AIRFORCE AIR GUNS Project

 Recently I picked up a PCP branded as a GUNPOWER SHADOW, no manufacturing label at all on it however clearly an AIRFORCE AIRGUNS product. (LOL just like Reximex making the Ixia AKA throne 2 but with zero adjustment/fixed power for the UK market LOL). I love it when manufacturer's start with the BS. They must think people are really stupid.

Identical to the early Talon from Airforce Airguns (funny that!)

Branded the "Shadow" not the "Talon" LOL!

UK labelling, total absence of place of manufacture both in the manual and the weapon itself. Why this is is probably due to some legal requirements/taxation avoidance? Who knows. However, clearly Gunpower are modified (zero power adjustment) weapons made by AirForce specifically for the UK market, where there are stringent weapons restrictions. This would be annoying to the British person for sure as they end up purchasing expensive toys; ok that's another subject altogether, ie global gun laws!

In the place of AIRFORCE Airguns, we see "Gunpower" and the absence of Made in the USA

Valve assembly on the still current "standard tank" from Airforce Airguns.

According to this page

https://www.airforceairguns.com/AirForce-Airguns-Standard-Spare-Tank-p/u1005.htm

New tank looks identical

Burst disk

No gauge and not possible to insert one on this old system.(as is without some additions). First to remove the valve system from the bottle (degassed of course!), this hole will be where a special tool is inserted to remove the valve assembly from the actual tank.

A British manual, basically identical in wording as for the USA manual. Note however the British gun has no provision for power adjustment (unlike my rifle) because it (the hammer adjustment) would be located on the LHS of the rifle as shown below.

Note Power wheel adjuster (this is not a model for sale within Britain-exception being the requirement for a UK FAC-that's a Fire Arms certificate from the cops). Not without a full FAC as I understand the law there.

Power adjuster for hammer

The "old red" safety 

A bit of dust on the breech from long term sitting around and doing nothing!

Barrel in perfect condition

Simple construction

The business end, you can make out a barrel guide (sliver aluminium disc surrounding the barrel.

Clearly it is made byAirforce Airguns in the USA as the user manuals (there were 2, why I have no idea) are basically identical to the USA manuals and the gun is definitely identical in every way to the USA models. This one, including the power wheel adjustment (which is absent on all "Gunpower" models (excepting where legally allowed, ie the British must apply for a full on gun license and reason to own one) in the UK but of course the names of the Airforce guns are identical!

 I suspect these were models to be sold within Europe but some came with power wheel adjustment dials for countries where permitted with a FAC etc could be legal to own, ie the same rifle as the USA branded one. 

Interestingly many PCPs sold into Europe are rebranded and or are modified to a fixed lower power level in joules to meet some of these countries legal requirements.

Anyway this one is the classic single shot 0.22cal/5.5mm

I think it was  bargain for about $150 USD brand new if not shop soiled! The shop guy told me it had been in stock for about 8-10 years and never been fired.

Ok so it probably needs new O-rings, we will see if it can hold the tank pressure (update, it can!). I examined the barrel internally and there was no signs of any corrosion or obvious deterioration, that was my first check in the shop. 

The power wheel was a bit sticky to begin with but once I moved it, it turns very smoothly, no doubt some grease binding over so many years of not moving. The breech works smoothly and everything else appears normal.

Exteriorly, the gun appears in good condition cosmetically.

Due to the "future proof-ness"  of Airforce Airguns and 3rd party manufacturers of parts, it seems this PCP will have a new long life.

Update:

 Well here's the funny thing. Airforce Airguns just got back to me (via email) and i won't breech their confidentiality statement in their email but they say, yeah they did make parts for Gunpower in the UK but can not sell parts to the UK? Well, just as well  I'm not in the UK but I have no idea what that is about?

In fact I'm not sure what any of it is about as i said the Gunpower guns are identical to the Airforce Airguns but without adjustment so clearly they are not ripping off the USA manufacturer its some sort of trade agreement no doubt, "we sell our guns to u at fixed powers and but they must be rebranded because we don't make fixed powered guns". Ok that's not a real quotation from Airforce Airguns but a probably one should they ever admit this.

So this is a question I asked Airforce Airguns about the shroud diameter and they told me they wouldn't know???? How can that be possible if they made the gun? I'll tell you how, because of the laws regarding "silencers/moderators" You can not be seen to be even talking about such things in certain countries. That is no aftermarket thread shown above, nor was it made in the UK and not by this mysterious Gunpower. It does indeed look like a 3/4" 16 UNF at a guess LOL

More to come 

BCT