Diana Model 23

[MDriskill]

That looks like a pre-war sight. If you have some more pics of the gun (especially trigger area) I can confirm.

The first model 27 sight used post-war is very similar, and easier to find. But if you look closely every part is actually different! You can make a post-war one work on a pre-war rifle, but it takes a little work to tweak the base and dovetail size.

Pre-war left, post-war right in this shot. The latter is a bit nicer sight - note wider blade and detailing of the notch on the later unit.

Here's a list of parts suppliers - the post-war sight was used on other brands of guns, and apparently manufactured by the zillion! At one time Waffen Center Gotha still had NOS ones.

JG Airguns (Chicago)
http://www.jgairguns.biz

John Knibbs / Gunspares (UK)
https://www.airgunspares.com/airgun-spares

Chambers (UK)
https://twchambers.co.uk

Gunstar (UK)
https://www.gunstar.co.uk

Waffen Center Gotha (Germany)
https://www.waffencenter-gotha.de

Sportwaffen Schneider (Germany)
https://www.versandhaus-schneider.de

 

[Sherkoali]

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

Thanks
I am looking for spear part of Mod. 23 i need that part I'll send the picture. If i can get it I'll buy it.

 

[Privateer]

It's a Pre-War model.
Here's an overhead shot of the sight as is now. Waffen Center Gotha has the sliding part.
If I got that I could make the other part it slides on. The sliding part would allow me to get the thickness right.

 

[Privateer]

I paid $100 for this Gun 8 years ago. It's a bit rough but still shoots pretty good!
I have no plans to screw it up with re-blueing or such. I like it just the way it is.
Old and showing it's age. Just like me!

 

[bf1956]

 

[RangerPete]

Hi Rodrigo,
Great post, thanks for sharing, and there are some beautiful old rifles in all these collections.
Just for interest, the “F in a pentagon” symbol is called the Friemark. It is a German symbol and shows that in Germany, this rifle is “Free of a licence”, meaning it is not considered to be a firearm, and thus no firearm licence is required to own that rifle. Only air rifles of less then 7.5 joules, or 5.5FPE can get a Friemark stamp.
I don’t know when Germany started using this system to identify licence free firearms (under 5.5FPE) but it would be interesting to find out, because your older rifle does not have it, but the newer one does
Pete.

 

[Compressorguy]

I’ve made one of those rear sight blades before using a sawzall blade. Wasn’t too difficult. Here’s a link, maybe of some use.

Made a rear sight blade HyScore 801 (Diana 25) - Airguns & Guns Forum

Made a rear sight blade HyScore 801 (Diana 25), Air guns, Airgun Forum

www.gatewaytoairguns.org

 

[Privateer]

Nice! Thanks for the link.
I seen a post years ago where the Guy built the whole thing, base included, from scratch.
No idea where I saw that post.

 

[TimWoodsome]

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”...

Great Pics and Memories. I got my GECADO 22 on my 10th Christmas 1963....It still shoots great and is one of my most cherished possessions. I grew up in Kenya, it was my constant companion for many years.

 

[MDriskill]

Hi Rodrigo,
Great post, thanks for sharing, and there are some beautiful old rifles in all these collections.
Just for interest, the “F in a pentagon” symbol is called the Friemark. It is a German symbol and shows that in Germany, this rifle is “Free of a licence”, meaning it is not considered to be a firearm, and thus no firearm licence is required to own that rifle. Only air rifles of less then 7.5 joules, or 5.5FPE can get a Friemark stamp.
I don’t know when Germany started using this system to identify licence free firearms (under 5.5FPE) but it would be interesting to find out, because your older rifle does not have it, but the newer one does
Pete.

The legislation came about from widespread protests and leftist terror attacks of the late 1960's, and went into effect January 1, 1970. (As if terrorists use airguns...?? Oh, well.)

 

[Swissair]

Hi Rodrigo,
Great post, thanks for sharing, and there are some beautiful old rifles in all these collections.
Just for interest, the “F in a pentagon” symbol is called the Friemark. It is a German symbol and shows that in Germany, this rifle is “Free of a licence”, meaning it is not considered to be a firearm, and thus no firearm licence is required to own that rifle. Only air rifles of less then 7.5 joules, or 5.5FPE can get a Friemark stamp.
I don’t know when Germany started using this system to identify licence free firearms (under 5.5FPE) but it would be interesting to find out, because your older rifle does not have it, but the newer one does
Pete.

1st January 1970 was the introduction of the Freimark. I believe that any German-made gun over the 7.5J muzzle energy (so not earning the Freimark) had to have a serial number after this date.