Rebuilt 342

[slothart]

Figured some here reading the Vintage Gate might be interested in this 312 and spare me the temptation.  
It would make a nice companion for my 310, though... I must resist... or sell my late model 392 in favor of this finger pinching tootsie roll classic.... no, must resist... but, so pretty and with good numbers...
 

http://www.mellonair.com/index.php?p=1_19_Guns-for-sale

[amb5500c]

Wow!! That is a really big temptation for me also. These guns are among my favorites. The price seems a little high though.
Richard

[slothart]

I had a similar thought on the price, but, then again, the last one I saw show up for sale on a forum classified was in rough shape and was priced at $115. 

This one is in much better condition and I trust Mellon's work.
errr... must resist...

[amb5500c]

I wish I'd have never seen this one. Like you; "I must resist. I don't (REALLY) need it. Too much other priority stuff needed. etc. etc."
Richard

[C Mellon]

It's a Benji 342 not a 312, & it won't hurt my feeling if no one buys it. I've had other pumpers, but none of them came out like this. The first 5-6 pumps are really easy, & that gets you 600fps.

[slothart]

Thanks for the clarification.

When did they switch from the tootsie roll to the tree trunk for the pump handle?

[C Mellon]

I think at some point the factory put them together with what ever they had. The 1st variant was checkered butt & forend, 2nd variant was same with no checkering. Yet I see them all the time mix & match. Checkered butt-plain fore end, plain butt-tootsie roll forend. 342 wasn't suppose to have a tootsie roll, but there sure are a lot of them out there. 

[Tom @ Buzzard Bluff]

I had a similar thought on the price, but, then again, the last one I saw show up for sale on a forum classified was in rough shape and was priced at $115.

**************************************************************
 If it was the one Tim Johnston advertised on the Yellow Classified I rolled the dice since I'd been looking for one so long since circumstances forced me to sell the nice one I had---along with others---to cover un-planned expenses. Turned out to be a dynamite gamble! It has had VERY little use and is as tight as when it left the factory. Pumps and holds like it just trickled off of the end of the production line. As luck would have it it is exceptionally accurate for the breed as well.
 But it sat for years (it's a '64) and gathered dust and grime. I STILL haven't gotten all the accumulation of grunge cleaned out of the sharp corners, but I can tolerate that in light of overall condition.
 The wood was sound and almost un-marked---just dry and the original finish long since among the missing. A very little smoothing and a quick half dozen coats of water-based varnish thinned 50/50 with water has it looking almost new.
 I replaced the bolt cam and cover with one from a Sheridan and still haven't gotten a safety but I am beyond well pleased with my roll of the dice.
 I was waaaay overdue for a lucky break!   
                    Tom @ Buzzard Bluff