Sheridan What is a Sheridan? Really

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Sheridan started making air rifles in 1947. .20 caliber or also known as 5mm. Started with the “A” model. Then “B” model. Both rare. But the later “C” model is what most recall when talking about a Sheridan. Benjamin bought Sheridan in 1977. They stayed in Racine Wisconsin, and made very minor changes to the original “C” model. In around 1991 Benjamin Sheridan changed the “C” model to a “CW9”. Then a couple years later Crosman bought Benjamin Sheridan and moved to Bloomfield, New York. Crosman made a trigger change and to ”CW9”. So my question is this.

What is a real Sheridan?

Some stick to the original C model before the purchase from Benjamin. Others up to the CW9 remake. Many call any of the .20 caliber (5mm) pumpers a Sheridan. I am in the last camp because I like to give credit to the caliber more than the features. Crosman discontinued the 5mm caliber around 2008. It is an American caliber that is incredibly accurate. Underrated. To me, any 5mm American made pumper regardless of company ownership, is a Sheridan. Top picture is the original “C”, middle “CW9”, bottom ”CW9” (new trigger) borrowed picture

Side note: I have owned them all in one variation or another. My personal favorite is the Crosman CW9. I think the more adult sized Walnut stock and gorgeous nickel plating is spectacular. The added butt pad and white line spicer are a nice touch also. The Crosman version was improved by robotic soldiering of the barrel the receiver. The trigger unit is a bit more difficult to get really nice but once known how is achievable. And it has a hammer “guide rod“ C added to the receiver cap making the cocking cycle much smoother. This was before Crosman did their notorious thing of ruining a classic action e went on. Now they are all discontinued. FWIW.

 

[6gun]

Im with you on the silver steak 20 Cals being known as a Sherridan. Like crescent wrenches . I own a 90s 392 and it's effectively the same gun in 22 and painted. The Sheridan, it was different. Right in the sweet spot of the guns valve and barrel length for caliber.

 

[Sawney Bean]

Sheridan is a brand that really ought to be resurrected to make high end multi pumps along the lines of the original Supergrades. It’s a respected name with a history of making quality guns and whatever the corporate entity is that currently owns Crosman/Gamo/Daisy, it already owns the brand name and has the expertise and facilities to do it.

I would absolutely love to see a high quality modernized version of the old Streaks or new multi pump rifles that aren’t built to a sub $200 price point and what better brand to do it than Sheridan?

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

own a 90s 392 and it's effectively the same gun in 22 and painted.

Yes. I do also. To me, the Sheridan is the .20 caliber and the Benjamin’s are the .177’s and .22’s. Crosman never did anything to claim these. Made some modifications, updated manufacturing and moved the company but had no claim to their history. The same exact model (Walnut sock) was made in all three calibers and offered in black or nickel plating for only a few years before Crosman started cheapening it down to maintain a price point. Here are three of mine. 177 top 2001 (397PA), 20 middle 2003 (CW9), 22 bottom 2002 (392PA).

 

[6gun]

Sheridan is a brand that really ought to be resurrected to make high end multi pumps along the lines of the original Supergrades. It’s a respected name with a history of making quality guns and whatever the corporate entity is that currently owns Crosman/Gamo/Daisy, it already owns the brand name and has the expertise and facilities to do it.

I would absolutely love to see a high quality modernized version of the old Streaks or new multi pump rifles that aren’t built to a sub $200 price point and what better brand to do it than Sheridan?

That's a fantastic idea. Bring back 20 cal with outsourced barrel blanks and make it a high power precision pumper that is akin to a Marauder in build quality(at least) but done with classy styling and finish. Lean on jsb for ammo that it likes?

 

[6gun]

Yes. I do also. To me, the Sheridan is the .20 caliber and the Benjamin’s are the .177’s and .22’s. Crosman never did anything to claim these. Made some modifications, updated manufacturing and moved the company but had no claim to their history. The same exact model (Walnut sock) was made in all three calibers and offered in black or nickel plating for only a few years before Crosman started cheapening it down to maintain a price point. Here are three of mine. 177 top (397PA), 20 middle (CW9), 22 bottom (392PA).View attachment 522081

Mines got an un-contoured forend. I've re finished it too. It's my first 22 as a kid, it's seen a lot of miles.

 

[Sawney Bean]

Yes. I do also. To me, the Sheridan is the .20 caliber and the Benjamin’s are the .177’s and .22’s. Crosman never did anything to claim these. Made some modifications, updated manufacturing and moved the company but had no claim to their history. The same exact model (Walnut sock) was made in all three calibers and offered in black or nickel plating for only a few years before Crosman started cheapening it down to maintain a price point. Here are three of mine. 177 top (397PA), 20 middle (CW9), 22 bottom (392PA).View attachment 522081

I’m sure that cheapening a product for a lower price point yields short term profits, but long term i think it’s one of those things that ruins companies. No one ever thinks, “I wish I’d saved a few bucks and bought the cut rate version of this product,” or “this would be nicer with a fake wood stock.”

 

[boscoebrea]

That's good to know.I was at a gun show, and a fellow had about seven different models of those types and brands. We talked quite a bit. I didn't know what to buy,so I bought nothing. He told me he would give me a good deal on any one of them or all of them. So now I must study their history and find the best models. I suppose there are books on this subject.I know you gentlemen are well-informed. Oh and he also had a Beeman carbine and a Webly Velcon? All his rifles were in very good condition. The like new Vulcan was $200,the Beeman carbine $180, and the Benjamins and Sheridans between $180-300 Oh the lust for more air rifles

 

[Star7]

I spent a lifetime invested in precision shooting, not just firearms and AG but archery as well. The seed for that was planted by a sheridan C in the early 60's. The amazing (to me) accuracy and power that could be had over my daisy red rider amazed me. The fact that you had to work for each shot, forced me to slow down and concentrate on sight picture, breathing and release.......best education there was. Each shot was important, something you don't get from a nylon66 or such.

I still have that gun, it still shoots and will be the last gun I gift as my eyes fail.

But the Daisy taught me a valuable lesson about ricochets. I still recall at 7yo squaring off at an (Old School) coke bottle at 15ft. That bb came right back at me, and I was called Rudolph for a week.

 

[Longbow53]

1961 model. My Dad bought this gun for himself,I got a daisy BB gun on my 8th birthday. the deal was...one hole in a window and you'll never get another gun till your out the door after high school. AND shoot the birds eating our cherries if you want pie ! LOL
If more kids got that line from a parent we'd all be better off, I sure was careful. this Sheridan could use a total rebuild and refinish !


Rocker style safety ! LOL

 

[Sawney Bean]

That's a fantastic idea. Bring back 20 cal with outsourced barrel blanks and make it a high power precision pumper that is akin to a Marauder in build quality(at least) but done with classy styling and finish. Lean on jsb for ammo that it likes?

This is exactly the kind of thing I was envisioning. All they’d really need to do is shorten the reservoir and incorporate a pump into it, (and not make it out of plastic). Sure, they’d have to retune it to work at lower pressure and there would inevitably be other tweaks that had to be made to make it work, but they could do 80% of it with off the shelf parts they currently produce.

Really, by far the most difficult thing about producing would be getting it past the bean counters and not letting it get turned into another version of the 362.

 

[Sawney Bean]

That's good to know.I was at a gun show, and a fellow had about seven different models of those types and brands. We talked quite a bit. I didn't know what to buy,so I bought nothing. He told me he would give me a good deal on any one of them or all of them. So now I must study their history and find the best models. I suppose there are books on this subject.I know you gentlemen are well-informed. Oh and he also had a Beeman carbine and a Webly Velcon? All his rifles were in very good condition. The like new Vulcan was $200,the Beeman carbine $180, and the Benjamins and Sheridans between $180-300 Oh the lust for more air rifles

The one that’s currently on my wish list is a rocker safety Silver Streak. They came in a variety of models, but the nickel plated pumpers were Silver Streaks and the blackened ones were Blue Streaks. The earliest models had a safety to the rear of the receiver that was awkward to operate and had to be held down to fire and those got replaced with the rocker safeties somewhere around 1960. Later on they adopted a push pull safety.

In general, the Silver Streaks are harder to find and more desirable than Blue Streaks. I’ve never heard that they were functionally any better though and neither one will ever rust.

The Vulcan and Beeman Carbine are collectible too, but I’m not really familiar with them.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

But the Daisy taught me a valuable lesson about ricochets. I still recall at 7yo squaring off at an (Old School) coke bottle at 15ft. That bb came right back at me, and I was called Rudolph for a week.

You’ll shoot your eye out.
Merry Christmas to all!

 

[lloydf]

According to a book I have, in the early days they made a left handed model. I'd like to find one to go a long with my collection.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

According to a book I have, in the early days they made a left handed model. I'd like to find one to go a long with my collection.

Left hand as like the cocking bolt is on the left side?

 

[6gun]

I’m sure that cheapening a product for a lower price point yields short term profits, but long term i think it’s one of those things that ruins companies. No one ever thinks, “I wish I’d saved a few bucks and bought the cut rate version of this product,” or “this would be nicer with a fake wood stick.”

Benjamin as brand just means crosman done little better to me now. I'm not sure how much you guys pay attention to build archetecture but just as the discovery was sort of the pcp evolution of the 22xx series it makes me want to cut up my marauder and make the air tube into a pump tube. Machining a check valve plenum /cap for the valve isnt the worst.

Crosman group could fabricobble a decent pump with a walnut or beech stock with a steel barrel. European steamed beech was creeping up on black walnut in $/bf. Id buy a 500 dollar 20 cal pump if done right.

 

[Bear-of-Grayling]

Id buy a 500 dollar 20 cal pump if done right.

I picked this up used. It got me back into pumpers after 40 years. It’s a 2008 Crosman 392PA with a Steve Corcoran ambi custom stock. It’s a steriod. Someone put about 1k in this pumper. I call it the “machine”. It’s powerful and incredibly accurate. They could produce something special if the market would bear it.

 

[GeneT]

Sheridan started making air rifles in 1947. .20 caliber or also known as 5mm. Started with the “A” model. Then “B” model. Both rare. But the later “C” model is what most recall when talking about a Sheridan. Benjamin bought Sheridan in 1977. They stayed in Racine Wisconsin, and made very minor changes to the original “C” model. In around 1991 Benjamin Sheridan changed the “C” model to a “CW9”. Then a couple years later Crosman bought Benjamin Sheridan and moved to Bloomfield, New York. Crosman made a trigger change and to ”CW9”. So my question is this.

What is a real Sheridan?

Some stick to the original C model before the purchase from Benjamin. Others up to the CW9 remake. Many call any of the .20 caliber (5mm) pumpers a Sheridan. I am in the last camp because I like to give credit to the caliber more than the features. Crosman discontinued the 5mm caliber around 2008. It is an American caliber that is incredibly accurate. Underrated. To me, any 5mm American made pumper regardless of company ownership, is a Sheridan. Top picture is the original “C”, middle “CW9”, bottom ”CW9” (new trigger) borrowed picture

Side note: I have owned them all in one variation or another. My personal favorite is the Crosman CW9. I think the more adult sized Walnut stock and gorgeous nickel plating is spectacular. The added butt pad and white line spicer are a nice touch also. The Crosman version was improved by robotic soldiering of the barrel the receiver. The trigger unit is a bit more difficult to get really nice but once known how is achievable. And it has a hammer “guide rod“ C added to the receiver cap making the cocking cycle much smoother. This was before Crosman did their notorious thing of ruining a classic action e went on. Now they are all discontinued. FWIW.View attachment 522067

I'd be interested in knowing more about those sights and how they're mounted.

TIA,

GsT

 

[Wadcutter]

First and Last SilverStreak variants. 1949 and 2009

 

[beerthief]

I picked this up used. It got me back into pumpers after 40 years. It’s a 2008 Crosman 392PA with a Steve Corcoran ambi custom stock. It’s a steriod. Someone put about 1k in this pumper. I call it the “machine”. It’s powerful and incredibly accurate. They could produce something special if the market would bear it.View attachment 522146

A lot of people on here are to lazy to cock a springer let alone pump 5 or 8 times . but what do you think a "Sheridan" Nickle or blued and a nice stock would cost these days of course a LW barrel or maybe that new barrel company ? would you buy one @ $ 875.00 ? or more ?