Diana Model 23

[rodrigo571]

The Diana 23.
An excellent airgun for kids. Would have loved to have such a good rifle when a kid.
This model deserves a monographic thread!
Nice little gun of the past (but not the smallest Diana!).
See extract of this older Diana catalog, I think it’s from the late 70s... Para Jovenes y Principantes (for youngsters and newbies). The model 27 appears in another page (another level!):

My 23 is branded “Gecado”, which is the most common Diana brand found here in Chile. It has the “F” mark, which seems was enforced to be put in Germany after the 1970s:

The stock is super slim:

Rounded pistol grip, as was usual in these older Diana’s:

The trigger is 100% un-adjustable, LOL. No adjustments of any type, but a pretty decent trigger after all:

The elegant curvacious breech block:

TO BE CONTINUED

 

[rodrigo571]

The rear sight is simple. At first, it seems to be adjustable only for elevation.
The windage is adjustable too, but for that you need to use a “mallet” to tap it, GULP!

The front sight. Simple "old school" front sight...
Careful: this is like the edge of an axe, a “weapon”. Dangerous if you pull the trigger with the barrel open, beware of this type of accidents!!

The brand mark is pretty deep. I prefer the beautiful Diana goddess, but this one example is nice too:

The “Made in Germany” with the manufacture date (in this case, November 1970):

This barrel is rifled (note the breech seal is inserted in the compression tube, not in the breech block), see 2nd pict.:

The lever attachment to the breech block, like the model 27, is pure old-time quality:

The Model 23 is a feather. It weights close to nothing. And cocking is super easy. That’s why it is a good gun for kids. If the kid is too small, you can cut a couple of inches of the butt stock and make the rifle smaller to suit.

Power? 460 fps with Gamo Match pellets (about 3.5 fpe)

Can we say Magnum? Nope.
But we can say:

“5 million shots and still shooting like brand new”.

And that statement is 100% truth.!!!!
LOL.

Accuracy is good. I shot it in my garage at 10 yds, and is pleasing to do so. BTW, it is almost noiseless, which is great for this kind of shooting. I have found that the rear sights tend to get “loose” after so many years, and you have to do something to remedy this (cheap fixes, masking tape or similar), otherwise accuracy suffers a bit.

Cheers!

 

[rodrigo571]

I have in fact two exemplars of the model 23. Both are Gecado’s. But they are from different vintages. I have some pictures side by side for comparison.

The first 23 that I showed is the newest one. My other model 23 is a smooth bore and it is much older. It is the darker one in the picts. I assume it is from the 60’s, (maybe from the 50’s?). It has a channel on the forearm stock and it lacks the “F” mark:

“Find the differences”
--------------------

First, the stocks. The channel on the forearm is the first difference. Also, the stock on the older gun ends more “pointed” like:

Screws. In the older gun, both axis-pins in the breech-block are executed with screws. In the newer gun one of them is just riveted, probably to cheapen the production costs:

Markings on the breech. The older gun has no marking at all:

Markings on the tube. The older gun does not have the date of manufacture. It also says “Made in West Germany”, while in the newer gun it says “Made in Germany”. Why this difference????

Underside of the stocks. The groove for the lever is longer on the older gun:

Shape of the stock. The older gun’s stock is clearly more “square” and “crude”:

Now this one is strange: The barrel detent. The older gun has a detent made with a chisel, the newer gun has the “ball” type detent. This means that the barrel piece is also different... So you have to be careful about versions if you want to get replacement parts:

These guns are giving this kind of velocities:

Newer gun: 460 fps with Gamo Match pellets (about 3.5 fpe)

Older gun: 500 fps with Gamo Match pellets (about 4.2 fpe)

So the older is a bit more “powerful”...

 

[marflow 777]

the old one was made from 1951 to before 1965 when the model changed
finding parts for the early one would be near impossible other then cross over parts
both of yours look like the leather breech seals could be replaced

 

[rodrigo571]

the old one was made from 1951 to before 1965 when the model changed
finding parts for the early one would be near impossible other then cross over parts
both of yours look like the leather breech seals could be replaced

Is the velocity too low?
Thank You!!

 

[marflow 777]

that is a good question and i have no answer but there is one here
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2013/11/testing-a-diana-model-23-breakbarrel-rifle-part-4/
your rifle are shooting fine but it appeared the breech seals were old, maybe not though

 

[rodrigo571]

Thanks for that link!!!!!
Seems my velocities are more or less OK.
BTW: That guy (BB Pelletier) I think is a hell of a great shooter... At 25 yards he’s doing 1 inch groups with this gun, and says he is “just OK” with that. LOL.

 

[rodrigo571]

These last picts. are a “family portrait”.
Just to make an idea of the size of these different Diana rifles.
From the top:
Model 45 (this one is the Crosman branded, with a beefier stock), mod. 35S, mod. 27, mod. 25 and mod. 23...

Cheers!

 

[Sherkoali]

I have in fact two exemplars of the model 23. Both are Gecado’s. But they are from different vintages. I have some pictures side by side for comparison.

The first 23 that I showed is the newest one. My other model 23 is a smooth bore and it is much older. It is the darker one in the picts. I assume it is from the 60’s, (maybe from the 50’s?). It has a channel on the forearm stock and it lacks the “F” mark:

View attachment 364607

View attachment 364608

View attachment 364610

View attachment 364606

View attachment 364609

“Find the differences”
--------------------

First, the stocks. The channel on the forearm is the first difference. Also, the stock on the older gun ends more “pointed” like:

View attachment 364611

Screws. In the older gun, both axis-pins in the breech-block are executed with screws. In the newer gun one of them is just riveted, probably to cheapen the production costs:

View attachment 364612

View attachment 364614

Markings on the breech. The older gun has no marking at all:

View attachment 364613

Markings on the tube. The older gun does not have the date of manufacture. It also says “Made in West Germany”, while in the newer gun it says “Made in Germany”. Why this difference????

View attachment 364615

Underside of the stocks. The groove for the lever is longer on the older gun:

View attachment 364616

Shape of the stock. The older gun’s stock is clearly more “square” and “crude”:

View attachment 364619

View attachment 364617

View attachment 364620

View attachment 364618

View attachment 364622

Now this one is strange: The barrel detent. The older gun has a detent made with a chisel, the newer gun has the “ball” type detent. This means that the barrel piece is also different... So you have to be careful about versions if you want to get replacement parts:

View attachment 364621

View attachment 364623

These guns are giving this kind of velocities:

Newer gun: 460 fps with Gamo Match pellets (about 3.5 fpe)

Older gun: 500 fps with Gamo Match pellets (about 4.2 fpe)

So the older is a bit more “powerful”...

Did you sale it?

 

[rodrigo571]

Hi!
No, I have no plans to sell those...

 

[zrman27500]

I have a old 423 in terrible condition that will absolutely shoot the lights out at 10 yards. Probably the best youth rifle I have come across....I think if they had a safety on them they would be crazy popular for the kids.

 

[MDriskill]

Thank you Rodrigo for this excellent photo essay! Nice guns and great pics. The model 23 - sad to say! - is of better quality than any junior-sized springer made today.

I don't have a model 23, but am a big fan of the older Dianas. There are several model 27's, 35's, and 50's around my house.

 

[Sherkoali]

Is the velocity too low?
Thank You!!

Hi
I want to buy one of like these air gun.
How can I get it?

 

[Privateer]

I've got an old Mod 27. Still looking for the rear sight! Those things are rare!

 

[moleeye]

I have been really fixated on these little rifles lately since I mainly shoot at spinner targets placed at different 20 to 35 yd distances and a few soup cans further out for my Quigley astounding distance shots ( maybe 55 yds

I'm partial to the Scottish Model 230 22 cal. versions of the Diana 23, as they offer a small rail you can attach a peep sight or small scope onto, and the 22 cal makes a little better thump on a metal target from such a low velocity rifle.

The top 4 in 1st pic is my current bunch of 230s, note the seldom seen full forend stock version dated 1973, 3rd from top.
The 2nd one from the top has unusually nice wood - see pics, they are usually pretty plain wood.

Also included 5th from top is a nice Hy-Score version of a Diana 22 in 177cal, and at the bottom a couple nice little Slavia 618 177 cals.
All these little guys are a joy to handle and shoot, they are so light they make my HW30 seem heavy..

 

[MDriskill]

What a great group of junior Dianas! Really nice.

Model 27's are my little illness, and yes - the .22's are the best can-rollers for sure.

 

[Privateer]

Wouldn't happen to have the rear sight or some parts for it for the Mod 27 would you?
I also have a Winchester Mod 422. Forgot about that one! It's stamped 7 73

 

[MDriskill]

Wouldn't happen to have the rear sight or some parts for it for the Mod 27 would you?
I also have a Winchester Mod 422. Forgot about that one!

I don't have spares to hand, but might could help you find one. Can you post a pic of the gun's breech? The model 27 used many sights over the years (there are 5 different types in my photo).

Please pardon unsolicited advice...but if you have a later one with a scope rail, I'd skip the open sight and go to an aperture sight, the gun's accuracy will honor that.

 

[Privateer]

Give me a few minutes and will be done!

 

[Privateer]

This one has made in Germany but no DRP on it