score's 803 was latest US air pistol back in the 1950s. American Airgunners expected airguns that shot BBs.

Good point Randy. Market familiarity with BBs in the US would have been an important selling point. Interestingly in the UK BB airgun ammo has never been popular.

[Mark D]

I checked the BB barrel on mine and it is apparent that the first few millimeters of the breech are undersized and the BB sits in there quite firmly, thereafter it rolls down the barrel freely. As you say, the BB barrel was most probably a marketing ploy, although I suppose you could argue there would be a small ammo cost saving using BB's rather than waisted lead pellets.

You have to remember, back in the day, you would have to go to a store for ammo. None of this ordering on line with it dropped to your house. So if your local store only had bb, at least you had something to shoot.

A lovely piece to add to any Hy Score collection

[45flint]

The box indicates that all options were possible including all three barrels, even though there is only a secure place for one extra? (Was there a special insert for a three barrel?) Would be interesting to see if there are any boxes out there with the bb option or all three? Got to think that mine with .177 and .22 is the overwhelming majority. I bet maybe followed by the three barrel? Can’t see anyone giving up a rifled barrel in either caliber for a bb? Will be looking at these box ends when I see them at shows. Love the trivia!

[ccdjg]

There is not a special insert in my box, and the third barrel just rattles around loose, so most probably it was an after-purchase.

Like your box, none of the options on the side of my lid have been ticked so there is/was no way of telling exactly which two barrels came with the gun.

I hadn't noticed before, but the serial number of the gun is printed on the left side of the box. Is yours the same? I do not know of any other manufacturer who did this, but I suppose with Hy-score offering so many options, it was a useful way of checking that the box contents had not been switched .

[45flint]

There is not a special insert in my box, and the third barrel just rattles around loose, so most probably it was an after-purchase.

Like your box, none of the options on the side of my lid have been ticked so there is/was no way of telling exactly which two barrels came with the gun.

I hadn't noticed before, but the serial number of the gun is printed on the left side of the box. Is yours the same? I do not know of any other manufacturer who did this, but I suppose with Hy-score offering so many options, it was a useful way of checking that the box contents had not been switched .

It’s a very light X but the pic shows that .177 and .22 barrels have been Xed. Yours could appear under magnification? On mine the box serial number matches the pistol.

[ccdjg]

The methylene chloride that I soaked the lid in to remove the Duck tape must have removed most of the ink, but under magnification I could just see traces of red ink in the boxes marked .177 and .22. The same on the opposite edge of the lid. Always something new to learn!

So it looks like the owner decided to buy a BB barrel as an extra. I suppose he could also have used it for darts, not wanting to ruin a rifled barrel..

[Re01312]

Guys

The picture is not my best effort but it shows a Hy-score 802 box insert with a western scene. Although, I lack decades of airgun collecting experience with Hy-score [HS] airguns [AGs], I am very thorough. The pictured box insert is the only one of these inserts I have ever seen.

Has anyone else seen another of these colorful box inserts?

[Re01312]

The HS box inserts normally present the left side of the air pistol [LHS]. The western theme insert has the orientation flipped 180 degrees. The inserts are not reversible since they are printed on only one side.

[45flint]

Guys

The picture is not my best effort but it shows a Hy-score 802 box insert with a western scene. Although, I lack decades of airgun collecting experience with Hy-score [HS] airguns [AGs], I am very thorough. The pictured box insert is the only one of these inserts I have ever seen.

Has anyone else seen another of these colorful box inserts?

Looks like they are reusing existing cardboard and reversing it to save money? Hy-score was one of the first companies to recycle!!! Lol