Today reader RidgeRunner, tells us even more about the Falke model 50 breakbarrel he got at the North Carolina airgun show.
I edited the first picture more closely to try to show what RidgeRunner seems to be talking about in the text and the caption. I will add my own caption to that picture in blue so you can see what I have done. If I have made a mistake, I apologize to RidgeRunner right now.
If you’d like to write a guest post for this blog, please email me at blogger@pyramydair.com.
Take it away, RidgeRunner
Falke model 50 Part Three
by RidgeRunner
Falke model 50.
This report covers:
- Not so sure
- Breech seal
- Sights
- Part four?
Not so sure
BB has posted on more than one occasion that it is his belief that the barrel on this little Falke is bent upward. I am not so sure of that. When look at this diminutive air rifle real closely, it seems that the top back of the barrel block has been mashed up a bit. If you take a real close, careful look at the following photo, you just might notice that the block and the compression chamber seem to be out of line and the end of the block seems to be mashed up a bit.
Something just does not look right to me.
I think what Ridge is talking about is the top rear of the barrel block not being aligned with the top of the spring tube where the compression chamber is located — arrow. I have tried to show that misalignment in this photo.
Breech seal
The breech seal on this little gem does not seem to be the best looking seal I have ever seen and I strongly suspect it is not the original one.
Can I not do better than that?
Sights
I did straighten the rear sight a bit. If you look at the photo above you can tell this.
Just looks like age to me.
Other than drifting the front sight over to the right a little bit, I did not see me doing anything else to this thing. I did give serious consideration to brazing a little bit on the top tip or heating and mashing it some to make it a little taller, but decided against doing either. I will leave that to someone else.
I am now of the opinion that the front sight is just worn down with age and normal abuse. This is not a full restoration shop and I have no intention of becoming one.
I may try to replace the breech seal and I might even try to do a little something to that barrel block, but I do not see me doing much more than that. I would really hate to mess this little jewel up trying to fix something.
Part Four?
I quite frankly cannot see how I can possibly avoid a Part Four about this little gem. Try as I might, there always seems to be more I can do with her and you folks seem to want to know more about her.
As I have said above, I intend to do a little better with that breech seal and I might try to do something with that barrel block. I will have to try a couple of pellets out of her then and show you folks how she does. So yeah, there will be a Part Four.
RidgeRunner,
I’m now thinking that something fell across the breechblock on top of the sight of this rifle. Still, its a fun little rifle for popping cans in the range.
Siraniko
RidgeRunner,
Although Siraniko may be correct in his thinking that the damage to this little old gal was accidental i am more jaded in my belief. I believe you are in the process of rescuing this little lady from the ravages visited on her by someone who believed Vise Grips™ (locking pliers) to be among the finest gunsmithing tools!
Be kind to her even if she is only a Short Term resident at RRHFWA. I know you care; it shows in your continuing interest and caution with her.
shootski
shootski,
This little “old gal” may be here at RRHFWA longer than I had originally anticipated. Our daughter is at present dating a man who happens to have a diminutive eight-year-old son. He has tried to shoot the HE30S, but it is still a bit much for him to handle. This little gem would be perfect for him to shred feral soda cans at ten yards.
For this reason, Mrs. RR has suggested that I should hang on to this little “old gal” for a bit longer.
“Mrs. RR has suggested that I should hang on to this little ‘old gal’ for a bit longer.”
Hmm…the guy who’s been married for 32 years says:
“Mrs. RR is pretty smart…I’d definitely comply with her suggestion!” 😉
Dave,
She is pretty sharp, even if she has been putting up with me since 1986. She does have that one flaw, but I would be a fool to complain about it. 😉
RR,
Replace the breach seal!
-Yogi
Yogi,
I did pull the breech seal. I noticed a little bit sticking off of it, but after removing it, the seal looked to be in pretty good shape. The hole for the breech seal is pretty deep and is squared off at the bottom like the end of a bar or cylinder.
The top edge of the breech seal hole has taken a bit of abuse over the years and is not perfectly round. This causes a deformation to the soft rubber seal, but does not cover the transfer port so it is my intention to leave this seal in place.
Something else I noticed when I pulled the seal is that the transfer port is angled down from the top edge where the barrel breech is to the center of the compression chamber. This is the first time I recall encountering this type of transfer port.
RR
As mangled at this rifle is if you had inspected it better at the Airgun show would you still have traded for it?
-Y
Yogi,
Oh yes. The company that made this air rifle was in existence from 1951 to 1958, although I did not remember that at the time. This is a rare gem in the airgun world. Despite the condition it may seem to be in, it still shoots pretty good and is quite a joy to mess around with.
Besides, I traded the Gamo Swarm Bone Collector 10X Gen3i Multi-Shot Air Rifle for it. I think I got the better deal. 😉
Yes, there is to be a part four. As may be noted in the pictures, I have straightened the rear sight a bit. I have also drifted the front sight over some. When I removed and reinserted the breech seal, it stood out a little prouder and helped to straighten out the barrel block a little bit. I may end up inserting a small O-ring under it to cause it to be more of a permanent rise.
There is also likely to be a little bit of reporting on how Andy and this little gem get along. 😉
The arrow that BB added to point to the “mashing” of the end of the barrel block is exactly what I was talking about that caused the slight upward angle of the barrel.
It may not seem like it in that picture, but the rear sight is a LOT straighter than it was. It was pretty bad. The sight was touching the back of its mount when the slide was all the way forward.
The pictures I took of the front sight and the breech seal were not very good. Mr. Camera I am not.
Just going by the photo at the top of the page, and using a straight edge, the barrel does appear to be aiming upwards slightly (as compared to the spring tube). It is not as obvious as the upwards aim of the barrel in the photo BB showed us of another rifle in his earlier report on bending barrels. But it does appear to be that way to me. If RR can live with this, then so be it. Have fun with it RR.
After thinking a little more about this situation, if both the front and rear sights are mounted on the barrel itself, then the relative angle of the barrel to the spring tube shouldn’t be a factor in why the sights cannot be adjusted properly. It seems to me that either the barrel itself is bowed or the bore is at an angle inside the barrel. A straight edge and a caliper might help determine which theory might be correct.
Elmer Fudd,
Could be both.
Your off center theory certainly bears further investigation.
A bore sighter, the spud kind, could be used to ascertain if the bore was drilled/formed off center or at least determine off by approximately how much.
A properly sized straight dowel or better still a Brass rod could also be used and probably be accurate enough with this much POA – POI* deviation.
shootski
*Point Of Aim – Point Of Impact
FM’s not necessarily useful opinion is you should abide by Dr. Hippocrates’ rule of First Do No Harm in terms of fixes to your little gem of a Falcon there. Bet this ’50s Kid would have enjoyed it back in the day except his mom and dad would have nixed that notion – “you’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”
FM,
I do my best to live by this Hippocratic oath when it comes to working on any of these “old gals”. I always try to do as little to them as I possibly can to teach them to dance again. So what if they look worn and used. So do I.
You are correct. This young lady was abused by some unsupervised young man!! I’ve seen worse.
At least you can shoot your trade!
Breeze,
It is shootable. This is a big plus in my books. There have been a few of the “old gals” showing up here that could not dance when they moved in.
RidgeRunner
Both you and the kid can hold under feral cans and plastic bottles of water with good results given its range. Many an old Colt revolver were held under and to the right.
On the other hand, if the barrel is actually bowed you could decide to apply BB’s barrel bending instructions. That could lead to several more parts to this report.
Deck
Decksniper,
I would normally be in total agreement with your recommendation. This is probably a new shooter “…diminutive eight-year-old son.” Hold off is something many old hands have a hard time with. I would just build up the front sight with something like Sculpey® https://www.sculpey.com
shootski
I like the Bendy Bunny. He would be fun to shoot.
RidgeRunner,
I hadn’t thought of targets made of Sculpey!
That could be interesting especially if some of it will stand up to multiple hits or shatter on impact. The stuff isn’t cheap but maybe in bulk.
I’m busy trying to figure out all the modes on my Digital Night Vision Scope in between my other projects. I did a Lion battery charge then a quick functional check on just the Stand by, ON-OFF switch, and a quick look through last night…i was blown away by the colors in just the ambient urban light. Haven’t even turned on the on board IR illuminator.
Bendy Bunny might be fun but i still like how my Teddy Grahams® https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_Grahams blowup into a dust cloud on impact if they are dry. If they are a bit soggy then you can make through holes in them. That bellybutton makes an excellent Aim Point!
shootski
shootski,
You missed my poor attempt at humor. I am not likely to modify these sights in any way, shape or form. This little “old gal” is strictly for fun. If I or Andy can hit a feral soda can at ten yards, it will be just fine.
FM cut loose on Mr. Pumpkin a couple days ago when Mrs. FM said “time to get rid of the Halloween pumpkin;” the honors went to the .22 HW95. It was for fun, not for honing accuracy. Also, FM is thinking this could be sold as artwork for a couple million. After all, some guy down in Florida got big bucks for selling a banana taped to a framed board. This was ruled to constitute “art.”
This could be titled – “Mr. Pumpkin’s life cratered – he was out of his gourd.”
That picture made me smile. Thanks.
I am not surprised by a banana taped to a board being labeled art. There is no finer example than what Picasso did. You just might get your millions for that pumpkin.
Deck,
I think I can get this little “old gal” to dance pretty good without having to do a major overhaul. The front sight was a bit off to the side and was likely throwing the group off to the left. I have centered it up a bit. when I removed and cleaned up the breech seal, it was standing a little prouder and lowered the barrel some. This little “old gal” may be able to dance pretty nicely now, if the weather around here would just cooperate.
RidgeRunner
Any Falke in shooting condition deserves to be kept running and passed along to future generations.
Deck
Deck,
It could happen.
RR,
I just had my electric power restored, along with a few thousand others, after two days.
San Diego Gas & Electric shuts it off when we expect high desert Santa Ana winds, 70 mph gusts. They do it to avoid wildfires from downed lines and being sued for damages as a result, but the wildfires come any way.
Border Fire #79 this year is finally under control, and they just put out the Romona wildfire north of me.
The point? Which airguns do you take with you when you need to evacuate immediately? Not to mention all the other valuables that may have priority over them …. in one vehicle! Which old gals do you leave to burn? Let alone cars and motorcycles and your home.
Something we all should think about and plan for. Perhaps not a full-blown wildfire moving 60 mph toward you like here in SoCal, but even a “Simple” home fire.
The Shulda, Coulda, Woulda regrets will turn your stomach in hind sight. Been there twice but got lucky.
Our Fire Fighters are getting really good at containing them now, but not in high winds!
Light off a burn pit and you may have an aircraft water drop on your head. 😉 You need a “Burn Permit”
I concluded I can’t win. I need a fireproof garage / storage building. or something underground. This never ends here. May need to move. But wait, Trump is going to close the border and stop the Border Fire starters! On second thought, San Diego is a Sanctuary City in a Sanctuary State and will be fighting him. ;(
To be sure the TX200, and the Western Sidewinder will be in the car.
I think I would rent a UHaul and find somewhere else to live.
Bob M,
In the United States, flamethrowers are broadly legal for personal ownership and use. California requires a permit for the possession of a flamethrower, and only Maryland has outright banned their ownership and use.
Could you do some practice sessions with your flamethrower to clear some fire breaks…sight lines…for Border Fire starters?
Oh! Just a bit of SINGE off the top.
The howls during Night Ops ;^)
shootski
Shootski,
They are actually starting to conduct “Controlled Burns” now to thin out the overgrown brush creating fire breaks, but a lot of BLM land here is designated as “Agricultural Preserve” like all the property to the west of my land. You don’t touch it or build anything on it.
Then there is land left for wild animals to roam around like corridors for migration that can’t be disturbed.
All fire fuel.
And of course, up north you can’t clear dead trees in the forest or thin them out. Insanity.
But they have recently figured out wildfires of the past managed to thin out forests and land naturally and avoid the out-of-control wildfires we have today caused by man preventing them from happening and permitting out of control overgrowth, with people thrown in to burn.
Native Americans knew how nature worked and never had these problems we have today.
Bob M,
They are no more native than I am, no matter what the current wokeness may say.