Daystate Blackwolf Launch – One Week On…

It’s already one week on since the Daystate Blackwolf launch! So I phoned Greg Glover – the General Manager of Airguns of Arizona – to find out his take on how things are going.

Here’s how the discussion went…

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Stephen Archer: Greg, thanks for taking a moment to talk!

Greg Glover: You’re lucky to catch me. It’s been a whirlwind for all of us – both at Daystate and AoA – for the past few months, working on this project. Trust me, we’re all exhausted. But I do think that this Daystate Blackwolf launch is one of the best the industry has seen for some time!

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Stephen Archer: It’s already looking as if the Daystate Blackwolf could be one of the most significant new air rifle introductions in recent years. Can you tell me how it came about?

Greg Glover: Well, the Blackwolf project kicked-off with a meeting of the Daystate Wolf Pack Team shooters here in Arizona. It was in 2021, so far as I remember. The Wolf Pack includes the top US Daystate shooters, as you know.

So Daystate came to the table and asked the team what they truly wanted in a new air rifle. Nothing was off limits. It was a hugely refreshing approach!

Needless to say, there was an incredible response to this from the Wolf Pack. They generated a TON of suggestions. But what is even more incredible is that the Blackwolf we have now ticks all the boxes for the team – every one of them!

The Daystate folk listened to what our top shooters actually want and then incorporated it all into this design.

Below. Wolf Pack Team members with Mauro Marocchi – the owner of Daystate (center rear) – at Extreme Benchrest, 2023.

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Stephen Archer: So the Blackwolf is truly a “clean sheet”design?

Greg Glover: Absolutely! It’s a complete, ground-up air rifle. There’s no – well make that almost no – existing parts used in this design. It’s not a “bolt on” for the Wolverine, Red Wolf or any other existing model. Daystate went all-out and started from scratch!

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Stephen Archer: You are a top-class shooter yourself and have been in the airgun industry for many years. How would you describe the Blackwolf?

Greg Glover: Steve, there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s glowingly good! And I don’t say that lightly…

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Stephen Archer: “Glowingly good”. WOW! That’s a HUGE endorsement. Why?

Greg Glover: You know me, I’m not going to give you bs!

It’s important to understand that the Blackwolf is not just an air rifle. It’s a full system. A complete platform. It’s completely modular.

This is a multi-use air rifle that be customized to any number of configurations, as required by the owner. It can start out in .177 caliber at sub-12 Ft/Lbs for Field Target use and – the next day – be a .30 caliber chassis rifle throwing .30 caliber pellets – or slugs – downrange in Benchrest competition.

And the owner can make all these changes easily himself. Oops, or herself, too!

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Stephen Archer: That sounds great. But can’t other air rifles do this?

Greg Glover: True. But the Blackwolf really does it better. It’s better engineered: I truly believe that. And it does so more elegantly too. You know, with that English style they have back in your homeland!

And Daystate is making pretty well all of the options available, right from the start. This is not a “dribble out” sort of program. The Daystate Blackwolf launch is bringing most all of the options to market straight away.

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Stephen Archer: I’ve heard there’s a lot of excitement among serious airgunners about the Blackwolf. Do you see that at AoA?

Greg Glover: He** yes!!! (Oh, don’t print that!) We’re seeing huge demand. We already have a lot – really a lot – of pre-orders for the gun. That started immediately at the launch party we ran here at AoA a week ago.

And it’s not just AoA direct customers who are excited! I know that many Precision Airgun Distribution dealers are placing advanced orders for their customers too.

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Stephen Archer: So what’s your advice for anyone who wants their own Blackwolf?

Greg Glover: It’s clear that demand is going to be strong for a long time. So my advice to HAM readers is to not wait for inventory to appear on the AoA website. Contact us and get on the list for the Blackwolf you want – right now.

Daystate ships to us very frequently – pallets of airguns every time. You know Steve, you’ve seen that when you have been here at AoA.

Below. Just like this…

But I know already that much of the inventory we have pre-ordered is going to go straight out of the door to customers and PAD dealers – almost without touching the ground!

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Stephen Archer: Greg, thanks for the update. I’ll let you go, but do you have any last thoughts for HAM readers?

Greg Glover: Steve, the key is for people to understand what a truly amazing new airgun this is.

Our Daystate Blackwolf launch has majored on the fact that this is a complete platform that’s an outstanding “ground up” new design.

I hope that your independent HAM review will endorse that position – you’ll be getting a gun to test as soon as we can. I’m sure that you will think the Blackwolf is glowingly good too!

Oh, and the snowstorm photos are great! Your wife did an outstanding job with them. Did you know that it’s over 80 degrees here in Arizona today? LOL…


The post Daystate Blackwolf Launch – One Week On… appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.

 

[Soren Drost]

Post from Tony Belas at Daystate UK :

The Blackwolf is amongst us! Launched at the British Shooting Show, the new Daystate rifle is already arriving at Airguns of Arizona with the new rifle selling out before shipments arrive. Production is to be stepped up with the next shipment leaving the UK at the end of next week, and then another interim shipment planned shortly after. With a completely new rifle initial production is always cautious as you don’t want to risk any mistakes and risk the reputation of the model.

Its a great relief to be able to talk about and post on a rifle on which I saw the first AutoCAD animation in Dec 2021 in designer Adriano Nodari's Brescia office, and which I know had been worked on for at least a year before that. These things take time, though much quicker than Wolverine which took 6 years!

I’ve personally been shooting one since last summer, but only saw the finished stock in December, which is the way with stocks designed on CAD and made by CNC: you have none and then you have a hundred!

There are 16 points which we are talking about, many of them you could say can be found on other Daystate and BRK, but what is unique to Blackwolf is all of them in one place. The trigger for example is matched by the Red and Delta Wolf triggers, but this is a mechanical unit and certainly the best Daystate mechanical trigger of all time (yes, I include the CR-X). Other new features have been in consideration for years, the titanium valve was first tried on the MK4, but didn’t have enough benefits to cover the cost, but when combined with the balanced valve from the Delta Wolf and Ghost which has a more substantial valve stem, the weight saving and added strength gives a big benefit on Blackwolf, especially on the High Power models which at AofA has just hit 155 ft/lbs in a tuned .30 version.

Developing brand new models by what is a small company in a niche market that is air gunning and at the top end of the market is a risky and expensive business and there are not too many who can a) afford it b) have the knowledge of what can be done, so I hope you do understand why so few airgun companies are innovating to this level.

I hope this gives you an insight into the thinking behind the rifle and will keep an eye on this thread and answer some of the questions you may have.

Tony Belas (Daystate Factory)

 

[hameditor]

I am not surprised about the timeline to develop the Blackwolf.

When I worked in Product Development producing high-end computer peripherals, it took at least three years between starting from a blank sheet of paper (actually CAD screen) to final product availability. And that was with over 100 engineers working on the project in multiple, co-ordinating teams.

With proportionately less resources, I would say Daystate has done an excellent job here. Yes, product development is a risky and expensive business - as Tony says - and a TON of money is spent up-front, waaaaay before any revenue comes-in from sales. Particularly for a complete "net new" platform product like the Blackwolf.

Without having been involved in Product Development this is not obvious to many people (for sure, I never thought about it before my own experience). But obviously ANY company needs to cover these huge up-front costs of design, testing and tooling in the product price when it's eventually sold. That must be reflected in the selling price.

 

[Scriv]

Good information all. It helps to entertain me, and soothe me whilst I wait for my rifle to come. Keep up the good work.

 

[PCPdrug]

I would have appreciated them more if they had installed a SSG (Spring Stop Guide) for significantly greater efficiency, the ability to adjust the force of the valve return spring from the outside, and the ability to increase the plenum (Like Epic Airguns) to increase power.

 

[Ezana4CE]

This information provides much more insight than a lot of hype posts I’ve seen. Until I read this thread I really didn’t know what separated the Black Wolf from the other Daystate Wolf models or the Wolverine.

 

[Danman]

I would have appreciated them more if they had installed a SSG (Spring Stop Guide) for significantly greater efficiency, the ability to adjust the force of the valve return spring from the outside, and the ability to increase the plenum (Like Epic Airguns) to increase power.

Bro....they do offer increased plenum size in the Black wolf....in everything I've read/watched I saw 3 numbers thrown around.

 

[PCPdrug]

Bro....they do offer increased plenum size in the Black wolf....in everything I've read/watched I saw 3 numbers thrown around.

I found that out later and I apologize for that statement but I stand by the rest of the conclusions. A few years ago when the Delta Wolf came out I criticized them on a YT channel for the small plenum (30cc), and one of their prominent "managers" laughed at my claim and now I see that he did it on this model. Toni, be good.

 

[Danman]

I found that out later and I apologize for that statement but I stand by the rest of the conclusions. A few years ago when the Delta Wolf came out I criticized them on a YT channel for the small plenum (30cc), and one of their prominent "managers" laughed at my claim and now I see that he did it on this model. Toni, be good.

Hmmm I wonder what sized plenum is on the Ghost!? If the Delta is truly 30cc, then it does make decent power for so small a plenum! But yeah bigger would be better to a point...
As far as I'm concerned there is no Airgun that can check off every box for me, but the Black wolf does check off alot! Excited to see the groups, shot count, etc from everyone who got one

 

[MountainSportAirguns]

I would have appreciated them more if they had installed a SSG (Spring Stop Guide) for significantly greater efficiency, the ability to adjust the force of the valve return spring from the outside, and the ability to increase the plenum (Like Epic Airguns) to increase power.

Wasn't aware balance valves had return springs? The plenum will be available in three sizes up to 80cc I believe.

 

[mike56]

I could see myself owning this Black Wolf in 22 caliber,,, Sell three guns and buy one, Good way to downsize ,,,
But the Mora is still calling my name , Great power , simple build, easy to work on, Still going to be three for one for the down size ,
Mike