GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Vintage Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: 45flint on February 16, 2019, 08:41:54 PM

Title: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 16, 2019, 08:41:54 PM
Never saw so many collectable airguns in one place.  It was like a museum but you could touch everything.  Never been to RIA, it was quite an event. Much of the bidding is online and by phone.  Glad I went cause it was awesome looking at airguns I will probably never have a chance to see again.  Can’t believe I actually won one lot of 7 airguns!  More on that when I get back home and unpack them.

(https://i.imgur.com/fNlnoC1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IsDTQCE.jpg)

One of the guns I saw, pretty unusual

(https://i.imgur.com/DfErwNz.jpg)
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: TerryM on February 16, 2019, 09:12:25 PM
  Way cool!  Can't wait to see what you got!
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 16, 2019, 09:47:58 PM
Anyone notice something unusual about the SuperGrade above?
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 16, 2019, 10:14:39 PM
^^^Yes. The one piece stock.
...& one would have to think CO2 ???
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Hoosier Daddy on February 16, 2019, 10:34:35 PM
Oh my... Could that be?
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 16, 2019, 10:37:09 PM
Yes, I think it is & it's drop dead GORGEOUS!!! If Steve purchased that gun I'm going to be &^ssed very happy for him!
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 16, 2019, 10:45:51 PM
Yep...remember these?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/4503/eight-american-air-rifles (https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/4503/eight-american-air-rifles)
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 16, 2019, 11:40:27 PM
Yep...remember these?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/4503/eight-american-air-rifles (https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/4503/eight-american-air-rifles)

No, I didn’t buy that lot, went for $4250!   Yes that’s the CO2 SuperGrade totally customized, got some other pics of it.  Question to me is did you screw up the collector value?  But incredibly well done, a collector piece in its own right, hopefully they converted a SuperGrade with a damaged stock?  But these are the kinds of guns you could pick up and examine, just so much fun. 
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 16, 2019, 11:49:23 PM
I would have to say yes on screwing up the collector value. In fact it looks like both SuperGrades have been modified, & at least one other; the Benji. That is not the original front sight nore is the muzzle tube end cap. Don't know enough about the rest to say one way or another but some of those look modified as well.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: jackssmirkingrevenge on February 17, 2019, 04:53:15 AM
Oh look, a Feltman!

(https://i.imgur.com/zQv8mlM.jpg)

Full auto pneumatic trainer for machinegunners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lejq4aaF9QY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lejq4aaF9QY)

Charles A Feltman's relevant patents:

US2238384A (https://patents.google.com/patent/US2238384)

US2312244A (https://patents.google.com/patent/US2312244)

US2801624A (https://patents.google.com/patent/US2801624)

Also a 9mm Crosman 160:

(https://i.imgur.com/cGYn1ql.jpg)

Was this commercially available or a custom conversion?



Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 17, 2019, 08:21:18 AM
I looked at the photos of the CO2 SuperGrade under high magnification looking for a splice of the forearm & stock. There is the slightest hint this is was the method used. If the craftsman built it from scratch, he is truly gifted.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Tater on February 17, 2019, 08:44:08 AM
Man, we went fishing for a weekend in Rock Island a couple years ago. Didn't even think of checking that place out.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: TerryM on February 17, 2019, 08:53:18 AM
  Wow.  It flew right over my head, the first glance I took of that picture.  A CO2 Supergrade, awesome.  No doubt, the only one of it's kind.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: SADave on February 17, 2019, 11:15:01 AM
Congrats Flint. Look forward to seeing what you got. Awesome that you got to go and see so many cool airguns and firearms. Probably wont see such a large collection of rare American airguns together for a while.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 17, 2019, 04:01:16 PM
I looked at the photos of the CO2 SuperGrade under high magnification looking for a splice of the forearm & stock. There is the slightest hint this is was the method used. If the craftsman built it from scratch, he is truly gifted.

Here are other photo’s I took.  One from underneath.  It looked to me the stock was one block made by someone very good at his craft.  I also looked and looked for the port.  I think it’s the hole in the pic below?  I could be wrong about the stock, cause I didn’t even think about him gluing it.

https://imgur.com/a/yLMlcvZ (https://imgur.com/a/yLMlcvZ)
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 17, 2019, 04:15:36 PM
Here is my lot of 7 guns.  They grouped many guns together so I knew going in I would have some to sell.  I was after the Tell 3 in the box.  Probably the holy grail of prewar spring air pistol. Mechanically very unique and cool.  It was patented in 1937, with the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 very few were made and survived. 500? No one knows.  I don’t need 2 so one will probably go.  I know I’m keeping the two guns on the left.  Probably selling the 5 on the right eventually.  The Plainfield’s could be interesting however?  I know you pumpers guys are disappointed! Lol

(https://i.imgur.com/irXwUwG.jpg)
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Yng@hrt on February 17, 2019, 05:04:38 PM
I looked at the photos of the CO2 SuperGrade under high magnification looking for a splice of the forearm & stock. There is the slightest hint this is was the method used. If the craftsman built it from scratch, he is truly gifted.

Here are other photo’s I took.  One from underneath.  It looked to me the stock was one block made by someone very good at his craft.  I also looked and looked for the port.  I think it’s the hole in the pic below?  I could be wrong about the stock, cause I didn’t even think about him gluing it.

https://imgur.com/a/yLMlcvZ (https://imgur.com/a/yLMlcvZ)
Removing the stock screw & looking inside would tell the tale. However it was done it is craftsmanship at it's best.

Very nice group of guns Steve. They certainly put a major dent in that fine collection of yours.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: oldair on February 17, 2019, 05:37:45 PM
That intriguing Sheridan CO2 (or pre-charge air?) Model A was done by a guy who acquired some of the leftover Sheridan factory parts.  The stock is one piece; apparently he had an uncut one in his stash.  Unfortunately the metal finish is super polished and obviously not factory Ebonal. 
The other Model A conversion piece appeared to have a "factory parts" receiver with no serial #, a matte surface as if as-cast and slight remaining flash on some edges - that one had the forend glued to the tube.  It'd be great if someone here bought that lot and could eventually tell us more about them.

Don R.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 17, 2019, 06:37:27 PM
That intriguing Sheridan CO2 (or pre-charge air?) Model A was done by a guy who acquired some of the leftover Sheridan factory parts.  The stock is one piece; apparently he had an uncut one in his stash.  Unfortunately the metal finish is super polished and obviously not factory Ebonal. 
The other Model A conversion piece appeared to have a "factory parts" receiver with no serial #, a matte surface as if as-cast and slight remaining flash on some edges - that one had the forend glued to the tube.  It'd be great if someone here bought that lot and could eventually tell us more about them.

Don R.

Thanks, interesting Don, I noticed on the other one the parts looked like they were in the raw?  Looked so strange to me I though someone cast them.  Factory leftover parts make sense.  Another mystery solved.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: SADave on February 17, 2019, 07:50:10 PM
Nice lot of pistols Flint, look forward to you posting about them. Only one nickle finishef pistol as well.

Now the big question I have for you is since you've held a Sheridan A, has your opinion of them changed? They're still a over priced normally and Id take a Crosman TC and spend the difference else where but the build quality and balance  is great on them
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: TerryM on February 17, 2019, 09:24:12 PM
  Do I see a pair of Plainsman CO2 pistols?
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 17, 2019, 09:37:52 PM
  Do I see a pair of Plainsman CO2 pistols?

Yep new to me
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 17, 2019, 09:55:08 PM
Nice lot of pistols Flint, look forward to you posting about them. Only one nickle finishef pistol as well.

Now the big question I have for you is since you've held a Sheridan A, has your opinion of them changed? They're still a over priced normally and Id take a Crosman TC and spend the difference else where but the build quality and balance  is great on them

I have held them before, best built American rifle of its time.  I find the styling doesn’t age quite as well as it superb quality, breech receiver area seems oddly wide? In vintage market they are just way too high for my tastes.  An example to me is a English contemporary Webley Mark 3: its quality is equally superb.  You can buy one for $350?  Why? It’s not American, they made a lot of them.  Most Americans have not experienced a Mark 3?
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: CaptJ on February 18, 2019, 12:14:23 AM
Some nice additions Steve! Look forward to learning more about them as you get the chance to go through them in more detail!  The Plainsman pair is interesting, especially seeing they have some obvious variation to them.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: 45flint on February 18, 2019, 04:38:18 AM
Some nice additions Steve! Look forward to learning more about them as you get the chance to go through them in more detail!  The Plainsman pair is interesting, especially seeing they have some obvious variation to them.

Cool thing is they both sealed up last night, never expected it to be that easy.
Title: Re: On my way back from Airgun Auction at Rock Island Auction Co.
Post by: Wayne52 on February 18, 2019, 06:56:02 AM
Very nice old pistols you got there Steve !!!