Model 48 Being Discontinued by Diana

[xsarfc9x]

Seems most new airgunners are goin straight to PCPs. The cohorts of airgunners that value quality spring guns is thinning out and the new cohorts skip spring guns in pref for modularity and power of PCPs. Sad because spring guns are amazing withing their limits. I remember the days of checking Paul Watts site and for Venom guns. Hopefully they bring the 48 back at a later point. Upside is there are a lot of them out there, so shouldn't be hard to find one.

 

[Bad News Beeman]

The 48 in .177 was the first airgun I purchased as an adult back in 1995/1996 IIRC. I purchased it via mail order from Gander Mountain. I sold it to a neighbor but then bought it back from him at a lower price lol. I still have it. If I was to do it all over again, I would've got one in .22cal.

When my neighbor had it, he did his own "custom" rattle can paint job on it.

After I bought it back from him, I stripped it down and refinished it. Both of these pics are old. Maybe 10-15 years ago.

Nicely done! The wood grain on that stock is gorgeous. Glad you were able to make the rifle shine again.

Seems the 48 was the defacto high end truck gun for more than a few folks. I've taken on a similiar resto project with a Model 48 that I picked up off a auction site:

Before:

After:

 

[Logan]

It's tough seeing the great springers disappear one at a time.

 

[EquivalentDelta]

Nicely done! The wood grain on that stock is gorgeous. Glad you were able to make the rifle shine again.

Seems the 48 was the defacto high end truck gun for more than a few folks. I've taken on a similiar resto project with a Model 48 that I picked up off a auction site:

Before:

After:

That is quite the transformation! Nice looks

 

[SteveV]

The 48 is a great springer, wish I had never sold mine. It was a .22, shot a very smooth just under 20 fpe, and was a squirrel thumper for sure.

Anyone remember Ed 'tidbit" Brown from the old Yellow Forum? How about tonytrojan1994? Both former owners, not sure who did the bed liner treatment to the stock, but they did a great job. I added the Morgan adjustable recoil pad, and replaced the barrel sleeve with a shroud from Paul Watts. NEVER should have sold it. Live & learn I suppose.

 

[Ramjet]

A travesty really...
As another member pointed out all the good quality springers are going the way of the dinosaur.

 

[Hapo]

...is the model 54 discontinued as well...???...

 

[kzz1kaw]

Have three .20 22 177 48. 54 airking pro 22 all are very accurate shooters! They are not going anywhere!

 

[Jaxjax]

Super sad....

 

[beerthief]

54's are not discontinued , as far as i can determine .

 

[EquivalentDelta]

So far the 54 continues as far as I know.

 

[OldSpook]

I've got one of the first 48s that were sold. No. 900393. I bought it used in 92 and It's been rock steady. I bought a 52 stock from a GTA member and it really helped with shooting. It's to bad they're discontinuing the line. I guess we've still have the 54 which while easier to shoot accurately is much heavier.

Interesting. I bought one the same year. Really like the patch (in your Avatar) I have one just like it.

 

[willy]

Now" it looks like rifle" better hang on to it.Nice work too"

 

[AussieSteve]

Seems most new airgunners are goin straight to PCPs. The cohorts of airgunners that value quality spring guns is thinning out and the new cohorts skip spring guns in pref for modularity and power of PCPs. Sad because spring guns are amazing withing their limits. I remember the days of checking Paul Watts site and for Venom guns. Hopefully they bring the 48 back at a later point. Upside is there are a lot of them out there, so shouldn't be hard to find one.

I've just gotten into airgunning about 8 months ago. I've been a shooter for 25 years but never bothered with air guns until now. I did but an FX Impact first but I have just bought 2 springers a HW30 for low power fin with the kids and a Diana 52 that I stumbled upon in the local gunshop. Second hand it cost me $400 Aussie Dollerydoos. It's a .177 and I can't wait to strip her right down give it a good clean and throw a Vortek kit in it. PCP accuracy and general shooting is fun but there really is something special about springers. Oh, my 11 year old daughter has already claimed the HW30 for herself too.