Diana Pre-War Model 27

[Graham M 36]

I am renovating a Diana pre-war model 27 and up to now I have been able to source everything I need except the front sight.

I have looked at one from a model 23 which looks very similar, but I'm not sure if it is exactly the same size.

Anyone know for sure if the model; 23 front sight will fit straight into the model 27???

 

[Rez 4,961]

Mate. Wow. Just the topic might scare us 'modern day' air gunners away

 

I don't know much if anything about pre war models... But do keep this post live mate, be good to check in on.

 

You got any pictures?!

[si brown 8,486]

theres a lad called rob at pickering guns..

when i was in last week he was stripping 3 down to make one good one, we were talking about the front sight because most have been ground down original they were quite long!

give him a nod, pretty sure he'll be able to help you out!

atb si

[Graham M 36]

I have an old one that has had the top broken off making it @ 3mm shorter than it originally was. My only fear is that it will be too low to line up when the rear sight is at its lowest, thus making the rifle shoot too high.

If I could be sure that this would be OK I could polish and fit the old foresight prior to getting the barrel etc re-blued, but I don't want to go to all the trouble of fitting it and then having to drift it out if it is wrong.

The simple answer would be to fit everything together and shoot it, but I don't want to ruin the leather washer by having to remove it again in order to have the action blued.

Rez I promise to post a picture when it's all finished, but if you like I can take a shot of all the polished bits and pieces to give you an idea of how it's coming along.

[Rez 4,961]

I have an old one that has had the top broken off making it @ 3mm shorter than it originally was. My only fear is that it will be too low to line up when the rear sight is at its lowest, thus making the rifle shoot too high.

If I could be sure that this would be OK I could polish and fit the old foresight prior to getting the barrel etc re-blued, but I don't want to go to all the trouble of fitting it and then having to drift it out if it is wrong.

The simple answer would be to fit everything together and shoot it, but I don't want to ruin the leather washer by having to remove it again in order to have the action blued.

Rez I promise to post a picture when it's all finished, but if you like I can take a shot of all the polished bits and pieces to give you an idea of how it's coming along.

So... What are you waiting for?

[Graham M 36]

Here is the rifle stripped and satin polished-

 

 

 

As you can see the foresight is a bit on the short side-

 

 

 

The original spring is totally knackered (with a capital "F") So I have replaced it with an old BSA Meteor spring, which fits absolutely perfectly.

 

 

 

The bits and pieces all polished ready to blacked.

[Rez 4,961]

Here is the rifle stripped and satin polished-

Diana 1.JPG

 

 

 

As you can see the foresight is a bit on the short side-

Diana 4.JPG

 

 

 

The original spring is totally knackered (with a capital "F") So I have replaced it with an old BSA Meteor spring, which fits absolutely perfectly.

Diana 5.JPG

 

 

 

The bits and pieces all polished ready to blacked.

Diana 2.JPG

Lovely. Is that metallic butt pad?

 

That old springs benter than my neighbour... And thats saying something.

[Graham M 36]

 

Here is the rifle stripped and satin polished-

Diana 1.JPG

 

 

 

As you can see the foresight is a bit on the short side-

Diana 4.JPG

 

 

 

The original spring is totally knackered (with a capital "F") So I have replaced it with an old BSA Meteor spring, which fits absolutely perfectly.

Diana 5.JPG

 

 

 

The bits and pieces all polished ready to blacked.

Diana 2.JPG

Lovely. Is that metallic butt pad?

 

That old springs benter than my neighbour... And thats saying something.

 

Yes it is a metallic butt-pad. It's a bit dull in the photo but it is much better without the flash.

Looking to get it blacked in Brum, but I don't want to have to sell a kidney to pay for it. It was browned originally but I think i would have to sell both kidneys to get it back to the original colour , so a nice black will have to do

[tomburras 2,730]

There's a guy on Pigeon Watch called barrel blacker he does browning and bluing. I had a quote for damascus shotgun barrels browning and his prices where very very good!

[tomburras 2,730]

Here he is

 

https://m.(!64.56:886/Bromley-Son-Barrel-Blacking-Bluing-and-Browning-820775534655411/

 

Really good bloke and ok to post parts.

[Graham M 36]

There are a couple of options in Brum, so I want to try those first before I go too far afield. His work does look very good though.

[talt 878]

My very first air rifle when i was fourteen. Mine never had a foresight but after a lot of hours and god only knows how many boxes of bulldog pellets i got quite good with it. The poor old girl got loads of abuse, with all sorts of makeshift ammunition and the usual WD40 trick in search of more power, but it took it all and accounted for starlings, woodies, sparrows and rats and not forgetting a few of my poor old mums pegs.

[Graham M 36]

Looking forward to a bit of fun with it although I'll leave the serious rabbit work to the Weihrauchs . I have a 77k with a 97 stock, and last year I bought a 57 as it is a lot lighter for me to carry. (decrepit old bugger)

I use them at the top end of the shoot where the land is bordered by houses as it makes it a lot safer than the RF or the Hmr, but it would be something special to use the Diana although it is in .177 and I have always preferred a .22 for bunnies.

Will have to see how that Meteor spring works as they were only @10ft lbs if I remember correctly, so gawd knows what the power will be in the 27.

Edited November 2, 2016 by Graham M

[Graham M 36]

Was hoping to have finished this rifle, but Christmas came along and then we had a big expense (had to buy plane tickets to go to see my son in The States in June), so only managed to get it into Bum this month.

Went to get it last week but the Gunsmith hadn't been able to get it done due to a few problems, so it looks like next week.

Hope to show it off when it's all done.

 

 

G

[ratbuster 807]

Have one of these, lovely rifle, not very powerful, but quite accurate for such an old girl .....