I'm trying to round out the collection. I have been for about 20 years now. Looking for the .20 caliber Sterling underlever. I have a .177 in the 81 and 83 and have the .22 in 81, but can't find a single .20 despite quite a bit of looking.
I have a copy of "know your sheridans" but have yet to dig into it for any info on production data. How many got made? I can't imagine that they sold as many .20's as they did the .177 and .22 versions.
Yes, this is a "want one just to want one" sort of situation, but I'd like to have the whole lineup.
I might have seen one. I loved Sheridan's. I was a kid in the 70's and a couple of my friends had them. One had a Silver Streak, another had a Blue Streak and his dad even had a "hold-down-safety" model. Eventually I got one too. We visited the factory in Racine, WI in the early 90's, hoping for a tour. We couldn't get one for "insurance reasons" but they had a fantastic display in the lobby. A mini-museum really. This was just after they bought all the machines for the Sterling's. I'm pretty sure they had one of everything in those cases. We drooled a little, left a few nose prints on the glass cases and bought a couple "factory seconds." Those were good days. I'm pretty sure Crosman owned them by then but their influence hadn't started to show yet. Now I'm very "meh" about the brand(s).
I've attached a listing from the 1991 Gun Digest, They don't list a .20 that year but let me do a little research.
OK, Gun Digest lists the Sterling from 1984 to 1994 inclusive, It lists .177 and .22 in all of those years. It lists .20 for 1992 through 1994 inclusive only.
Keep in mind that Gun Digest is far from an authority on air guns. Hope this helps.
I might have seen one. I loved Sheridan's. I was a kid in the 70's and a couple of my friends had them. One had a Silver Streak, another had a Blue Streak and his dad even had a "hold-down-safety" model. Eventually I got one too. We visited the factory in Racine, WI in the early 90's, hoping for a tour. We couldn't get one for "insurance reasons" but they had a fantastic display in the lobby. A mini-museum really. This was just after they bought all the machines for the Sterling's. I'm pretty sure they had one of everything in those cases. We drooled a little, left a few nose prints on the glass cases and bought a couple "factory seconds." Those were good days. I'm pretty sure Crosman owned them by then but their influence hadn't started to show yet. Now I'm very "meh" about the brand(s).
I've attached a listing from the 1991 Gun Digest, They don't list a .20 that year but let me do a little research.
OK, Gun Digest lists the Sterling from 1984 to 1994 inclusive, It lists .177 and .22 in all of those years. It lists .20 for 1992 through 1994 inclusive only.
Keep in mind that Gun Digest is far from an authority on air guns. Hope this helps.
The Benjamin catalogs also list the Sterling models as "Made in the USA" from 1984-1994. Earliest I've seen the .20 listed, is on a price sheet printed 12-01-1990. That price sheet accompanied a 1991 Benjamin, Sheridan and Sterling catalog.
There seem to be a greater proportion of American-made Benjamin Sterlings in .177 caliber and more UK-made Sterlings in .22. I've heard of only three in .20 caliber, so they're on the endangered variants list.
I have a .22 and after seeing this post had to get it out. Forgot what a master piece I have. Had to run some down to the 10m. target, not horrible, considering I don't recall sighting it. Test shot and forgotten. Spring sounds like it is flexing, but then again not sure what they should sound like. Other than that is really smooth. Incredible build quality.
I have an 83 in .177 that I bought from Sonny. Near perfect condition. I love the contours of the pistol grip, and the lovely sharp checkering. It honked like a goose when I got it, but I added a little TIAT and now it's a smooth solid thunk. Williams peep and clear front aperture.
I had a .177 81 a few years ago, but the 83 stock is so much more elegant. They are heavy rifles, but so beautifully made, and a joy to shoot.
Both of mine were/are stamped Benjamin Sheridan, Racine, Wisconsin.
I would love to find one in .20, but given the scarcity I doubt I could ever afford one.
[Edit] There's a very nice .177 HR83 on the classifieds right now, from a seller I can vouch for.
I'm not trying to be a collector hog here as I already have 3 (as noted, two .177's and one .22) but I do dearly want a .20.
I look periodically when the itch hits, but I have yet to even SEE one or see one advertised and I have been looking for (rather half heartedly) a .20 version for over 20 years now.
No toys to be found.
