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Sprocket

Member
Aug 13, 2015
130
2
Missouri, United States
Just my luck. I bought a springer last week at an estate sale. $20. Figured not a lot of downside and maybe I get lucky and find an Antiques Roadshow type treasure. I noticed before the sale I couldn't see any makers marks. When I got it home I did a thorough cleaning and looked very closely for any info on what breed it might be. No such luck. The gun has absolutely no id. I Googled antique air rifles and went through a lot of pics before I found anything close. I have pics of my gun, but can't upload to this forum. I've tried Photobucket twice and deleted my account both times out of frustration.
Anyway, my rifle looks like a Diana 27. I think Diana built this model for other companies to sell under their own brand. Here goes my description. Break barrel, .177, has a safety blade at the barrel break that must be pushed on in order to cock and load the barrel. I have not seen this feature on any other rifle. Is that enough info or should I hope that someone, (obviously smarter than me) would volunteer to post pics on here for me. I have 4 pics that I could email someone. Thanks 
 
Hi Sprocket,
Sounds like an interesting find. That latch at the barrel hinge is going to be a great clue, and generally rules out it being a Diana 27 of any vintage. Of course, the pictures will help tremendously. If you want, email the photos to me and I'll put them up for you. andyfalk at gmail dot com

Have you looked through the Vintage Airgun Gallery? http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456 The gallery is huge, but check out the break barrel Haenels, which can resemble Dianas except for the addition of that barrel latch which yours exhibits. http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456/message/1402097892/Comparison+of+Mods+II+export+and+standard

Regards,
Andy
 
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Posting photos is easy. Once you have your photos up on photobucket select the photo you want and click the "Direct" link or copy the link of the photo then just paste it here in the text field where you want it to appear (don't use the link feature) then hit "Preview" to see if it you like it. If so then click "submit" and your done. Here is the "How to make the forum work for you" with a video how to: http://airgunnation.dev/topic/video-tutorials-how-to-make-the-forum-work-for-you-2/
 
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"30cal"Posting photos is easy. Once you have your photos up on photobucket select the photo you want and click the "Direct" link or copy the link of the photo then just paste it here in the text field where you want it to appear (don't use the link feature) then hit "Preview" to see if it you like it. If so then click "submit" and your done. Here is the "How to make the forum work for you" with a video how to: http://airgunnation.dev/topic/video-tutorials-how-to-make-the-forum-work-for-you-2/
Click to expand...
Thanks. It's probably easy for normal people, but not for me. I got aggravated at PB twice and gave up. I'm sure it's my fault, but I have a stupid fit every time I mess with photobucket.
 
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"rillburgher"Hi Sprocket,
Sounds like an interesting find. That latch at the barrel hinge is going to be a great clue, and generally rules out it being a Diana 27 of any vintage. Of course, the pictures will help tremendously. If you want, email the photos to me and I'll put them up for you. andyfalk at gmail dot com

Have you looked through the Vintage Airgun Gallery? http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456 The gallery is huge, but check out the break barrel Haenels, which can resemble Dianas except for the addition of that barrel latch which yours exhibits. http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456/message/1402097892/Comparison+of+Mods+II+export+and+standard

Regards,
Andy
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks. They will be coming your way shortly.
 
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Hi Sprocket:

Man!...That gun brought me great memories...I grew up shooting Diana 27's in the late 50's and early 60's...I had two of them before I got my Sheridan Silver Streak .20 in the early 60's... 

All Dianas model 27 have a ball bearing in the barrel to lock it upon closing the breach, you see it in the bottom part of the square section of the barrel that locks the breach....This ball bearing was a trademark for this particular model, it was and still is an excellent idea that works AWESOME!

This gun in the photo looks very similar to a 27 Diana, nevertheless Diana didn't use (to my knowledge) the left side lever in any of their iterations. Copies like this gun were made in China as someone mentioned but also in Spain and sold in the USA by Beeman, Hy-Score, Winchester and maybe some others...

Diana utilized a very similar rear sight but the sliding part for raising it was square and the one on this gun seems to be round.

These guns are extremely easy to service and are working horses...Very accurate and they shot at around 700 fps. with 8.4's. When rebuilding them the springs are easy to find as they are similar to what is used by other manufacturers nowadays ($10-15 dollar main spring) and the piston and seal at the barrel are made of leather...

The breach/barrel seal is extremely easy to make out of leather but you can use an o Ring if you want...The frontal part of the piston can be machined out of synthetics but Leather is much smoother and also very easy to make...Get some leather, soak it in water for a day or so and fabricate a mandrel for giving it form...I used the gun't tube for making mine and worked very well.
Let the leather inside the mandrel dry, cut it and soak it with oil (non petroleum based for avoiding detonations)....When I was a kid we all used 3 in1 petroleum based oil and none of us ever had an issue with detonations in our guns but better safe that sorry...Detonations do occur if the oil is placed in the barrel, I learned that quickly with no consequences..

These guns require 1-2 drops of oil in the chamber and a drop in the spring and trigger 3-4 times a year if you shoot it hard...Everything is metal...The triggers are very good on Diana rifles and I believe this is a good copy. 

All in all it seems to be in very good condition and restoring it would be fun and easy for your expertise...I believe you did good and will enjoy shooting it. 

Regards,

AZ

PS. If there are some proof marks around the barrel or breach I can help you finding its birth country, I do have a very old European airgun hand book about prrof marks... 
 
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Sprocket,
AZ is right... it's Chinese. It's a "B2" It looks like a several Chinese factories have made them and still do today.

Shanghai Air Gun Factory
http://www.airrifle-china.com/products_detail/&productId=36d41f1c-ad5f-4d41-aa4e-b70f5a609da4.html

Shaoxing Snowpeak Airgun Factory
http://www.china-airrifle.com/products_detail/&productId=c3208da6-bb65-4087-8846-4f21dda0f889.html

Huadong Air Gun
http://www.hdag-airrifle.com/products/&productId=af2f4e65-34e4-4974-b7b9-1331ca468286.html

Should you need a piston seal, you can follow AZs directions or could buy a pack of four "B3" seals from Archer Airguns.
http://www.archerairguns.com/Leather-Piston-Seals-p/leatherpistonseals.htm

Actually, I bought a four pack and have a couple spare, so I'd be happy to give you one if that's any help.
-Andy
 
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The estate sale that I bought the gun at had a bunch of different weird stuff that the guy had collected over the years. I bought it mainly to increase my herd size. I was hoping it was some kind of rare gun. Apparently it is not.

I found a video that has a gun that looks similiar but not quite the same.
All the sites you guys have linked to show guns that are really close, but still not quite. This gun is probably a very slightly different model of the ones you show, so I fully agree with your identifications.
Sure is frustrating that there is absolutely no maker marks at all on the gun.
Thanks to all.

Andy:
I will send you an email in a little while. I will gladly accept your offer, but I want to pay postage and whatever the leather seal cost you. I really appreciate your offer.
 
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"rillburgher"This fellow takes one apart on youtube. It's a little slow moving, and his B-2 has a synthetic seal, which I think must be speced by distributor SMK for UK, but hey it gives you a chance to see what disassembly involves.

Click to expand...
That is exactly what disassembly of my gun looks like. The endcap behind the spring is plastic.
Closing the barrel sounds like a bank vault door. That gun locks up super solid. Makes me think it is a really well built air rifle from just that sound.
I sure wish my stock looked as good as that one. I may have to try and duplicate the finish and color like his.
Since there are no numbers or name on my gun I guess I can tell all my buddies that it's the prototype for all other ones made. Sounds impressive anyway.
 
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