I need one-anybody got one? I just aquired a really nice old 35 as part of a 3 gun purchase deal. I can't find a date on it anywhere. It has unusually nice woodgrain on the fingergroove beech(?) stock - wish I could post pictures. I will probably sell this gun but would like to try it out first.
Thanks,
DanB
The Blue Book description of the 35 is a little confusing
September 30 2005, 4:36 PM
but the best description fit is that of the 35A Variant2 which describes the click adjustable 4-way rear sight, doesn't mention material though. The general specs for 1953-1964 mod 35's state plastic or metal rear sights and triggers. sigh...
The Blue Book Diana listings are at best rather poor.
The postwar 35 was introduced in the summer of 1953. From then until the early 60's, the gun had the finger-groove stock and alloy trigger blade. Several different variants were made, including a base model with simple sights, the models "35/a" and "35/b" with front and rear dovetail rails and the sights as in the picture above (the "b" suffix denoted the peep sight attachment), and the "35M" with the same sights and an elaborate target stock.
Around 1964, the Diana line was greatly simplified. The 35 became a single variant, with a stock that had a cheekpiece and stamped checkering, a blued steel trigger blade, a tunnel-type front sight, and a mostly-plastic, fully-adjustable rear sight (this same sight is still being used on Diana pistols). Around the same time, Diana rifles acquired serial numbers and date stamps.
Around 1970 the rear sight was changed to a superior all-metal unit, but otherwise the gun stayed basically the same until it went out of production in the early 80's.
There was another late variant called the model 35S, which had a more squared-up stock, a straight blued trigger blade, an angular trigger guard, and an automatic safety. These are rather rare in the US.
