The good old days.

[KCE]

Who remembers a gent back in the day called John Darling.
As an up and coming shooter he was the guy I always read about and learnt a great deal from and his books over the years.
That was when I bought my first HW 80 from Kays Catalogue that was a catalogue that sold cloths to furniture and yes a whole two pages dedicated air guns and scopes.
I was only young then but of age to shoot a pellet gun.
I had gone through most of the Air Arms kits from the early EX88/Bora/Jackal/right up to the khamsin thumbhole.
I learnt to strip them all down and repair them as all were interchangeable parts from one to another.
Yes I did go down the old Ox spring route but quickly learnt not to use them.
So I got board quickly with the air arms rang and got my first hw80 because of John Darling.
Well it arrived a week later and man what a shock I had, it weighed a ton and to cock it you needed arms like popeye.
Well I soon got used to it and did end up with arms like popeye as a young shooter.
It was topped off with a high end scope back then which was a Tasco 6x24x44 tr which did take time to learn due to the twin reticule and dial in turrets.
today I have an original 1982 unmolested mint HW 80.
They have stood the test of time just like the good old Theoben rapid.
Regards KCE.

[KevG]

John darling was the man.
KevG

[KCE]

Did you know Kevg he was also a top angler back in the day which was his passion and he also wrote many a good book on it.

[KevG]

You still have that signed one
KevG

[KCE]

Yes Kevg I still have it m8.
Regards KCE.

[hunter]

what a legend jd is and yes he did a lot of sea fishing as well as hunting on the South Downs reading his articles inspired me to own the venom hw 80 laxer hunter and theoben elan them was the good old days

[Kernal]

Yes i also remember watching John Darlings video`s he did, loved them all very inspiring person to watch.

[hunter]

still got his video I wonder if they did dvd s of him

[KCE]

Yes you can get all his videos now on dvd but a shame they don't sell due to you tube.
Regards KCE.

[hunter]

quality I'll have to find out where to get the dvd collection any help would be appreciated

[KCE]

Amazon and ebay from time to time is best place plus car boots at times.
Regards KCE.

[Dr Bob]

I had the bible. Plus look what I found in the attic next to my catapult,spud gun and  Tuff Way-finders with the animal footprints and compass in the heel  


Well used and bluing worn off.

Bob

[Kernal]

The HW80, you have to love that gun, it was made to last, I did have one plus got shut of it when it started to get to much to carry about, I hurt my back few years ago and struggled to carry it about, but as a springer i would say its second to none.

I owned my hw80 for OH god must have been 12 years or so.

Kernal

[KCE]

Here is my 1982 HW 80.
She is called Shirly due to I bought her from a small village in Beverly called Shirly.

[hunter]

I had the bible. Plus look what I found in the attic next to my catapult,spud gun and  Tuff Way-finders with the animal footprints and compass in the heel  


Well used and bluing worn off.

Bob

thanks much appreciated