Hello all, I'm new here and don't know much about these old air guns. I picked up a couple of rifles at an estate auction. The one I'm trying to date is a sheridan. From all the reading I've done, I believe it is late 1950's. Please help and educate a newbie. The other one is a Benjamin Franklin 
Sheridan Estate auction find Sheridan blue streak
- Thread starter cmcobra
- Start date
Nice find! From what I can see you have the era of manufacture correct for the Sheridan. I believe the Benjamin was made much later, but it's still a good one.
This site has a good breakdown of the features by year of make. Sheridan Blue Streak Serial Numbers - keenanalysis
Cheers,
J~
This site has a good breakdown of the features by year of make. Sheridan Blue Streak Serial Numbers - keenanalysis
Cheers,
J~
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Nice!
Wikipedia has the info on Sheridan production changes through the years, and that is all we have to go by for aging one.
The hole in you reciever in your last pic, appeared in 51, and went out of production in mid to late 1956. So on that alone your gun is a 51 to 56 model. That's how this works. Other changes may narrow it down for you.
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I think these two changes put you between 52 and 54, if that butt is straight rather than concave.
Here's a pic of my 55 with a concave butt end and a 65 and two 72s for comparison.
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Thanks everyone for the great information and how to apply it. I now see that this is probably 52-54 maybe. If I used the yearly changes correctly.
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It looks like it has a crescent-shaped butt instead of straight, which, combined with the other traits, puts it at late 1955 to mid-1956. Keep in mind that my Sheridan dating chart is a slightly tweaked version of Ron Elbe's and UJ Backus's findings, which is basically what's on Wikipedia.
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Nice find! '54-'56
Pin hole on left side of receiver through '56. Phillips screws on trigger guard. High comb stock. Welded on rear sight.
The trigger threw me off although it appears to have a natural finish that has patinaed making it appear blued.
Different rear sight on a '52
Sorry Wadcutter...didn't know you had posted while checking my files. I agree...'55-'56
Pin hole on left side of receiver through '56. Phillips screws on trigger guard. High comb stock. Welded on rear sight.
The trigger threw me off although it appears to have a natural finish that has patinaed making it appear blued.
Different rear sight on a '52
Sorry Wadcutter...didn't know you had posted while checking my files. I agree...'55-'56
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Yes sir..at first I thought the stock was straight. I had to go look again and it has a slight Cresent.
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Here’s a photo of my 1955 (top) and 1950 Silver Streaks.
Followed by front site differences 1950 is undercut vs later straight.
Next up rear site chances late 50’s on top, 55 middle, 1950 bottom (Note: hand guard was not introduced ‘till the 60’s)
Breach differences. The bolt pin hole was used 1951-1956
Stocks 1950 in front bottom with straight cut vs crescent cut ‘55 middle and ‘57 back top.
cmcobra I put your Sheridan as a mid fifties blue streak. Congrats on your find.
Followed by front site differences 1950 is undercut vs later straight.
Next up rear site chances late 50’s on top, 55 middle, 1950 bottom (Note: hand guard was not introduced ‘till the 60’s)
Breach differences. The bolt pin hole was used 1951-1956
Stocks 1950 in front bottom with straight cut vs crescent cut ‘55 middle and ‘57 back top.
cmcobra I put your Sheridan as a mid fifties blue streak. Congrats on your find.
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My 55s hand guard was introduced in 2023.
It came from Keith Urquart in Anna Texas.
Just my opinion - every Sheridan Model C, no matter its age, should have 1.
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I don't know that it really makes much difference, but through the years when I handed my Sheridan to someone to shoot, I'd ask them to pump it hand into hand. The end of the pump, into the hand guard, closing your hands together for the least stain into that brass rifle.
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