150 collectors

August 12 2005 at 9:23 AM Dean

One of the few Crosman models that I still actively collect is the model 150. From the start, I found all the weird variations of the 150 fascinating.

What's also fun about the model 150 is that there are some really rare birds out there. Here's my list of top model 150 collectables.

Mexican model 150. Stamped "Hecho en Mexico" Other than that, pretty much a standard one-piece barrel model 150. The only other example of this gun that I'm aware of was in the estate of Rudy Merz.

JC Higgins 1935 model. This is the JC Higgins version of the one-piece barrel model 150. For years, the only reason this model was known to exist is because it was included in a product photo of Sears models. Then, about 2 years ago, one showed up on gunbroker complete with box and manual. This is the only example known to exist. I have to believe that there are more out there, but, so far, only one.

The Ted Williams and JC Higgins 292 certainly aren't common, but my impression is that they don't come close to the others in terms of rarity.

There are a number of model 150 versions that are on the hey-this-might-exist list.

Canadian 150 with ventilated raised sight ramp (ala Ted Williams). The last couple of Canadian catalogs that include the model 150 clearly shows the ventilated sight ramp. However, none have yet to show up. The Canadians certainly provided a bunch of interesting variations to the mix including this mystery gun.

The Montgomery Wards version of the 150 PK is fairly well known, but, the question has been: was there ever a boxed version of the M-150? Not much of a variation, but it would be great if it could be proved, one way or the other.

German variation. From the Myron Kasok collection there's a brochure in german describing the models 150 and 160. So, there's a chance that we could find a model 150 in a german box. Pretty remote, but, hey, it is possible.

Also from the Kasok auction the model 150 manual in greek. Opens up the possibility of a model 150 in a greek box?

It's hard to call any of the standard US Crosman models really rare. Of the standard Crosman variations,the hardest to find are the two-piece barrel model 157. There are two variations of this model that seem about equally tough to find.

Does anyone else here have examples of these model 150 rare birds? Better yet. Got a rare model 150 variation besides what I've already described?

Thanks,
Dean