GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Vintage Air Gun Gate => Topic started by: Blutroop on July 26, 2017, 08:23:56 PM
-
How do you judge conditions on one of these old (1978) series c rifles. It pumps and sounds good when you pull the trigger but I have no .20 pellets to load it and no chrono to measure speed.
-
as far as those guns go.... it's not always about pumping, holding air, and shooting. all that can be resealed.... outward condition is where your value will come from. fading metal and needing a stock refinished is the easy part of the exterior. beat up. broken and missing is the deal breaker.
Virtually all of them are accurate.
-
Also, don't forget to check for barrel separation. That, too, can be repaired, but with the prices people are asking for Sheridans, these days, this would be a major red flag for me.
-
My bad... yes... I would pass on that.
-
Are you looking to get one as an investment "Safe Queen" or a shooter?
"Grading" can get very precise to NRA Grade standards.
NEW - unused, same condition as factory production, 100%
UNISSUED / LIKE NEW - unused, but may not have box or factory accessories. May have been sold at retail before, but never used. Unissued surplus guns are unused, but are still often several decades old, and thus may sometimes show small handling marks. 99-100%
USED BUT IN LIKE NEW CONDITION - may have been used slightly, but shows no wear, perfect condition. Modern guns = 99-100%
EXCELLENT - may show slight use, no easily apparent defects, minimal bluing wear, mainly slight at edges and muzzle, little scratches on wood or metal. Shiny bore. Modern guns = 90-99%, Old guns = 80-99%
*VERY GOOD PLUS - shows slight wear, only minor defects or dings / scratches. Nice looking bluing but worn at edges and muzzle.
Modern guns = 85-90%, Old guns = 70-80% (*SEE NOTE)
*VERY GOOD - Everything works, some wear on finish and working surfaces, minimal or no corrosion, but maybe some light freckling. Could have minor dents and scratches. Bore may not be shiny but should not be dark.
Modern guns = 70-85%, Old guns = 60-70% (*SEE NOTE)
*GOOD - Working condition, but finish may be quite worn from sustained use or carry. Wear on working surfaces. Could have some pitting or light corrosion / freckling, and dings or scratches, but they should not interfere with function. May have dark, worn bore. This is the usual condition that surplus guns are graded.
Modern guns = 50-70%, Old guns = 30-60% (*SEE NOTE)
*FAIR (or ABOUT GOOD) - Still considered working usually, though minor adjustment may be needed Well-worn finish, perhaps no finish left. May have corrosion or pitting that does not render gun unusable. Bore may be shot smooth and be dark. Wood may have cracks but is usually still usable.
Modern guns = 20-50%, Old guns = 1-30% (*SEE NOTE)
POOR - Adjustment or replacements of parts need, may not be functioning. Worn out or rusty, sold for parts or for repair only, no returns
You can get a nice looking, perfectly functioning Streak, that was well taken care of, but USED that would only meet the *GOOD Definition...For an example see my "Attached photo". But still be a Joy to shoot for a very long time.
Bare in mind, your '78 is coming upon 40 years old. If a kid got it new, passed it onto his son 20 years later, then his grandson now...it's probably not going to be *Excellent, or even *Very Good Plus.
But there are still some *Excellent ones out there, right Bill? ;)
-
Oh, one or two.
-
You have to remember that you looking at rifles that may be 50 years old. You are not going to find one in 100% , like new condition, unless you pony up the big bucks. [ or someone has no idea what they have . I do not sell any that need repairs. They will all pump up, hold air , & shoot well. As stated above , pass on any with barrel separation. Same goes for BADLY damaged wood.
Most all will have a little bluing missing, scratches in wood & metal , etc. I sold 4 lately , all to repeat customers. Two were good shooters, but looked somewhat rough. Two were very nice !
-
These things are work horses. Grab that one or two to baby and then grab one to throw behind the seat or strap on the 4 wheeler. Light weight, solid and shoots forever (if you maintain it right), dead on accurate, adjustable power... and lots of it.
-
Get a tin of. 20 pellets and give it a go...that will get you hooked. 6 pumps should be plenty for say 20-25 yards.
Then pump it to the Max 8 pumps and shoot a phonebook. Count the pages penetrated and let us know the results.
-
I will do that after the first. Right now I can't even afford a beer. I am debating if I wanna keep it or sell it. Everyone talks highly of them but I never had one until now. My childhood gun was a 1389 backpacker.. I need something I can be rough with. The way everyone talks of bluestreaks I'm sure it could take it, I would feel a little bad though.What is the barrel separation y'all speak of?
-
The brass barrel is soldered to the brass air tube. The solder breaks and the two have a slight gap. IF it happens it is typically below the rear sight. Extreme cases pull the entire breech away.
-
I don't know if anyone is still watching this board, but I finally got a tin of pellets. Couldn't find a phone book so I stacked up some reg books. A pellet tore through 470 pages and dented more, I only counted until I saw no more torn paper. how are these results? The varnish ic peeling on most of the wood. Does it drop value if I sand down the wood and give it a nice coat of polyurethane?
-
That sounds pretty good . Has it been oiled, lately ? I would make sure it has been oiled & shoot it for awhile. These rifles love to be shot & it is a lot of fun to shoot them. Plink with 3 pumps at short distances . No need to pump up to max . I have taken plenty of game with 5 pumps !
Download this file for the manual & oiling instructions.
http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/B397-OM1.pdf (http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/B397-OM1.pdf)
-
Your post count is high enough now you should be able to attach some pictures.
There are much better things to use on the wood than polyurethane.
-
I wouldn't worry too much about value... you'll most likely hang on to it and shoot it for years so finish it to make yourself happy.
-
I wouldn't worry too much about value... you'll most likely hang on to it and shoot it for years so finish it to make yourself happy.
Bill,
Is your dog on vacation
-
If he is he went without me.
-
I am just so used to seeing a pix of your dog,, that this pix skeeeered me !
-
For the stock I wouldn't use poly ( I did on mine when I refinished it as a teenager and it doesn't look god at all )
I would use some kleen strip to remove the original finish and give it some coats of true oil or some boiled linseed oil.
-
Definitely a no go on the poly. It would just be sanded wood with a poly coating. You could stain it or use tung oil and poly over it. Just don't use poly unless you like the look of bare wood.
-
I am just so used to seeing a pix of your dog,, that this pix skeeeered me !
Hahaha. Dude, but in all seriousness. Are. You. Hacksaw Jim Duggan? He was one of my favs. I been thinking about it for awhile who you kinda look like. I was watching wrestling with the boy and it finally clicked. Everytime I've seen your post and see the pic it was right there and I couldn't put a name on who you kinda look like in the small pic. If you are I'm glad to know I have a stock refinished by the one great Hacksaw Jim Duggan. If not, I'm still greatful of the stock.
-
I've always liked the look of bare wood. I just don't wanna do anything that lessens the value in case I want to trade it or sell it later. I will probably just keep it like it is for now. It hits pretty hard but the pcp bug is calling. I am on my phone so pictures are a pita I'll try and get some here though.
-
I am just so used to seeing a pix of your dog,, that this pix skeeeered me !
Hahaha. Dude, but in all seriousness. Are. You. Hacksaw Jim Duggan? He was one of my favs. I been thinking about it for awhile who you kinda look like. I was watching wrestling with the boy and it finally clicked. Everytime I've seen your post and see the pic it was right there and I couldn't put a name on who you kinda look like in the small pic. If you are I'm glad to know I have a stock refinished by the one great Hacksaw Jim Duggan. If not, I'm still greatful of the stock.
LOL... There is a little Hispanic guy at work. He has called me Hulk Hogan, Paul Teuttle Sr., Chuck Norris and Crocodile Dundee. I'll have to let him know that I'm actually Hacksaw.
-
this pix skeeeered me !
No Sh%#! I think I'll remove all the scopes on my pumpers! Pronto!
-
You think that's scary? you should see me from the inside!