Does anyone know anything about this unusual little rifle? I've been offered one and I'm tempted to buy it, simply out of curiosity.
This example has a very slim, wooden stock (walnut?),it has a break action barrel and is manufactured primarily from 'tin plate' blued steel, folded together and secured with rivots and screw fixings (all appear original). It has 'Made in Great Britain' stamped upon it, with the stamped image of 'Diana' holding aloft a rifle. It has a small bead foresight and simple notch reasight. I think it was designed as a child's 'toy' air gun. The calibre is .177 and this one is in very good, clean, working order. Surprisingly it is quite accurate over a short distance and still has a good, if gentle 'kick.'
Main things of interest to me are:
What would be the age / year of manufacture?
Are there very many of these about or is it rare?
What was their original target market - Children, ratting, fun, etc?
And most importantly, what would the market value be?
Any information would be greatly appreciated and help me decide if to buy it for the sum requested, and if I do, whether I should treat it as an antique, or simply enjoy blasting cans and rats with it!
Did you manage to buy the little Diana mod 15, I currently have 2 which i intend to restore,all i know is you can get parts from TW Chambers & co in scotland (www.chambersgunmakers,com), they might be able to help with the information you require!
This ubiquitous youngster's gun actually has roots in pre-Nazi-era Germany. Diana made a very similar model on new tooling beginning in the 1950's and it stayed around until the 1980's.
Diana's pre-war production tooling was sent to Milbro in Scotland after WW2, and they continued to make the pre-war gun under the Diana name (German Dianas were sold under the "Original" brand name in the UK until the early 80's). Your gun is obviously one of these. I believe that Milbro "evolved" the old action into more modern-looking stocks, etc., by the early 1970's, so your gun was probably made before that.
Both Diana and Milbro used the same basic action, but with a full stock, called the model 16. The design was also widely copied by other German makers and in Eastern Europe.
They are rather common and not particularly valuable. Unless the gun is in truly mint collectible condition I'd just enjoy shooting it.