Weihrauch HW50S 1899 125th Limited Edition

2024 marks 125 years of Weihrauch engineering, and whilst bicycle parts were among items manufactured in their early years, Weihrauch’s reputation in the modern era, for top-class firearms and airguns, has elevated the brand to near cult status.

If you know, you know
Maybe I’m preaching to the converted, but for those who have never owned or experienced a Weihrauch springer, there really is something about the solidity, robustness, level of finish, and that unique ‘crunch’ as the mechanism is cocked and the trigger and safety are set. It just screams quality, and it’s no surprise that Weihrauchs are one of the most popular brands for customisation and tuning. It’s all about having a super reliable, precision-made chassis and components at the heart of the rifle, that make any additional fine fettling worth the bother. I cut my teeth (to coin an irritating phrase) on Weihrauch airguns in the early days of FT shooting, and it has made me a lifelong fan for sure.

1899 and all that
So, returning to the 125th anniversary celebrations, Weihrauch decided that three airgun models would feature as special limited editions, and these have been made available in small numbers in the UK, via the official distributor, Hull Cartridge. These models include the HW100T red and black laminate (150 of these will be available), the HW97KT red and black laminate (300 of these will be available), and finally, the HW50S red and black laminate. It is this latter model which we have on show and on test here.

Curious special
400 of the HW50S 1899 Series 125th limited edition model (of a total production run of 900, incidentally), will be sold in the UK, and the example on test here is number 657 in the series. Selecting the HW50 as one of the specials seemed a curious decision to me, given that the ‘50 has long been discontinued, seeming a bit vague in the line-up. I was, of course, being a bit dim, and had completely missed the point. The HW50 was Weihrauch’s first airgun, produced in around 1950 as a lightweight, all-purpose piece. It’s the perfect choice for the celebrations due to its nostalgic significance. Anyhow, take a look at the photos, and it’s hard not to salivate at the stunning looks and classy detailing on offer here.

Stunner
The red and black laminate stock is properly stunning, with tasty swirls and colour exposed via the manufacturing process to create a visual treat for the owner. Tough, super stable, and sealed to the elements, this sporter stock understandably steals the show. The ambidextrous configuration means anyone can pick up the HW50S and feel at home, but factor in the subtle detailing and features, and it really is a triumph of both design and execution. Laser-cut, pin-perfect stippling with added patterning sets off both sides of the pistol grip, and here we also get ‘125’ in large figures. Similar panels adorn the fore-end, but these have the brand name picking up varying colours as they appear. The now standard tapered fore-end is here, and with further detailing at the butt, the end result is very satisfying indeed.
As for the build quality, which is something the Weihrauch brand is synonymous with, look to the underside of the fore-end. Here, the main central stock bolt is beautifully recessed, for strength and aesthetic appeal. The wood-to-metal fit is spot-on, as we would expect, and Weihrauch’s signature chunky breech bolt is also here, which is a sign of engineering integrity that always reassures.

Metal finish
All the metalwork is treated with chemical bluing and is polished to a mirror finish, and this just compliments the woodwork perfectly. All-metal open sights are fitted as standard, and these are actually high-quality items in themselves. The hooded foresight features a rear collar that can be unscrewed, allowing for interchangeable sight elements to be utilised. As for the rear sight, it’s fully adjustable for windage and elevation via finger wheels, with elevation being clearly marked.
Weihrauch is one of the few airgun manufacturers that still makes its own barrels. As for the fine detailing, look to the left side of the breech. The barrel is neatly laser-etched in gold with the official distributor, Hull, and the particular calibre. Further detailing features on the main cylinder, showing the individual rifle number within the limited edition series, plus the 125-year anniversary mark. It’s a pity that the crass safety instructions panel is here, but hey, I’ll save my whinging for another day.

Rekord gets gold!
Breaking the barrel may need a jolt over the knee, but the subsequent cocking stroke is super smooth and reasonably easy to complete. Push home a pellet, ensuring it is flush, into the slick-looking breech, then snap the barrel back up. My test rifle had plenty of spring twang, but the recoil was mild.
The famous and highly respected Rekord trigger unit is of course here, and as can be seen from the pics, this time it gets gold anodizing, which really sets it off. Indeed, against the dark wood, it shines out superbly. As mentioned before, these triggers can be set to offer a totally predictable clean release, and with a little judicious tweaking of the internal adjustment screws, the fine balance between sear engagement, length of pull, and angle of movement, can be arrived at. Just don’t ask me to have anything to do with it! Find someone with the experience and talent, and you’ve got yourself one of the best sporting triggers to play with.  As an initial step, start by loosening the chunky adjuster behind the trigger in small increments anti-clockwise. You might be surprised at yourself, potentially avoiding the need to remove the stock to access the other trigger screws.

Power and performance
On test and over my chronograph, the HW50S recorded a 10-shot string with a total spread of just 10fps using Air Arms Diabolo Express pellets. Switching to Weihrauch’s F&T Specials saw this drop further to just 7fps. Both pellets generated around 11ft/lbs of energy. Firstly, this is pretty textbook, and secondly, probably somewhat more than the original HW50s would have been knocking out.
As for accuracy, over 30 yards, and shooting from a rested position, groups of around 3/8” were easy to come by. Take the time to perform additional pellet trials, lubricate the action, and hand-pick the pellets, and I am sure this will further improve performance.

Verdict
This HW50S 1899 Special Edition is clearly a class act. It’s not just a pretty item for a collection, but also a serious tool when needed. It’s available in relatively small numbers and is definitely a collector’s piece for the future. Three cheers to Weihrauch - 125 years old and still pleasing sportsmen and enthusiasts around the globe.
Thanks to Range & Country gun shop in Sleaford for the kind loan of this rifle.