Just picked up this rifle, and while I have seen other Indian rifles, I have never heard of one being in .20, can anyone shed some light on this?
Other Made in japan indian "islander" in .20?!?
- Thread starter zrman27500
- Start date
@zrman27500 “I just picked up this rifle…” Here’s a good place to upload a photo. Maybe if you posted a photo, make, and model you might get a pertinent response. You sort of just threw some random info out there.
Upvote 0
The title says exactly what it is....if someone had knowledge of these rifles, a picture isn't going to make a difference.
Upvote 0
@zrman27500 Never heard of it. I googled it and didn’t come up with much. I figured you’d left something out.
Upvote 0
I have another Indian in .177 that is not an "islander" but is similar. I am pretty sure they were made by SAR (shinbishi) in japan, post war...probably during Japan's occupation. I have seen them under a few different brand names. All have been in .177 though, I have never seen nor heard of a .20 caliber model before, and the fact that I don't think anyone here has seen one, let's me know that it is very uncommon.Clueless
Upvote 0
I'm a terrible photographer, and my phone camera is pretty blurry....I could get a few pics, but I think it's kind of a you know about them or not situation. They are a pretty decently made rifle, not very powerful, and the trigger is pretty stiff. But they were meant to be cheap rifles (I'm assuming it's from the mid to late 50's) but could be 60's or 70's at the latest. The thing that is special about this rifle is it being in .20.....I have never seen nor heard of any of the old break barrel Japanese rifles coming in anything other than .177...not even .22
Upvote 0
@zrman27500 If you can mange taking a decent photo I’m sure I’m not the only member who’d like to take a gander at this air rifle. Someone on the forums has to have seen these somewhere. A photo might awaken a distant memory.
Upvote 0
I have another one that is a little different, but very similar. I'll try and dig them out in the next day or two....this is whay I know about them
"When the war ended, the industrial capacity of both Germany and Japan was devastated. Haenel ended up behind the Iron Curtain and all of Dianawerks equipment and trademark was award to a British company as war reparations, and would not resume Airgun manufacturing until September 1950. It appears other German factories also weren't making air rifles until 1950. This left a void that Japan happily filled. During the occupation, Japan began producing copies of prewar German air guns again. This time around, they were not built under license, and therefore did not use the German tradename. The JGA style Spring barrel pistol would now be marketed under a different name (LOC). Postwar Air Rifles manufactured utilizing the basic prewar German designs were now given all kinds of kooky names. These rifles were to be exported to help rebuild Japans economy. So many of these postwar occupation era rifles ended up in the United States. Examples of tradenames used on these postwar rifles include COMET, INDIAN, CROWN, CHAMPION, FUJI SPECIAL, OLYMPIA, PENGUIN, DUCK, RABBIT, CONDOR, KING DIANA, ASAHI, SAKABA and my favorite ATOM ROCKET!"
"When the war ended, the industrial capacity of both Germany and Japan was devastated. Haenel ended up behind the Iron Curtain and all of Dianawerks equipment and trademark was award to a British company as war reparations, and would not resume Airgun manufacturing until September 1950. It appears other German factories also weren't making air rifles until 1950. This left a void that Japan happily filled. During the occupation, Japan began producing copies of prewar German air guns again. This time around, they were not built under license, and therefore did not use the German tradename. The JGA style Spring barrel pistol would now be marketed under a different name (LOC). Postwar Air Rifles manufactured utilizing the basic prewar German designs were now given all kinds of kooky names. These rifles were to be exported to help rebuild Japans economy. So many of these postwar occupation era rifles ended up in the United States. Examples of tradenames used on these postwar rifles include COMET, INDIAN, CROWN, CHAMPION, FUJI SPECIAL, OLYMPIA, PENGUIN, DUCK, RABBIT, CONDOR, KING DIANA, ASAHI, SAKABA and my favorite ATOM ROCKET!"
Upvote 0
Assuming the .20 makes it a one-off, and that it wasn't rebarelled later, somebody in mid 20th century Japan was well aware of the .20s superiority.
Upvote 0
It's definitely an untouched rifle, and I guess until I hear differently.....it's one of one
I wonder why though, prototype? Who knows I guess
I wonder why though, prototype? Who knows I guessUpvote 0