Quote from: MDriskill on March 20, 2025, 12:41:16 PMThank you Hector! I'm not sure weird old guys who obsess over weird old airguns qualify as "experts"...but hey I'll take it. Dianas of that era used mainsprings and leather piston seals of remarkable quality. That veteran 35 just might shoot surprisingly well with a little re-conditioning...whoever replaced the trigger was obviously fond enough of it to want to keep it going!It might need a breech seal, which original might have been leather. You can replace those with an O-ring (I believe 8.0 x 2.5mm as used on many other Dianas will work), but it may need some shimming underneath.I piqued my own curiosity (!), and checked my 15 Dianas made between the early 50's and early 80's. Three of the oldest (model 5 pistol, models 27 and 50/b sporters, all from the 50's), and the very newest (1982 model 60T match rifle) are stamped "Made in West Germany." All the rest are simply "Made in Germany."I agree with you.Even before the fall of the wall, the Germans were already convinced it was only a matter of time.AND if it was a small, special run, the "Made in Germany" may have made more sense, even before the event.What strikes me as difficult to understand is the deep pitting and scoriation of the mechanisms tube in the picture. It almost looks as if someone took some muriatic acid and tried to "olden" the gun on purpose. Or wrapped some vinegar soaked rags and let it rust to remove the rust with a wire brush.Anyway, I do hope the owner enjoys his find. Definitely a gun to be shot and, perhaps used as an "over the mantle" decoration when not in use.;-)Keep well and shoot straight!HM
Thank you Hector! I'm not sure weird old guys who obsess over weird old airguns qualify as "experts"...but hey I'll take it. Dianas of that era used mainsprings and leather piston seals of remarkable quality. That veteran 35 just might shoot surprisingly well with a little re-conditioning...whoever replaced the trigger was obviously fond enough of it to want to keep it going!It might need a breech seal, which original might have been leather. You can replace those with an O-ring (I believe 8.0 x 2.5mm as used on many other Dianas will work), but it may need some shimming underneath.I piqued my own curiosity (!), and checked my 15 Dianas made between the early 50's and early 80's. Three of the oldest (model 5 pistol, models 27 and 50/b sporters, all from the 50's), and the very newest (1982 model 60T match rifle) are stamped "Made in West Germany." All the rest are simply "Made in Germany."
Hi HM,The metal work had been heavily rusted. Someone at sometime painted it black. I had to take abrasive measures to clean it up. So no one tried to olden the gun, it's just lacked of maintance.Kind regards,Tinus
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