Crosman 600s: The one on top is collectible, the one on the bottom is the "bug gun" and the other three are a bit over the top, lol
Crosman 451s: The one on top is a .177 cal conversion
Aside from the collectible 600, these are everyday shooters. It was a lot of time and work (and expense) to get them to where they are today... but I really don't know of a current production model that would be an alternative.... lots of fun-
Define "Vintage"? These are some I've had the longest, does that count? 30+ years.
Diana 52 .177
Tempest pistol.
The lettering is worn from it being stuffed in the pellet pouch and riding on the back of a trail bike for a long time.
This old rear cocking 1322 is the most special to me because of the scope mounts. My dad was a machinist and I'd asked him to make something so I could put a scope on the gun. It's the only thing I have left that he made. (emotional break)
Very nice Chris, those BSA girls are gorgeous! They always catch my eye, have yet to handle one, but would think they would balance very well. Would love the opportunity to shoot one one day.
One of my most favorite vintage air rifles, Nazi-era Haenel Model 3 in .177. About 80 yrs old, and still a joy to shoot. A good spring rifle needs only 3 ingredients: steel, hide, and timber.
@jiminpgh The Haenel Model III is one of my favorites, too! I have one each in .177 and .22 and I am really pleased with how accurate they are with modern ammo. Definitely a case of "they don't make them like that any more."
At the last Hickory show I let a fellow shoot my .177 Model III; he picked that one out of my collection because "it lookled like a real gun." He had not shot an airgun before. Good times.
Hakim and Diana 58 2nd. Doubt the 1931 Diana 58 2nd will ever be topped in my collection. Find of a lifetime really. In just incredible condition for being 90 years old. Probably the best prewar air rifle.
Picked this up at a Pawn shop about 20 years ago for $50. I still can't see thru the scope but, I don't have the heart to replace it. It still holds air but is a bit too loud for the back yard.
Made in 1912. Can you guess what it is? A very nice one. Only about 420 made. They still make very popular airguns. One of the most highly sought after collectable airguns from the 1900's. Original canvas sling. This gun inspired the Diana 58. The first variant of the 58 (with the dummy bolt) is basically a copy of this action. bsa military pattern
do you have a military pattern or is that a borrowed picture? Those bsa are pretty cool. figure i will never see on in person. There was also alot of prototypes back then. Guess you have john knibbs book. There almost as hard to find as then guns. I ended up with a signed copy about 6 or so years ago. I ready it many times.
Very nice MK1. Webley Holy Grail. Mine is not nearly as nice. You don't get many to choose from. I'm watching one about to go on the auction block in UK. I want to see what it brings. Hunan Virus might hold up the auction. A MK2 Service is in the auction as well. Those are soooo cool.
Pneumatic Addict, It's a 1912 Military Pattern BSA above. I wrote it in italics. Beginning in 1861 BSA made Enfields. Until 1940. Boom! Did they resume after the war some time? Not sure. Probably
Yes, Chris it's my Millitary Pattern. I am the proud owner of this BSA Holy Grail. Couldn't believe it when I found it. Had to have it. Almost passed it up. Then the owner negotiated a good price with me. We met in a parking lot! He lives 3 hours away. In awe when I held it. Really, really nice condition.
Not too old but older than some of the readers! You rarely see these models.
Theoben Sirocco Deluxe. I bought it in the later 80's. Shot it a lot . Love it. The earlier Theobens had THE best triggers of the lot. Still in great condition. No scratches. Still have the original box and receipt. Not as powerful as the Eliminators, Imperators but not as heavy. Very nice shot cycle. Silky smooth cocking. 12-14 ft lb gun. Good carry gun. I love the large pistol grip, I have very large Ape hands. Wearing a period RWS Hakko 2-7 x 40 scope. Doesn't have the tacky Beeman blue ring.+ . They say not to lubricate them but if you don't the chamber gets dry and will scuff the seal. I'm still on the original one! Folks thought I was crazy spending so much on an airgun. You could have bought a Kimber! I wouldn't mind making a custom trigger guard for it... someday? See some of my metal work in the Workshop section!
BSA Airsporter S Carbine .177. S designates a deluxe model with nicer shaped Walnut stock. Nice gun. Typical gorgeous British blue job.(They say blacking over there) Beautiful lines. I must get a scope on it and shoot it some. Oh well, I can't get the second picture straight. Yes, I sleep with them. LOL!
Well I definitely saved some photos from this thread. No sure I can top some of these old German and English guns but I'v got some nicely wooded American ones though. I still need to send the Slab stock off to get fixed but the other ones all work.
Out of curiosity anyone have a Giffard? I've seen pictures of them at British airgun shows and they look amazing.
Thanks for sharing. Are those early ones engraved like the CO2 ones? Whenever I make it back to England, if I don't get side tracked by something else I'm hopeful to get a Giffard C02 or a Webley MkI or MKII.
Yes, It's beautifully engraved. In a fit of stupidity I sold it. Greatest regret. I never sell ANYTHING! Why that???? There are only a few in the whole world.
@ KWK that's got nice tiger stripping that carries through on both sides. How would you rate the Japanese compared to the BSA's? I had a Japanese Diana 24 clone that was well built and deeply blued.
@Colt You've amassed yourself quite the collection. You have a video of you firing it?
@ KWK that's got nice tiger stripping that carries through on both sides. How would you rate the Japanese compared to the BSA's? I had a Japanese Diana 24 clone that was well built and deeply blued.
@Colt You've amassed yourself quite the collection. You have a video of you firing it?
Both of those Japanese guns shown are very nicely finished. Highly polished blue. They were made after WW2. The BSA Airsporter came out in 1948 and had very beautiful blue as well. Prewar BSA were not highly polished (I don't think less than 400 grit) and the blue is a lighter gray/blue. I have read that the Japanese were using leftover Diana parts at times.
Yes, but the guy doing the video will make you dizzy!
Thank you very much for the demonstration. You are wearing camo. Why not sneak up on it so we can see what you're shooting? LOL! Really would be nice to see what damage it does. Thank you kindly! Really appreciate it.
@jiminpgh I was one of the guys who got to play with and shoot Paul’s Haenel in Hickory!
Truly an awesome old air rifle - the fit and finish on the pre-war Haenels is incredible and that uniquely beautiful gray-blue blueing. IMHO they have a certain stately Teutonic “air” to them that even contemporary Dianas have a hard time matching, and that’s really saying something.
Tyro trio! Three different eras of one of my favorites, the Weihrauch HW 55 tyrolean.
Top to bottom, an early finger-groove example (373xx serial, 1956), lovely mid-production, extensively checkered one (3132xx serial, 1969), and a very late-build Beeman import (12137xx serial, 1991).
Thanks, it was one of those guns I've always wanted.
It was made by Joseph Schembor who was in business in the 1820's through the 1850's I believe. Joseph built the guns in Vienna.
I'm hoping to get a new tank made this summer for the gun, that will be very close in size, shape, and volume so it can be used as originally intended.
The gun has the original tank on it, its actually very clean inside too. I fill it to only 500 PSI or so though, which is far short of the 850PSI the gun would have originally used.
Even at that pressure, the .44 round balls are crossing the radar at just over 500FPS and dropping to around 390 at the 13th shot.
Well I definitely saved some photos from this thread. No sure I can top some of these old German and English guns but I'v got some nicely wooded American ones though. I still need to send the Slab stock off to get fixed but the other ones all work.
Out of curiosity anyone have a Giffard? I've seen pictures of them at British airgun shows and they look amazing.
Since we're showing nice American wood, here's my Crosman 187, recently converted to dual cart.
It was made by Joseph Schembor who was in business in the 1820's through the 1850's I believe. Joseph built the guns in Vienna... the .44 round balls are crossing the radar at just over 500FPS and dropping to around 390 at the 13th shot.The magazine on this gun holds 13 balls
Thank you very much for that! Excellent info on one of AG's holy grails.
@jiminpgh Yes you do, The quality of work is out standing. I'm thinking it is a WW11 bring back. If you have a Steve F. Blue Book of Airguns check it out. And thanks for the interest All of you.
BF1956, I have a similar gun, marked "FAVORIT XX" on the barrel, no medallion on the stock and different (presume earlier) rear sight. One like mine can be seen on Danny Garvin's Gallery:
I think they had different names on the depending on who the importer was. Like George Lincoln Jeffries early guns (Millita style*) he imported before he had BSA build his famous underlevers. That was very common in those days just like today. Maybe so buyers didn't know their guns were imported. RWS /Diana, Beeman/ Weihrauch Beeman/Diana, Beeman / Norica Snopeak/Diana Webley/Barnett
**Read about Ansonia below...interesting, link
Favorit/Original X Top of the page shows it in a catalog. Scroll down to see the X model.Twice. Yours is later and they weren't using Original X anymore? Likely
Further up the page see the first Original Model V. See the "made abroad" stamping? Export guns often had different features. Plating, stock style, sights, etc. Several pictures down it shows "Millita Patent". The barrel latch is in fact a Millita patent. Called an underlever latch. 1905 patent # 10411
Favorit XX has adjustable trigger, barrel latch. Favorit XXX is a repeater
*Millita style just means quarter stocked break barrel. Mil'-it-a It was also a brand! Here is a Millita brand page. And one of the guns featured is Also stamped Lincoln!(George Lincoln Jeffries) That gun was finished in the famous Lincoln Jeffries shotgun factory. Engraving and such. He made fine shotguns before he invented(1904/5) the famous airgun BSA made See why us vintage airgun collectors are going loony?
@mdriskill - Unreal collection of Tyroleans. I got into air gunning in about 1987, and Tyroleans were difficult to get at that time. I had a man in Detroit offer me three Beeman Walnut Tyrolean stocks for an HW77 for $125 apiece. I have ALWAYS regretted turning that deal down. Much later I finally decided to build one myself. It was a lot of work, but the results were worth it. I ordered the blank from California, had it shipped to the stock man in North Carolina for 95% inletting, I finished it, and off it went to Oregon for checkering. WHEW! I would not want to do that again. But, your three rifles are TRULY a treasure - just beautiful. Thanks for showing them.
@mdriskill - Unreal collection of Tyroleans. I got into air gunning in about 1987, and Tyroleans were difficult to get at that time. I had a man in Detroit offer me three Beeman Walnut Tyrolean stocks for an HW77 for $125 apiece. I have ALWAYS regretted turning that deal down. Much later I finally decided to build one myself. It was a lot of work, but the results were worth it. I ordered the blank from California, had it shipped to the stock man in North Carolina for 95% inletting, I finished it, and off it went to Oregon for checkering. WHEW! I would not want to do that again. But, your three rifles are TRULY a treasure - just beautiful. Thanks for showing them.
Thank you sir - each of these was quite a stroke of luck to find, and I feel privileged to be their caretaker! They are indeed rather amazing things to contemplate, and to my eye HW's Tyros are the prettiest of the classic springer match rifle era (Diana, FWB, and Walther also made Tyro stocks).
I'd love to see pics of the one you made yourself. Now that is a REAL accomplishment...!