Fine Modern & Antique Arms - July 2023 : Sale A0723 Lot 33
A RARE BOXED .20 / .177 EDDIE BARBER AIRGUNAID BREAK-BARREL AIR-RIFLE, MODEL SP5, no visible serial number,

Product Details

A RARE BOXED .20 / .177 EDDIE BARBER 'AIRGUNAID' BREAK-BARREL AIR-RIFLE, MODEL 'SP5', no visible serial number,
circa 1978, with blued 17 1/4in. barrel, ramp and tunnel fore-sight with interchangeable elements, micro adjustable rear-sight, blued air-chamber grooved for a telescopic sight, the centre marked 'CAL 200 AIRGUNAID SP5 MADE IN ENGLAND', beech half-stock with chequered pistol-grip, raised cheek-piece, rubber heel-plate and finger-grooved fore-end, plastic trigger and trigger-guard bow, the whole appearing unused with storage marks only; complete with its maker's polystyrene carton with card outer (stained) containing a spare .177 barrel and two further fore-sight elements

Provenance: Eddie Barber was a writer for 'Airgun World' magazine, an inveterate airgun 'tinkerer' and general all round 'good guy' who went on to start his own business in the late 1970's in Chelmsford, Essex called Airgunaid. Eddie produced a number of interesting 'pre-tuned' airguns at a time when tuning usually meant just trying to squeeze in a larger mainspring. The SP5 was Eddies most successful design, marrying a tuned Diana G80 action with a .20 calibre Lothar-Walther barrel and then mounting the action into a locally produced stock. Unfortunately Eddie went out of business after a devastating fire reduced the premises to ashes in the 1980's. Indeed, the water-staining on the carton could point to this rifle being rescued from the blaze. Unfortunately now deceased, Eddie is fondly remembered by all those who knew him, and the sport probably would not be what it is today had it not been for his inventive input



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Estimate £400-600