Diana Giss Guns

[DualMagMike]

Here are a few examples of Diana's recoilless Giss type airguns. They have dual opposing pistons to cancel each other out rendering the guns recoilless. These differ from the semi recoilless sledge type airguns such as their own 54/56, FWB150, 300, 300S, AA TX200 SR, etc. Very low power (~5-6fpe) and designed primarily for 10M matches the Giss system is incredibly effective at rendering the gun motionless after the trigger is pulled.

Model 60 & 65 Tyrolean, 75B & 75S

Model 10

Beeman 800 (Diana 6) with very rare wire shoulder stock

 

[crowski]

You have an infinite collection. Better than a museum. 
I have to ask. 
Did Diana put plastic on their rifles back in those days?

Thanks for sharing. Crow 

 

[DualMagMike]

On the ones above, there is none other than part of the recoil pad and shoulder strap/hand stop addition.

 

[Motorhead]

Own a 75HV and 6M to this day .... Both 1982 vintage.

 

[bouddha]

My Diana was a marvel to shoot, but I feared breaking the piece covering the front sight. so I sold it.

 

[AirShot]

My 75T01 is a real pleasure to shoot....almost boring to keep stacking one pellet on top of another. I use mine for indoor pesting with local farmers. Easy to drop starlings and pigeons out to 30 yds. Sure wish they had a 12 fpe version !!!

 

[MDriskill]

Did Diana put plastic on their rifles back in those days?

Thanks for sharing. Crow

Not much...but some. All these guns have plastic trigger guards. The 60 and 65/66 have a plastic trigger blade (though the optional extra blade made to lengthen the pull dimension - see pic - is stamped metal), and the 75 trigger has a plastic finger pad. This was not done to shave costs, but deliberately, to give touch points a "warm" feel even in a cold space (contemporaries like the Walther LGV and FWB 300S also have plastic in these areas).

The original model 75 had a lot of plastic in its complex, multi-adjustable front sight, but this was changed to a simple and versatile tunnel type on the more common 75 T01. Some model 75 variants had a matte-finish plastic barrel shroud.

 

[crowski]

MDriskill thanks for responding. On the trigger guard plastic. Great idea, I shoot in winter I can appreciate that. 
Back in the day O’doyle always said 54 Airking 100 yds. all day long.

‘When the Air King Pro came out, had to have it, loved red. Probably the first in Canada to get one. Shipping and duties was astronomical. When I opened the box this is what I saw

. Plastic. I don’t think I put 10 rounds through that gun. I bought a K98 Mauser. It has plastic same as the 54. 

 But I love shooting the K98 with the iron sites. The last picture shows an old Diana 24 (I have 2 identical)with the same plastic but broken and that’s what I have a vision on all of them. I just felt for quality rifles there should be no plastic except for finger guard.
DualMagMike looking at the 75S gorgeous rifle but there must’ve been a lot of stock breakage. Crow 

 

[DualMagMike]

I guess since both of my 75's are TO1 and the rest of the rifle seems so solid I didn't even notice the plastic parts other than the sleeve that is. About the breakage no idea but these were not the average air rifle that kids had used as toys. Likely the people who owned these took good care of them, both of mine are quite nice.

 

[MDriskill]

The barrel-cocking models 60, 65, and 66 are some of my favorite old match rifles, and IMHO very much underrated both as shooters and collectibles here in the US. They are a unique combination of old-school quality and beauty, with the innovative recoilless technology of the day.

The wood work on these guns is especially excellent. The genuine oil finish and well-executed hand-cut checkering is, to my eye, quite superior to contemporary HW's and Walthers.

The model 60 was introduced as Diana's top match model in 1963, followed by the models 65 (1968; added a lever-locked breech and improved access to the mainsprings), 66 (1974; simply a 65 action in a re-styled stock), and finally the awesome fixed-barrel model 75 (1977).

The 75 killed the 65/66, but oddly the older model 60 continued to hang around as Diana's intro and junior model. One of my 60's was made in 1982 and I've seen another date-stamped 1983.

 

[jkingrph]

I have a Beeman/Diana Original 6 pistol from sometime in the 80's and it's loaded with plastic. The entire stock/grip assembly, front and rear sight. It's heavy but no recoil impulse upon firing.

 

[MDriskill]

Couple more Diana Giss rifles.

Model 60M, marked "HyScore 810," with Diopter 60 sight, made 1967.

Model 60T, marked "RWS model 60," with Diopter 75 sight, made 1982. This gun may have been an attempt to dump NOS parts in America, LOL...by '82 the 60 was obsolete, RWS markings are quite rare on it, Tyro stocks were not highly sought (made illegal for high-level matches in the mid-70's), and Diana stopped using the red buttplates about '78.

 

[MDriskill]

I have a Beeman/Diana Original 6 pistol from sometime in the 80's and it's loaded with plastic. The entire stock/grip assembly, front and rear sight. It's heavy but no recoil impulse upon firing.

The old guns with the one-piece plastic grip/frame unit are really rather nice IMHO! The grip is quite comfortable, for me at least, and those older actions are very well made and finished.

The succeeding models 5G and 6G, with painted cast frame and separate grip panels, have more modern styling but really no other huge advantages.

 

[r1lover]

Super nice spring guns you guys, thanks for sharing!

MD, your pics and knowledge top them all!

 

[Brewski]

Has anyone found a replacement for the Diana mod 60 orange recoil pad? Would even use a black one if similar config to original. Thanks.

 

[MDriskill]

Those old red pads are problematic for sure - sometimes they perish from some combination of oxidation and internal chemical reactions. Weihrauch used a similar material for years too.

If you can find one, Diana later made an identically shaped black replacement (as on my model 60M pictured above - it replaced a red one during a rebuild at RWS in New Jersey years ago). I would guess there are other aftermarket pads that could be sanded down to be a close match, but others with more expertise need to chime in on that.