GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => American/U.S. Air Gun Gates => Crosman-Benjamin Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: GadgetX on February 28, 2013, 09:15:17 AM

Title: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: GadgetX on February 28, 2013, 09:15:17 AM
I had my C9A for sale and I was told that the trigger safety was not right for that model.  I purchased the gun new at a local gun shop back in the 90's.  I ordered a Blue Book of Air Guns to reassure my novice self that I am not miss representing the AG.  The box is marked CB9, the rifle is marked C9A.  I guess I will see what the Blue Book says about the AG.  Any photos of other C9A or CB9 would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: Tuck2222 on March 02, 2013, 09:20:48 AM
CB9 indicates that it is a Blue Streak. C9A Series with the safety in the trigger guard would be a Phase II or later model. The Phase II model Mfg was started June 1997.  There was some change in Feb 2003 in the Blue Streak air rifle.  The SN # indicates which year the rifle is made. I have two CB9 -C9A  safety in the trigger guard rifles and have not had a problem with the safety. Mfg dates are June 2009 and April 2010. Prior to June 1997 the Crosman Blue Streak  rifles had tang safeties.
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: GadgetX on March 03, 2013, 05:48:19 PM
Thanks for the info. 

Mike
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: Tuck2222 on March 05, 2013, 05:28:22 AM
I d ask $ 165 for your 20 Cal pump up C9A rifle. 
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: GadgetX on March 05, 2013, 05:42:00 PM
Thanks Tuck !!
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: TimmyMac1 on March 06, 2013, 11:15:22 AM
You have what I always tell people to go find. A walnut version of what they are making now is the best modern combination to get as the guns will always maintain a premium with the Walnut wood. I'd put the value in good working form closer to $200. The current gun costs $185 and you'll have fun trying to find one that shoots good. .20 has been pretty dissapointing for the last few years. If you find one that groups good it is worth upgrading but who wants to spend real money on a toad.
I'm very impressed with Crosmans steel barrels and not thrilled with what comes in brass. Unfortunately the guns are soldered together and there is no practical way to change the barrel out. Trying to do exceptional things with the factory offerring is getting more difficult every delivery. I may have to resort to only tuning known shooters as the trendency is really bothering me and is not getting better. The factory needs to take a good hard look at the brass barrel room and decide to either get their act together or pull the plug. The multi pumps have gotten zero love in the last few years and seems the poor stepshild of the Benjamin line, with the real efforts going to the PCP's. Seems such a waste to me. Why the conflicting strategy? Corporate mentality has always got me bewildered. It is like they are trying to steer people away from Multis.

TimmyMac1
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: GadgetX on March 06, 2013, 11:29:42 AM
Thanks Timmymac !!  I like the way this one shoots.  I too have migrated to PCP, after my major chest surgery, I cannot pump much without hurting.  Even the break barrel mags are too much.  But I am enjoying my MROD, shooting several times a week. 

Mike
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: Sheridan 74 on March 06, 2013, 01:31:18 PM
It is a real shame that Crosman has decided to take the Benjamin and Sheridan names to represent their quality brand while letting the quality lapse on the format that made those names great. When I was growing up you either had a Benjamin or a Sheridan pumper or you didn't have squat, the kids with crosmans all wanted one or the other.

My new 392 is a powerful hitter but the accuracy is lacking compared to my Sheridans. It is a shame when you have to clean the paint out of the bore and relap the crown before you can get something approaching the accuracy of a 40 year old gun that's seen better days. Unfortunately, attention to detail seems to be lacking in many products these days.

Jeff
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: Tuck2222 on April 12, 2013, 09:31:07 AM
The 20 Cal pump up Sheridan  model air rifle is not shown to be made  by Crosman in  2013.  I m lucky, I got Benjiman 312, 342, Sheridan rocker safety Blue Streak, and Crosman C9 Tang Safety, C9A Tang Safety, and  the last model  20 Cal with the safety in the trigger guard. The latest model with paint in the barrel are pore quality when compared to the Benjiman and Sheridan  rifles..
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: Ed38574 on April 12, 2013, 01:16:40 PM
I have a C9A tang safety that will not hold air. How do I know when it was made? The crosman website does not have a serial number that matches.
Title: Re: Sheridan C9A pump 90's model confusion
Post by: DD789 on April 12, 2013, 10:20:06 PM
I have a C9A tang safety that will not hold air. How do I know when it was made? The crosman website does not have a serial number that matches.

Hope this helps.
Until 1956, the rear sight was soldered with the first year knurled windage adustments
1960 5 M/M Cal & Made in USA added to pump tube
1961 saw evolution of the bolt from straight to curved to pear shaped with hole (eventually removed 1975)
1963 with a switch from the hold down safety to the rocker safety
1964 changed the front sight to a forward ramp style.
1964 Inspection dates were stamped on left side of receiver (Backwards and alphabetically)
1968 removed grooves from the receiver
1972 Serial numbers instituted


Here are some known facts as they pertain to your rifle:   This part is about my rifle Silver Streak

Straight bolt handle -  Earliest C models up to 1961 when bolt handles became curved : 1949 -1960
Rear Sight -  sight held by small allen-head screw opposing two dimples on opposite side : 1956 - 1971 (earlier models featured permanently soldered rear sights with knurled windage knobs)
Automatic Safety - Pre 1963 when rocker was introduced. 1949-1962
Narrow Trigger Guard  - 1959 and earlier  (can't see it in your pic but there should be philips screws holding the trigger guard instead of rivets)
Stock and Forearm -  If 4 screws were used in place of roll pins on the forearm, then it indicates one of first two years of that model - along with thin "almost crude" stock and thin cylindrical forearm 1949-1951. Roll pins indicate 3rd year production onward.- 952 on
Partridge-style front sight with vertical rear face - Incorporated 2-3 years after introduction of the C model : 1951-1964
Simple Markings -  the words "5mm Cal" and "Made in USA" on opposite side introduced in 1960.  Absent those inscriptions 1949-1959
High Comb Stock - 1949-1958  Lowered in 1959

I'd say the best guess given the info on hand is it's between a 1956 - 1958 model (Based on rear sight and high comb).

Tim
VPilot

If I'm not mistaken it was like this;
CB was all the rockers, thumbers etc.
CB9 was early transitional packed in lead.
CB9PA was late transitional. Slip in valve. Both transitionals used the same trigger, bolt and hammer package with [push pull safty
CB9A is what they have now but that has ghone from Walnut to Sycamore?. Slip in valve and Safety on the gaurd.
Silver streaks drop the B fro model designation.
To confuse the actions were never marked with the B as that designated balck and whehn the markings were stamped the Guns could still be a black or chromed gun. Just like an E or H pistol is stamped before it was chromed or painted/blacked and only chrome guns are actually E/H's and all else is EB/HB cause it is painted or blacked somehow.
C/E/H means silver.
Now you know TOO MUCH!
Title: Outstanding Post by VPilot
Post by: TimmyMac1 on April 13, 2013, 12:53:25 PM
Thanks Tim via George.
This type of information is golden and people ask me this stuff, you just posted, all the time. It has little to do with the internals I watch so closely but gives people a firm idea of where their gun sits historically. I think the single port valve was the internal spec till 58 but I could be mistaken. So many have been done over by others it is hard to say what was original. I always pack single ports the way they came in unless they came in with a muti port valve I will take them back to original to eliminate the leakage a multi port valve will creat thru the SP valve keyway. That can be substantial.

If we had stickies this would be in there.

I see early transtionals that violate the serial number scheme and create confusion as to when it was made. Early Transitionals had a 6 digit number but they started the sequences over or maybe used old tubes they had and a lot of people come up with a 70's dating for a 90's vintage guns they did during the early and possibly some of the late transitionals. I believe this was due to using the tubes in stock that were from the early production Rockers when they produced the trasitionals. They often added a Letter to the begginning or the end to designate this variant but the Transitionals can be deceiving because of the 6 digit serial numbers taken at face value. Now you know way too much.

TimmyMac1