Orginal Makers

[fnash]

Are the RWS air guns the only one left still made by the original manufactures??  I am referring to the higher quality European air guns.

[rkr]

I think that at least Weihrauch, Air Arms, FX Airguns and Feinwerkbau are still made as they used to. Probably also few other English makes are still build by the original manufacturer.

[onemountain]

No, I think most of the Europeans still make their own, though with the notable exception of BSA's production (att least the springers) being moved from England to Spain.

By the way, RWS airguns aren't made by RWS- they're made by DIANA Mayer & Grammelspacher, which for obvious reasons is usually just called Diana. Same difference though, the terms pretty much get used interchangably now. However, RWS does make the pellets that their name is on (RWS is an ammunition manufacturer, airgun and firearms).

[rocker1]

are you sure you are 22???   onemountain  lol

[RedFeather]

It's an interesting question. Webley's gone and so, for the most part, is BSA. That leaves probably only Diana and HW. The Czecj company Slavia may still be producing springers, and those will be really old school. (The 631/634, while having some plastic parts, is a 1950's-1960's build quality, very labor intensive and good for the money.) I think Haenel went kaput before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

[daveshoot]

Cometa is still made by Cometa in Eibar, Spain. They have nothing to do with Gamo, although they are neighbors. Cometa is family owned and still turning out quality Spanish airguns.

I don't know if we would count Russia as European, but Baikal is still made by Federal State Unitary Plant "IZHEVSKY MEKHANICHESKY ZAVOD" in operation since 1942 (original owner-operator, Josef Stalin) and still builds quality airguns. They might not be Weihrauch, but their productswill certainly hold a decent group (I have at least 5 of them).

[fnash]

I was wondering about Weihrauch HW too.   I note on the forum that the quality is not the same by some posters. Seems they should not have the mentioned twang.

[RedFeather]

Yes, forgot the Iberian marques - Cometa, Norica and, of course, El Gamo. Didn't know how long the Russkies had been in business.

[onemountain]

Fairly certain

[Sam]

Are Theoben still made in Europe?

What about Beeman? I heard they were gone, or almost, but I can still find their rifles in many web dealers in all calibers.  Dealers seem to have been able to get them on a semi-regular basis.

[RedFeather]

I thought about Theoben but they are a relative newcomer compared to the other companies. Beeman was only an importer who put his/their name on a variety of guns, from Diana's to HW's.

[Sam]

You cannot touch those Theobens, they will burn your fingers.  Even the low power ones (Evolution and the multi shot one-I forgot its name) are very expensive.