Falcon air rifle history

[E30_318is]

Info on Falcon seems a bit thin on the ground through my searches, so I'm after a bit of a summary of anyone can get me up to speed on when they were founded (did they procure Titan or are they unrelated in terms of foundership/ownership?) and how long they manufactured guns for both as independents & under NSP?

It's my understanding that the early models were Titan/JB derivatives (if not copies?), which models were their own doing? Did they make Titan/JB designs under license? I understand JB refuses to work on Falcons - guessing there's some bad blood there.

Also after some specific information regarding an FN19 I have too, multishot & a single bolt for cocking & loading - assuming these came after the seperate hammer bolt & probe bolt assemblies? Any chance of being able to date it from the S/N?

 

[Blackmax]

My knowledge is thin, although I have owned a couple and worked on quite a few. I'd be looking at asking @ped and @El Caro.

 

[Bluesboydave]

Have you tried asking Claire West at Air Arms, she does own them after all.

On the 26th November 2020, NSP Development & Manufacturing Engineers Ltd, Air-Arms Ltd, NSP Holdings Ltd & Falcon Airguns Ltd were sold. The buyer was NSP Group Ltd with one Mrs Claire West being the sole shareholder.

 

[Woodyrapid7]

Titan was first, created and made by John Bowkett a master of air rifle engineering and way above anyone else back in the 80’s-90’s imo. Then falcon bought him out, changed a few minor details to the actions and stocks, Like the titans had a sloping breech and falcons have a horizontal breech. John moved on to bsa then left then was brought back to solve the problems the bsa r10 mk1’s were suffering with. I have a few Titans and absolutely love them, I’ve had my mc010 since I was 13 and my mp010 pistol since I was 15 I’m now 44. They will match any modern air rifles today.

 

[El Caro]

Info on Falcon seems a bit thin on the ground through my searches, so I'm after a bit of a summary of anyone can get me up to speed on when they were founded (did they procure Titan or are they unrelated in terms of foundership/ownership?) and how long they manufactured guns for both as independents & under NSP?

It's my understanding that the early models were Titan/JB derivatives (if not copies?), which models were their own doing? Did they make Titan/JB designs under license? I understand JB refuses to work on Falcons - guessing there's some bad blood there.

Also after some specific information regarding an FN19 I have too, multishot & a single bolt for cocking & loading - assuming these came after the seperate hammer bolt & probe bolt assemblies? Any chance of being able to date it from the S/N?

This was posted as a reply to a thread "anyone know what this is". It was incorrectly said in previous posts tobe of Titan origin.

As far as I'm aware, Falcon never made a SSP rifle, so I'd assume, they'd have used an existing Titan breech as I think Falcon actually consumed Titan. @El Caro would know more about the goings on of Titan and Falcon

If I were the OP, I'd be dropping Claire West, an email, to see if she could enlighten him.
You never know, she may actually want it.

Falcon were a freight forwarding company with a sideline in importing wedding dresses and ball gowns for transvestites. I kid you not . Falcon hijacked the subcontractor and design from Titan, who then spent money with no incoming revenue, on barristers until they went bust, Falcon then carried on with production of the pirated design until they too ran out of money but not before agreeing with the pre-Daystate Brocock that in return for cash up front Brocock could become exclusive distributors for Falcon. Falcon then went bump leaving a sour taste in another mouth. NSP Engineering then bought Falcon but supplies of components fizzled out after the main man in Karachi, Pakistan passed away and that was more or less the end of "Falcon"made pcps. Falcon never made a single stroke pneumatic, that isnt a Titan breech block. the cocking knob is also not a pirated Titan part.
Overall the timing for it to be a NSP prototype is out. The Shamal was already out when Titan were about with the 100 not far ahead. Why would they make a prototype like that at that time? Nick Jenkinson/Ken Turner were on board and that side of the buisiness was well known as Air Arms. The front of the reservoir is a little AA like but again lots of shed pcps were being made by individuals to compete in FT and HFT due to the cost of factory products at that time, pre the cheap Chinese/Turkish/Eastern Europeaninflux. My guess is its a one-off amateur built for themselves jobbie.

I would add that the straight cut breech was fitted to later Titans and was a Titan design.

 

[Crossr]

Hi guys, really intrigued reading though the topic as you really seem to know the falcon story ! I was wondering if you could pos help me identify a falcon rifle I have. It’s not marked up apart from Falcon and safe working pressure of 3000psi. I can’t seem to find any pictures of the same gun anywhere but I think it’s some kind of prairie model. Any ways any info or clarity would be amazing thank you. Rich.

 

[Pjinks89]

Hi guys, really intrigued reading though the topic as you really seem to know the falcon story ! I was wondering if you could pos help me identify a falcon rifle I have. It’s not marked up apart from Falcon and safe working pressure of 3000psi. I can’t seem to find any pictures of the same gun anywhere but I think it’s some kind of prairie model. Any ways any info or clarity would be amazing thank you. Rich.

Looks like one of the earlier Prairie models, but unsure if these were started by Falcon then carried on/modified in anyway by NSP/AA.

They have the manometer under stock and slim bezel on the fill port cover, and calibre marked in top of block?

There was also the rare “T Bird” a variant with titanium air cylinder, which I think only single shot models made it to production. These also had a lovely walnut stock slightly different to the standard models, possibly by Gary Cane. These were made while still trading as original Falcon I think, so may even have been prior to the Prairie.

The later Prairie which I think were all made by AA have the walnut stocks with rosewood capping (except for lighthunter), manometer at end of cylinder, and wider knurled bezel for fill port cover. Available in both single and multi shot, rifle and carbine (25” / 19” - the rifle is LONG) and there are at least two different finishes to the cylinders, one is a matte type coating the other high gloss blue like AA, unsure if this was date dependent however.

 

[Dean willetts]

I have the same falcon air rifle I had it new from city air weapons in Solihull 25 years ago still going good

 

[Engraver]

Looks like one of the earlier Prairie models, but unsure if these were started by Falcon then carried on/modified in anyway by NSP/AA.

They have the manometer under stock and slim bezel on the fill port cover, and calibre marked in top of block?

There was also the rare “T Bird” a variant with titanium air cylinder, which I think only single shot models made it to production. These also had a lovely walnut stock slightly different to the standard models, possibly by Gary Cane. These were made while still trading as original Falcon I think, so may even have been prior to the Prairie.

The later Prairie which I think were all made by AA have the walnut stocks with rosewood capping (except for lighthunter), manometer at end of cylinder, and wider knurled bezel for fill port cover. Available in both single and multi shot, rifle and carbine (25” / 19” - the rifle is LONG) and there are at least two different finishes to the cylinders, one is a matte type coating the other high gloss blue like AA, unsure if this was date dependent however.

I think the stocks were made by Minelli

 

[Engraver]

Hi guys, really intrigued reading though the topic as you really seem to know the falcon story ! I was wondering if you could pos help me identify a falcon rifle I have. It’s not marked up apart from Falcon and safe working pressure of 3000psi. I can’t seem to find any pictures of the same gun anywhere but I think it’s some kind of prairie model. Any ways any info or clarity would be amazing thank you. Rich.

Stunning rifle in my opinion the best design they did, possibly one of nicest looking and handling pcps for hunting ever made, ive shot one a mate used to own and it could chop dandelions at 35 yrd for fun, a wand to handle.

 

[Livefast123]

Can't really add much to the history but my first PCP was a Falcon FN12 with the Falcon integrated silencer and quick fill.

Was a cracking gun and very pointable, rue the day i sold it and got into rimfire!

 

[Pjinks89]

I think the stocks were made by Minelli

The stocks on the Prairie, certainly the later ones were Minelli. Not sure they did any of the stocks for original (pre Air Arms takeover) FN series or the T bird.

 

[zakdingel]

Another old thread being brought to life ----From what i was told and seen since Falcon started ----along came Titan possible the first self regulating valve on a PCP as many Know Titan was the work of John Bowkett --i think that it was either a partner or Director of the Titan company --either fell out or decided they wanted more and then started the Falcon brand --basically a copy of the Titan but with slight difference's!!! IE instead of having the sloping breach the Titans have the Falcon was given a full straight cut out --they then went on to make the Raptor a 8 shot operated by a bolt that suck out the side this cocked the action and indexed the pellet the mk 1 has a doughty seal for the breach seal "these are not that good" the Mk 2 has a internal O ring "Much better" these also had a safety catch unlike the single shot falcons they also made another 8 shot called the Hawke these have a button that realised a bolt to index the mag but also had separate cocking bolt same as the single shot Falcons have but no safety catch you used the cocking bolt as the safety --i believe when Air arms took over in there later days the safety was then put on all models around the trigger housing --the rest as they say is History ---The Titan design of the self regulating knock open valve must be the most copied Design in the gun world --im by no means a expert but have had a fair few over the years --and im still on the look out for that Keeper --MPT etc im sure that they are other who Know more --please share with us --i whish John bowkett would team up with the likes of Steve Harper and bring out some retro carbine hunter kit in all calibre's before it's to late

 

[El Caro]

Another old thread being brought to life ----From what i was told and seen since Falcon started ----along came Titan possible the first self regulating valve on a PCP as many Know Titan was the work of John Bowkett --i think that it was either a partner or Director of the Titan company --either fell out or decided they wanted more and then started the Falcon brand --basically a copy of the Titan but with slight difference's!!! IE instead of having the sloping breach the Titans have the Falcon was given a full straight cut out --they then went on to make the Raptor a 8 shot operated by a bolt that suck out the side this cocked the action and indexed the pellet the mk 1 has a doughty seal for the breach seal "these are not that good" the Mk 2 has a internal O ring "Much better" these also had a safety catch unlike the single shot falcons they also made another 8 shot called the Hawke these have a button that realised a bolt to index the mag but also had separate cocking bolt same as the single shot Falcons have but no safety catch you used the cocking bolt as the safety --i believe when Air arms took over in there later days the safety was then put on all models around the trigger housing --the rest as they say is History ---The Titan design of the self regulating knock open valve must be the most copied Design in the gun world --im by no means a expert but have had a fair few over the years --and im still on the look out for that Keeper --MPT etc im sure that they are other who Know more --please share with us --i whish John bowkett would team up with the likes of Steve Harper and bring out some retro carbine hunter kit in all calibre's before it's to late

That's not correct on a few points. First Falcon hijacked the design from Titan including Titan's straightcut breech, quickfill etc. There is a book coming out next year on the history of Titan so hold your waters until then- or use search

 

[zakdingel]

That's not correct on a few points. First Falcon hijacked the design from Titan including Titan's straightcut breech, quickfill etc. There is a book coming out next year on the history of Titan so hold your waters until then- or use search

I was told by John Bowkett himself ?

 

[El Caro]

I was told by John Bowkett himself ?

Told exactly what? Please

 

[zakdingel]

Told exactly what? Please

Just what i said on the post we all no that Titan was around long before falcon --i have had more than i can remember over the years --i remember when the first Falcons were put out on display at the then local gun shop they look superb deep blueing and deep shiny stocks soon as you handled one it was nothing than a Titan rebranded as i said slightly diffrent breach and pellet probe -blued trigger and cocking bolt and filler cover --not like the brass of the titans had --The chat i had with John Bowkett about having a blue print done on a MPT i had at the time --i then asked about getting a light hunter done at the same time --he said if he could get his hand down the phone he would throttle me!!!!!!!! he then went on to tell me things that shocked me in what went on behind closed doors in the titan world --you hear diffrent versions from diffrent sources --when you are told from the horses mouth you tend to believe it ---but if there is a book coming out next year i will wait to see what it has in it---

 

[El Caro]

slightly diffrent breach and pellet probe

That was a Titan design and was used on the last Titan Manitou/Mohawk. BTW it would have to be a blo*dy big phone with the size of his hands, so you were lucky

 

[Serengwali]

My first pcp; a Tian Bearcat bought new and still in my collection

 

[Engraver]

Still nobody has accurately answered the question asked by Crossr

Apart from its a Prairie variant, yes we know its one from the airarms and minelli period

BUT specifically ...Carbine with skeleton thumbhole and the barrel that finishes flush with cycliner,

I would be interested to know myself if anyone knows the exactly model/name number?