I just won an auction on the BBairgun auction site for a RWS .177 cal. The seller said it has the number 22 stamped on it so he assumes it is a model 22 but it shoots .177 pellets. I am now waiting to receive the gun through the mail. It was supposedly made in Great Britain and is pretty old. Seller did not know what year it was made.
Can anyone tell me anything more about this type of airgun.
From the photo on the auction it appears to be just like an air rifle I had back in the early sixties when I was a young teenager. My rifle was used when I got it back then. I think I paid $3.00 to a friend for it in about 1960. I guess it was merely the nostalgia that prompted me to bid on the gun. My winning bid was $10.99 plus $14.00 shipping for a total of $24.99. The gun supposedly works and looks fairly decent in the photos on the auction.
Sanford,
There were 2 Diana Model 22's made .The first was built between 1927-1940.The first models had a brass barrel incased by sheet metal,walnut stock and came as .177 cal.smooth bore or rifled and was considered a youth rifle at 35.8 inches long.
The second was built between 1953-1985 looks pretty much the same but parts are not interchangeable,as there are no common parts.They were both break barrels.There is little info on the second one in the book.
The first model goes for between $45-$115 and the second model sells for alot less at $15-$65.
This info is from the Blue Book of Airguns 6th edition.
I received the model 22 in the mail a couple of days ago. It is in fair condition. Has light rust on blued areas and some scratches on wood stock.
It shoots very well and will put a pellet (from about 30-35 feet)through a piece of sheet metal roof flashing that I have screwed to a tree to keep squirrels off my bird feeder. It did not have a rear sight so I installed a cheap $15.00 BSA R 3-7x20 scope from Walmart. I have not adjusted the scope but it shoots within two inches already at above range.
On the butt end of the stock there are some numbers stamped into the wood that appear to be "5 64 R".
On the sheet metal cover of barrel just above the screw which fastens the cocking arm to the barrel there are the numbers "129" stamped into the sheet metal.
Just above the trigger assembly on the top of barrel assembly are the stamped image and name DIANA. Just forward of the scope mount it says "Model 22", "Made in GT. Britain", and "177 CAL" .
I am assuming that the date on the stock butt means that it was made in May 1964. WOW, that is the month I graduated from high school.
I am therefore assuming that this is the later version of the Model 22 production and worth just about what I paid for it.
Can anyone tell me anything else about this old Diana?
Mr. Flach,, Hang tight Buddy, there are many here that I know will be able to give you much info on the 22 model. I know of several here that are a WEALTH of info when it comes to Diana guns. Unlike winter time when we were all "cooped up" in front of our keyboards,, its Summer now & LOTS to do outside!! Again,, hang tight,, the "Big Boys" still check in often,, your answers are shure to come!! Tim.
