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What's your oldest break barrel (only talking break barrels)
- Thread starter DualMagMike
- Start date
I own a 64 year old Slavia 618. It was my uncles, he got it when he was a kid. Still shoots pretty good for an old airgun.
Ray
Ray
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I had one of those and foolishly sold it when I took a ten year dive into PCPs. Mine was a 1932 model. I sorely miss that rifle. Unparalleled quality and functionality. Thanks for the memories.
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BSA. Bought it locally from a guy. It belong to his relative. I belive it's early 1900's.
This may not qualify as a break barrel.
This may not qualify as a break barrel.
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WOW! history of air rifles is incredible. wonder what they will say about our air rifles in a 100 years from now.
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I have 3 guns that are from the 1920-30s including a Tell model 41, an unbranded Tell model 52, and a beautiful unbranded junior Millita-style gun that's probably a Langenhan. German guns made after WW1 were often no-names because German-made was not a good selling point after the war. This can make identification a challenge, especially as length and weight of guns often doesn't match the details given in catalogs of the time.
I also have a tiny Haenel XV from 1934, but my oldest guns (as far as I know) are a Diana 27 and an FLZ Original V. The Diana has no Diana stamp (nor a model number) but it is stamped with MGR on the breech block. I understand MGR was only used from 1907-1914, but the model 27 was only introduced in 1910. My FLZ Original V like the Diana has a round cylinder end block (compare with the flat-sided one on Mike's model 27), and it seems likely that's a feature of earlier guns. My feeling is that both the Diana 27 and the FLZ are from around 1913-14.
They're all working fine still, although some of them needed some attention to achieve that!
The "baby" in my gun rack is a Diana 24D from 1986.
I also have a tiny Haenel XV from 1934, but my oldest guns (as far as I know) are a Diana 27 and an FLZ Original V. The Diana has no Diana stamp (nor a model number) but it is stamped with MGR on the breech block. I understand MGR was only used from 1907-1914, but the model 27 was only introduced in 1910. My FLZ Original V like the Diana has a round cylinder end block (compare with the flat-sided one on Mike's model 27), and it seems likely that's a feature of earlier guns. My feeling is that both the Diana 27 and the FLZ are from around 1913-14.
They're all working fine still, although some of them needed some attention to achieve that!
The "baby" in my gun rack is a Diana 24D from 1986.
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Mr. Swissair sir...those are all AWESOME! Wow...
The pre-war Diana 35 in my 4-year-old (!) pic above has since moved on, and been replaced by a better example - .22 cal, nice condition, complete down to the original front sight protector, and really strong shooter. The 2-stage striker trigger on these guns is amazing. I can't find a date, but the "DRP" stamp indicates late 1930's.
The pre-war Diana 35 in my 4-year-old (!) pic above has since moved on, and been replaced by a better example - .22 cal, nice condition, complete down to the original front sight protector, and really strong shooter. The 2-stage striker trigger on these guns is amazing. I can't find a date, but the "DRP" stamp indicates late 1930's.
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Definitely an underlever, not a break-barrel...but we won't complain, LOL! It's a beauty!
If you can post the BSA's serial number, I have a book that can prolly get the model and date.
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Mine isn't old, but it is my oldest.
A 1993, Beeman Webly Vulcan, with a Blue Ribbon scope.
A 1993, Beeman Webly Vulcan, with a Blue Ribbon scope.
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I don't know how old this Falke 40 is because Falke never placed serial numbers on his guns, but it must be from about 1947-58 when the company was active. All Falke are copies of other manufacturers products, this Falke 40 a copy of a "tinplate" Diana 22. It's a "boys" rifle, a very cheap almost toylike airgun that will send a pellet down the brass barrel insert.
Falke was more a machine shop than airgun designer, made whatever would sell in post war Germany? The owner had been employed by Arado, the aircraft manufacturer, and suspect he was given permission by the British to make Diana and BSA Airsporter copies?
Falke was more a machine shop than airgun designer, made whatever would sell in post war Germany? The owner had been employed by Arado, the aircraft manufacturer, and suspect he was given permission by the British to make Diana and BSA Airsporter copies?
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My Britannia, circa 1905-1908. Technically, it is a break barrel, but with the stock under the compression chamber. 
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If my Britannia doesn't quality, then it would have to be this deluxe FLZ Original V. It has a blued steel grip cap & buttplate, sling swivels, and a double-set trigger that is as light and predictable as a FWB300. It also has an interesting stamp of a deer head and crossed rifles surrounded by vines with acorns. I bought it a couple of decades ago from a WWII vet who claimed to have rescued it from a huge soon-to-be-destroyed pile of firearms in Allied-occupied Germany.
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First one I've seen with a double set trigger. Nice! The lock-up mechanism on the Original V is so smooth.If my Britannia doesn't quality, then it would have to be this deluxe FLZ Original V. It has a blued steel grip cap & buttplate, sling swivels, and a double-set trigger that is as light and predictable as a FWB300. It also has an interesting stamp of a deer head and crossed rifles surrounded by vines with acorns. I bought it a couple of decades ago from a WWII vet who claimed to have rescued it from a huge soon-to-be-destroyed pile of firearms in Allied-occupied Germany.
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Very nice - must be one of the best examples around. The tinplate barrel looks like a Diana 22.
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