Pulling the trigger on an $1800 antique Airgun blind…whew!

[Flintsack]

It was not love at first sight. The stock had a hole in it from the bolt crushing it for years. There were three huge holes in the action, from a scope mount that you really couldn’t see in the picture.

And, it did not pump up or hold air. Hmmm.

Butt heck, it’s a Sheridan “B” Sporter…One of about 1000 made. And possibly the most collectible American Airgun.

Here is the story:

I woke up one morning last week and noticed that air guns of Arizona had some old air guns in their used section, obviously a collection they had bought. I always look through something like that to see if there’s anything cool unusual or a Sheridan super grade. There was two, an A, and a B. I can’t remember the last time I have seen a B for sale.

The picture was horrible, it looked like there was some kind of a mount on the side of it. I tried calling airguns of Arizona numerous times, they were flooded. Time is ticking. It had been about an hour since I had first noticed it…I had to buy it sight unseen.

here it is:

mike

 

[KWK]

You can get more money tomorrow but you can't find a scarce collectable every day. Romance!

 

[Flintsack]

KWK - I agree. 


Now The rest of the story.

Day 1 it wouldn’t hold air. I got some oil in there soaking those seals a little bit. It really wasn’t creating pressure when I pumped.

Day two, a lot of pumping a lot of oil. It’s starting to create pressure. It will hold air for a while, Huh. Pumped up to eight pumps last night, it still had a little bit of a pop this morning.

Day 3 a lot of pumping, a lot of oil getting vaporized oil through the system. D3 was today. I shot the group below at 35 yards off hand. It’s not quite as powerful it as it should be. I’m quite pleased it’s a shooter.

So then I decided to clean it up a little bit.

I am quite pleased with the result. It actually has pretty wood.

Yes, I now have two, which makes me a pig.

I cleaned up the cut or the hole in the stock a little bit, to make it look more natural. I have been putting hot water in the bumps on the stock all week. I filled the holes in the action with Devcon. That was quite a project. The gentleman, and I use that term lightly, who put the scope mount on, drilled the holes very deep. The threads were really loose because I’m sure it fell off numerous times. So I trimmed off the tip of each of the two screws, and cut a slot in the top so I could screw them in. I coated them with Devcon and set them in about a quarter inch leaving a space at the top where I could apply more Devcon to seal off the hole. I like the way it looks.

I am happy with the entire transaction, it just took a little patience and work. I wouldn’t sell it for $1800 tomorrow.

mike

 

[ChuckHunter]

Atta boy!!! Lol 

I got one of those on my bucket list!

Have a 71 rocker silver streak with factory box that's my favorite pumper...but I think a super grade would take it's place!!!

Nice find...seem they only go up in price along with the old Theobens!

James from Michigan

 

[biohazardman]

Looks a bit better now it does. I had no idea those were worth so much these days.

Congrats and enjoy your new find.

 

[pdxFrank]

that's amazing!

 

[JungleShooter]

Wow, I'm just amazed at HOW DIFFERENT people can be...!!



1,800 U$ Dollars could have bought a super cool looking, compact tough tack driver, shooting heavy slugs at 150 yards.....!

But you chose to spend it on something else.....



Our airguniverse is amazingly vast — so nice that we all fit so nicely in it!



Mike, CONGRATULATIONS on your find!

Matthias

 

[davelarson]

It’s a work of art that you have revived, what a couple of treasures you have there. 

 

[KWK]

Try filling the screw holes with clear epoxy mixed with aluminum filings.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

When restoring I try to turn a mess into a feature. Find a vintage mount of that time frame and nicely fit it to those holes with a cool vintage scope. Then it will look different than the other one too. Holes can always be filled but they are still just filled holes.

Case and point. This is a restored 1968 Allen Compound Bow. One of the first ever made. Besides the camo paint someone had added “screwed” a sight to the back side of the receiver. Could have filled the holes but found a vintage sight with a range finder that fit the holes. Makes a better conversation piece this way than explaining the filled holes. For what it’s worth. Very cool gun. Congratulations.

 

[Flintsack]

I appreciate all the input suggestions feedback etc. for now I really like the way it looks with the Devcon in the holes. And that stuff is hard as a rock.

I had a chance to shoot it a bit this afternoon. It doesn’t hold a charge for a long time, not hours. However, it works great for a shooting session.

results below at 35 yards - offhand. 3-shots

 

[Moog]

If it's still leaking send it off to a professional and have them reseal it.

 

[Flintsack]

Moog 

Agreed, just not right now. And it’s not going to hurt it to sit, these things are built like tanks. I’m just thrilled I can get it to shoot, without having to ship it to anyone.

BofG

I think it’s really cool how you saved that old bow. It just wouldn’t of worked to reuse those mounting holes. They were all loose and bored out, they just needed to be filled and ignored. Plus, I think you will agree, this rifle was never meant for glass - and it already has the factory peep.

Jungler 

I can buy one of those shiny new air rifles anytime I want…these come up once every three years if that. And I will make a very nice return some day for the pleasure of ownership. It’s the ultimate win-win of airgun collecting.

Frank

You are right, that rifle is really ugly. Please send it to me ASAP.

DL - Couldn’t agree more.

Rifles like this are free…actually they have a positive ROI

mike

 

[Glenroiland]

NICE find! I'm never so lucky.



Enjoy it and shoot it in good health!

 

[MP44]

Very nice!

 

[dayjd]

Those two 4-wheeler compounds remind me of a Jennings S handle I have that was modified to a two wheeler back in the 1970's.

Those Sheridans are beautiful!