Model 397P - Racine, Wi. or Bloomfield, NY

[almyjmoore]

I have two Model 397P pellet rifles. One has a chromed barrel and is marked Benjamin Air Rifle Co. Racine Wi USA. The other Model 397P has a black barrel and is marked Benjamin-Sheridan Bloomfield NY. I think that Crosman owned Benjamin and Sheridan by the time the 397P was made but why would they use different names and locations on the rifles? Thanks, Al

[Yng@hrt]

I don’t have an answer for you but if it helps I have 3 397P’s (2 nickel & 1 Blue), 2 are ’93 & have the Benjamin Racine address stamped on the right side. The other is a ’95 nickel & only the serial # is stamped on the right side. What year are yours? Should be ’91-’93. PA’s with the same trigger group would be ’94-’95.If you read the first paragraph in the link below you’ll see there was plant shifting in ’91 & ’92.

“Flint” would be the go to guy. You may want to send him a PM. I’m sure he has the answer you’re looking for.
 
https://www.crosman.com/benjamin-product-dates

[eeler1]

Wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure production continued at the Racine plant for a time after Crosman bought Benjamin out.  And then Crosman continued to use parts brought from Racine even after production moved to NY.  So if there were tubes stamped with Racine, they may have been used in guns assembled in NY.  I recollect that a number of soldered valve guns were produced, either in NY or Racine, from old stock of parts even after the design was changed to the cartridge valve.  One thing about these gun makers is that they didn't like to throw out the inventory of parts for obsolete designs, and would cobble guns together in order to use up old stuff.

[almyjmoore]

Thanks guys. I can understand The difference in name and address's guns were produced at if the company was changing locations. I assume that Crosman purchased Benjamin-Sheridan at that time. Thanks again, Al