RWS 3400 spring piston gun; Made in Germany and assembled in the USA.....

[Jeff Marshall]

I have never heard of this one.

I'm happy to see that the fore-end doesn't extend "a mile" past the breech block like the model 34 stock has for the last few years.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019723692?pid=835304

Comments?

[uglymike]

I'll wait for the reviews. Don't know what to think of assembled in America, wonder if it'll be any better than the Chinese Dianas?

[Roadworthy]

The only thing definite seems to be that it's on close out and the only one left in stock.  Could it be if you take a Diana 34, assemble it in the USA, and add a rubber butt pad you can call it a 3400?

[Bill_in_TR]

I'll wait for the reviews. Don't know what to think of assembled in America, wonder if it'll be any better than the Chinese Dianas?

Pardon my ignorance. What's a Chinese Diana?

[uglymike]

I'll wait for the reviews. Don't know what to think of assembled in America, wonder if it'll be any better than the Chinese Dianas?

Pardon my ignorance. What's a Chinese Diana?

Some Diana products are made in China, NOT Germany.

[Bill_in_TR]

Which are you referring to? I am not familiar.

[DanD]

Looks like the 3400 uses the Terrus trigger assembly.

[Roadworthy]

Okay, I'm slow on the uptake.  Although I generally think of Diana as synonymous with RWS I need to remind myself RWS distributes for other companies, too.  Although using a model number similar to Diana there is probably no reason to connect it with Diana.  That could be why the trigger doesn't look like a T06.

[lizzie]

Interesting! I was unaware of that one, and will be interested in seeing how well it shoots@

[Mark 611]

That's not a Diana! That looks more like a Walther design, the trigger system and safety look just like the Walther system, RWS being an exporter further research is needed for sure if 1 is interested in something like this?
https://www.umarexusa.com/rws-rifles

[SteveP-52]

Random dumb thought here but with RWS only being a distributor, maybe they decided with Walther discontinuing the Parrus and Terrus lines to get whatever companies they needed to make the various parts, get a US company to do the final building of them and market it as this RWS 3400?? I only know of one US company that builds rifles so maybe a deal with Crosman for the assembly?

[lizzie]

Of course, and I have no idea when this "made in Germany,  assembled in the US" idea was conceived, but this may merely be RWS trying to capitalize on  current anti-China sentiment.

[Mark 611]

Why not just assemble them in Germany? with the all the problems with Diana right now maybe they built a hybrid rifle to keep different suppliers like Diana and Walther working? it is obvious form the video they are using this as spin off of the 34 and 350mag from Diana,

[RawDog R1]

I will wait for Hector to come along and shed light through all of this fog that is being spewed.

[lizzie]

Fog being spewed?
Hahahahah!

[Mark 611]

He probably did read the link above the video?

[HectorMedina]

Well, if you call on the Devil . . .   LOL!

About 4 months ago, a fire-sale was held in Germany. ALL the Walther breakbarrels went on the block at quite ridiculous prices. LGV's at $300, Century's at $250.
At that point in time, I was unable to get in on the action (steamrolled by Waffen Frankonia), and, sadly, all those fine guns went quickly.

Later, when I had the cash to try to do something, I contacted a few key players, and the answer that came back was: "Walther has decided to discontinue ALL breakbarrels"

Now, if we remember our history, Walther was bought by UMAREX about 11 years ago, and then split into two: the Sport and the Match families (some background reading here:  https://www.ctcustomairguns.com/hectors-airgun-blog/the-walther-sport-family ).

So, it was sad to see that the "last Hurrah" had lasted less than 10 good years. And for some of those years, the market performance was spotty, to say the least. Part of it was due to a faulty strategy (overprice the triggers and make the OEM one so bad as to force the users to get the aftermarket part), or lack of understanding of the market (the LGV Challenger Ultra was the highest in demand, but the specs for the stock mold only contemplated 1,000 units). Which shows that great engineering on its own little self is not enough to keep a company/brand afloat.

4 years ago, we learned that UMAREX (USA)  was planning on phasing out the RWS 34 and 350. It was something of a "lover's tiff". The new management at DIANA/GSG wanted to break the 70 year old exclusivity by RWS of the American market and the two larger wholesalers/importers of record were willing to pick up the slack in sales. So the head honchos at UMAREX decided to bring out their "own" versions of the 34 (3400) and the 350 (3500), or the medium and long actioned breakbarrels.

Three years ago, projects were started BUT at that time, some action on the Walther side was still moving the sales along and UMAREX (USA) had to wait (the video shown corresponds to the 2018 SHOT Show). Project languished for a couple of years and, like the Hammer (big bore PCP by UMAREX), it became sort of the running trivia question for every SHOT Show and IWA: "Will UMAREX finally succeed?"

Well, with the sales of break barrels lagging lower and lower all around the world, and Walther discontinuing the production of break-barrel guns in Germany, it seems that the last / latest re-incarnation will be the USA assembled 3400 and 3500. Parts are made in Gemany by the same companies that made the parts for the LGV, Terrus, Parrus, Century, etc. Though this is not the original Carl Walther WaffenFabrik of old, it is still part of the UMAREX group.

UMAREX USA does have manufacturing and assembly capabilities in the USA, don't think that they need another company for this. And in this day and age, assemblage is a relatively minor operation that can be implemented with little investment and low risk.

Why not assemble them in Germany? Cost. American workers can be more productive, as already discovered by VolksWagen, Toyota, SUBARU, and other large scale manufactories. More mobile workforce, with less social costs, better training and more experience from early age. As long as you do not want to assemble Bentley's, you can do a smashing job.

IF they decide to keep quality up, they SHOULD be good guns. If they decide to simply slap them together and rush them out the door, then they will be in the GAMO/Hatsan/Crosman bracket.
They will also need to keep an iron grip on the quality of parts, even before they are received. Because re-working of lots and "binning" of production runs goes somewhat against profits, quality, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition.

As Johnny Cash said in "The Gambler":  every hand's a winner, if you know what to throw away, and what to keep.

Still, let's hope it will work for them, and let's hope that letting go of the Walther brand will be worthwhile for them in the long run. For savvy airgunners, it was a great loss.

One thing that does puzzle me to no end is that the few that seemed to be here, have been sold, some of them are labelled as "discontinued" and still some variants seem to be plentiful . . . . mixed signals to the market. Ah, well, we'll see.

JMHO


Keep well and shoot straight!






HM

[jason miller]

So does anyone know what parts these are assembled from? As stated, looks like a Terrus trigger assembly. But the receiver looks like it has that “rail” that a D34 has. Also says ~19” barrel in the description, like a D34. And velocity claims are the same as a D34.

Would be cool to have a Terrus in a more “normal” looking stock- especially if it maybe has some internals from some of the other Walthers. Would not be cool to have a D34 for the same or more money but without the TO6 trigger.

[Mark 611]

IMO I think getting away form the T06 is a BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!! Tho I have no experience with the other Walther triggers other the LGU LGV unit, and from looking at the schematic on the other trigger Walther offers in the Terrus/Perrus gun I don't see anything I like about the trigger at all!!!!!!

[WHITEFANG]

This Merger is a big TWIST? With Umarex involved I can only wonder? Umarex and its other guns are China make. There are already so many clone D350 guns out there and all China.So making or revamping the D34/D350 would not be that difficult plus the price is still up in the $. The gun does interest me but advertising as an entry level seems a bit off vs the real D350 which I do not consider and entry level true magnum gun.

 I'M with HM on the assemble in the USA. Making the parts under the German manufacture If all are made there and NO China could be good but again as HM mentioned why not make the parts in the USA. A true USA gun would take the US market for the gun well. Overseas maybe not. But shipping all the parts over to the USA must be CHEAP. Looks like assembly In Germany Would be a cost savings but who really knows what this merge is all about. If Diana is dropping lines of guns I can't blame one for grabbing what they can. Maybe they will get this gun right?

If they have upped the game on bits and pieces for the old D350 this may be a nice set up. I still wonder why they used the angle block if that is the path they took? The TP FOR THE ANGLED BLOCK  IMO has a setback. The straight TP IMO is the better approach pushing the pellet head on. But what do I know.
For some reason I smell something FOUL !
You are still going to have to deal with UMAREX for warranty and parts. Years ago I dealt with Umarex much and back then I got great deals and help. Times changed and I do not think as highly of them as I did.  Time will tell in the GAME. JMO