What do you think is the best looking German break barrel air rifle?

[Arch_E]

that's drool quality!

[prosportfan]

Mike what is the rear sight brand/model?

The LGV has a Walther sight. This was an all-steel upgrade model for airguns, fairly rare I think but was on the gun when I got it.

The HW 35 has a Weihrauch sight from the mid-1950's. It's all steel, with a "turret" style vertical component. The rifle is from 1966 and has 13 mm scope grooves; the old sights actually had a slightly narrower dovetail, but this example has been carefully milled to fit perfectly on this newer gun.

The HW 55 is from 1969 and has its OEM Weihrauch sight. Also 13 mm dovetail, which remained until the late '70's.

Thanks Mike. You are the Guru

[KWK]

For me, looks wise a keen sporter always wins. The REAL Goudy stocked custom Beeman even though I'm not really an R1 fan. Goudy made neat straight comb stocks.

[Eclem]

Not sure how but the 35E hasn't been mentioned yet. That girl absolutely belongs on the list.

Here Here! The 35E's with the checkered fore stock just hit me as right - I felt that the grove of the past was anachronistic - so I bought one! And I got lucky - after a pro- Mccary tuning it is the best shooter of my 5 HW's

[Yogi]

For me, looks wise a keen sporter always wins. The REAL Goudy stocked custom Beeman even though I'm not really an R1 fan. Goudy made neat straight comb stocks.

Looks like a toothpick to me.  You need a bit of wood to dampen the vibrations that springs give off.

-Y

[Rat]

I think the H W 35 long barrel is the best looking of the H W'S.

[MDriskill]

Nothing new to add, but it looks like I accidentally killed my Weihrauch HW 55 T image above, so here it is again.

[MDriskill]

Another rifle I've always liked is the humble Diana model 27. Very simple form - no cheekpiece, checkering, or even a buttplate, but elegant lines and nice proportions. One thing I like about the traditional German fore end finger grooves, is that its middle is always the gun's balance point. Grabbing it here makes it easy to carry; sliding your fingers to the rear of the groove when shooting gives the perfect, slightly muzzle-heavy "hang."



 
A particularly nice detail is how the breech block blends into the overall lines of the gun. Its top and bottom surfaces are curved, making it look like a flat-sided extension of the receiver tube.




When viewed from the side, the front of the breech block and cocking link blend into a curved form that mirrors the stock fore end. On most barrel cockers these pieces are random-looking shapes and sizes, but all are cleanly integrated by Diana.

[Hoosier Daddy]

The HW 98 is my favorite.

Sexy aren't they.

[KWK]

Not break barrels but the Diana 58's were so beautifully made. First released in 1915. Most likely reverse engineered from the Lincoln Jeffries/BSA underlevers. The BSA Military Pattern in particular.



https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/pre-war-diana-air-rifles/diana-model-58/

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/pre-war-diana-air-rifles/diana-model-58/#post-2509

[MDriskill]

No argument there! The Diana 58 is one of the uber-classics. I have its little brother, the model 45...




...which was the gun more or less copied to create the Webley Mk 3, which has its own sort of lean, mean, form-following-function sort of aesthetic (though I doubt the Webley guys ever intended to create a "pretty" gun LOL)...




...all of them of course descendants of the amazing BSA's!

[Yogi]

No argument there! The Diana 58 is one of the uber-classics. I have its little brother, the model 45...




...which was the gun more or less copied to create the Webley Mk 3, which has its own sort of lean, mean, form-following-function sort of aesthetic (though I doubt the Webley guys ever intended to create a "pretty" gun LOL)...




...all of them of course descendants of the amazing BSA's!

What is that thingy that is hanging underneath the barrel?   I ruins the lines of the guns.   Love the rear end of the gun though......

-Y

[SSG Grampo]

Diana 340 NTech Pro Compact (.22) would be my choice if I could only have one.
Bill.

[Yogi]

Diana 340 NTech Pro Compact (.22) would be my choice if I could only have one.
Bill.

Yes!  With the hogsback stock and walnut, GORGEOUS.

-Y

[Madd Hatter]

Mine! Why, because it's mine! 😁

[Novagun]

With my experience of the Diana 340 NTech I would say you Are lucky not to have one 

[lefteyeshot]

98 hands down. My BSF c60's kinda' cute.

[BanjomanMI76]

Mine! Why, because it's mine! 😁

No Doubt and I second that emotion

[Yogi]

With my experience of the Diana 340 NTech I would say you Are lucky not to have one

Mine is great.  When I got it the barrel bolt was way too tight, took just as much effort to close the barrel as it did to cock it.
The barrel leede on mine was so tight that it clipped pellet skirts.  A little JB and alot of rubbing.  Now she is perfect!  Pretty too!

-Y

[Kragman1]

There are too many fine German break barrels for me to choose, though the Weihrauch rifles come to mind first and some of the Diana's like the 460 and the 340 Lux.  I do like the looks of the FWB 124 and the new Sport though they are quite different.  And you could make a nice calendar from all the LGV, FWB 300, etc target rifles.  Ha ha!

Here's one that I'm partial to (though its an underlever) - a Beeman branded 77k.