Sheridan A trip down "SHERIDAN RD"

Introduced in 1949, the top rifle in the pictures is an example of the first Model "C" SilverStreak produced. It's recognizable by the flat slab-like stock, undercut front sight, large knurled adjustment knobs on the rear sight, and slotted pump handle screws.

In 1952, a sister gun to the SilverStreak was rolled out. Second rifle down, it's known as the Model "CB" BlueStreak. The first variant, BlueStreaks, can quickly be identified by the rear sight. It has large adjustment knobs similar to early Model C's, but rather than knurling, the knobs are smooth on the edges, and the male knob is slotted for a screwdriver. By 1953, the rear sight used adjustment screws with smaller slotted heads. There were several other changes made to the "C" series in those first three years, but the rear sight knobs set this gun apart from 1953-55 BlueStreaks.

The last of the SilverStreaks came off the assembly line in 2009. The 2010 catalogs no longer carried them. The third gun from the top represents an example of this final variation, Model C9A.

Sadly, three years later, in 2012, Crosman ended production of the BlueSteaks as well. There's no mention of them in the 2013 catalogs.

That's an incredible sixty years of production for each model.

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Growing up in the suburbs of Baltimore, we all carried Daisy Model 25s, except for the kid whose family owned the hardware store and funeral home (he kept us supplied with BBs), who had a Sheridan.
In the woods we all played at combat and shot at each other but restricted the Sheridan guy to two pumps.
We all wanted a Sheridan back then.
My family moved to Southern California around 1959 and the days of shooting BB and pellet guns whenever and wherever you wanted to ended.
Fast forward to around 2005. Grown up, retired from the Air Force and preparing to retire from the FAA, I drove the Isuzu Trooper to Kansas City to visit son #2.
On the way home to Fairfield, CA, I went up to Iowa and picked up I-80 west (Now I can say I have been in Iowa and Nebraska).
I stopped in Kearny, Nebraska at the Cabelas store (we don’t have them in California but we do have the new owners (Bass Pro).
I looked around not real interested in anything in particular, and there, along with Crosman 397s and 392s, was a Crosman/Benjamin C9a.
Close enough.
I normally shoot it once a month and only when most in the neighborhood are at work (it has a certain sound..).
At 79, pumping above 6 becomes a bit of a chore so I normally shoot at 4 pumps.
It was well worth the wait.

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I grew up with a Bluestreak, and have taken it to nearly every outdoor event that I have been to. Fishing trips, vacations, BBQ's, camping, and family get togethers and of course shooting.
I have collected a few Sheridan's since.
This one is from the same year that I am. 👍

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As a kid in our country neighborhood four of us stuck together and all had different airguns. One of us got a Sheridan. I’d never heard of that but his dad was an engineering professor and enjoyed doing things a little differently. It had some odd caliber and none of us knew what it was but it was a nice rifle. When I got back into airgun shooting I went looking for one just to be different. I found a beautifully restored Blue Streak and grabbed it on the spot. If I find another one it will probably come home too.

Rick H.
 
Thanks for posting, I did not realize Sheridan kept the Streak name going as long as they did into the 2010’s. I had a 90’s 397p that required the old seal kit that I just couldn’t get to work so sold the whole works with kit. Several years later a friend gave me his “new model” 392 with the easier to change seals on the condition I don’t sell it. With all that has happened I am very happy to own it and can get over 400fps with only three pumps. I just sort of plink with it vs getting a full work out with every shot. They can make for one heck of a wallop at full power though!
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