Author Topic: A special EBay auction find (Read 4838 times))

unionrdr · « **Reply #20 on:** September 04, 2018, 10:33:15 AM »

And after a serial number conversation with a member of one of my Facebook groups, I found the serial number, upon receiving the rifle, to actually be, " 00009857". And then a number printed beyond that, and at a 90 degree angle to it, " 1 (pellet symbol?)4"? So would that then make the build date 1/74, or January 1974? After making a couple calls, this is turning into another game of, " stump the chump" as we used to call it back in the day.

bantam5s · « **Reply #21 on:** September 04, 2018, 05:47:46 PM »

Interesting.
Crosman says they produced them from '74-'80, so the serial number can't be the date or that would make it '85.

If that other number is the date, it would make this one of the first model 70's crosman ever made which is pretty cool.

Big Bore Bart · « **Reply #22 on:** September 04, 2018, 06:49:27 PM »

The three digit # is actually 124. Probably meaning Dec '74.

cobalt327 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2018, 11:42:20 PM »

Looks like 124 to me, too.

unionrdr · « **Reply #24 on:** September 05, 2018, 07:24:06 AM »

Well, the plot thickens. According to Tom Slocum, who collected up a ton of books, diagrams, manuals, & printed info from collectors that passed on for some 35 years, some even Crossman employee's, the, " 124" is a makers mark. Someone at Crosman who repaired or resealed the rifle at some point. The four zero's at the beginning of the serial number is odd though. Here's a pic of two of his model 70's that have the build date where the zero's are;

So I can only surmise that all those zero's are there because it's a first year run, 1973. (Crosman site says 1973 to 1980). So it is likely a 1973, & the 9,857th one built up to that point. If that's the case, it should be more valuable?

cobalt327 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 05, 2018, 08:35:51 AM »

Crosman sais the 70 was made 1974-'80. They also state "If your Crosman airgun was manufactured after July of 1975, the first three or four digits of the serial number indicate the month and year the gun was built. For example if the first three or four digits of the serial number were 1179 or N79 then your gun was manufactured in November of 1979.

If your gun was manufactured prior to July of 1975, you can use the chart below to ascertain the years of manufacture, but you will not be able to ascertain the exact date."

From that, I would think your 70 was made between 1974 and July of 1975.

unionrdr · « **Reply #26 on:** September 05, 2018, 11:56:21 AM »

Found it again on Crosman.com, Crosman air rifles, page 3 snipped;

Where precisely did you find your listing?
And cover page of diagram .PDF;

cobalt327 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 05, 2018, 12:01:10 PM »

On the Crosman Product Dates page on their site, https://www.crosman.com/discover/crosman/crosman-product-dates Either way I think it's safe to say your gun was made prior to July, '75.

unionrdr · « **Reply #28 on:** September 05, 2018, 12:14:03 PM »

Getting ERROR 404; not found from your link? But that's where I got mine from, product build dates, Crosman air rifles, top of page 3 as shown? I'll have to look at the other pages? But yeah, with serial number giving build # 9,857, I'm sure it's a first year build.

** After another search of the site, and your link giving an ERROR 404; Not Found, I'm thinking it's possible your link is to the old site. Mine to the new one? https://support.crosman.com/hc/en-us/sections/200658060-Crosman-Air-Rifles?page=1#articles

cobalt327 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 05, 2018, 12:20:08 PM »

Sorry, the period at the end of the link caused the prob. It works now.

unionrdr · « **Reply #30 on:** September 05, 2018, 12:32:56 PM »

Now that's odd? They give two different start dates in two different places on the same site? My listing is from their Manuals & diagrams .PDF listing. Yours is from Production dates. So which one is right, I wonder? 1973, or 1974? At any rate, I think the four zero's at the beginning of my serial # indicate first year, 9,857th one completed. That's about as much as anyone, even Tom Slocum, could/can surmise. I'd still like to know for sure though? First year build would be more collectable. And would be my 4th variant 1 I've collected. Among the 160 Pellgun, variant 1, 1955-56. 760 Powermaster variant 1, June 1970. Model 70 Pellgun variant 1, 1974? And the 66AB Powermaster, June 1986, variant 1, revision B.

cobalt327 · « **Reply #31 on:** September 05, 2018, 12:47:24 PM »

You may have already seen this, but Nick at Another Airgun Blog did a nice 3 part article on the 70. Reading elsewhere it seems caution has to be used when piercing the cartridge...

The AAB articles:
http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/messing-with-crosman-model-70-part-1.html

http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/messing-with-crosman-model-70-part-2.html

http://anotherairgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/messing-with-crosman-model-70-part-3.html

unionrdr · « **Reply #32 on:** September 05, 2018, 01:34:51 PM »

Nice blog for seeing the details I'll need to know when restoring this one. Very oddball gas valve? Never saw one like that? Was hoping it was upgradable? Seals will undoubtedly. Gotta practice with my new checkering starter set too. 18LPI, just like Winchester used on the pre-64 model 70's.
I pulled a vintage powerlet out of the model 70 when cleaning it. Putting in a new 12g Co2 cartridge was easy and no leaks! Just push the lever plate straight back in with no hesitations seemed to work fine for me.

unionrdr · « **Reply #33 on:** September 15, 2018, 03:24:10 PM »

Well, my botched-up order from Optics Planet came in today. Got my Hawke mid-rise dovetail scope mounts. Gonna swap the Centerpoint 3-9x32 mildot scope off the GuideHawk NP to the model 70 with the mid-rise Hawke mounts. They'll be substantially lower than the Gamo site-through high mounts. So parallax will be improved and looks as well.
** I also have found the trigger pull is way too heavy for a light, balanced rifle like this! So I'm going to find a way to lighten it. There's an old hardware store in Sheffield Lake that carries a large amount of different springs & tensions. I might have to check with him?

And with the mid-rise Hawke mounts & Centerpoint 3-9x32 mildot scope off the GuideHawk NP;

unionrdr · « **Reply #34 on:** September 16, 2018, 01:51:41 PM »

Here's the diagram for the model 70 from Crosman's site. The trigger assembly looks like it has only one spring? But feels really tight & heavy! I'll have to start with a polish & lube tune.

unionrdr · « **Reply #35 on:** September 27, 2018, 06:42:58 PM »

Got the seal kit ordered from Baker's and a couple other tools I need to start practicing to do the Model 70 Standard checkering on this one. Figured I might as well reseal it while I have it apart to refinish the alloy breech/trigger block. That and the stock restomod will be the biggest part of the job.

unionrdr · « **Reply #36 on:** September 29, 2018, 07:12:45 PM »

I ordered the seal kit on the 27th and it's here already by priority mail! Wife picked up the flexible stainless steel ruler I needed for the checkering job too.

unionrdr · « **Reply #37 on:** December 07, 2018, 04:49:41 PM »

I got the Winchester 4x32AO scope & Hawke mid-rise mounts in today. So they went on the Model 70. Being a copy of the Winchester model 70 Ranger (base model) made adding a Winchester scope apropos. It has markings to adjust down to 15 and 30 feet ( 5yds & 10yds respectively) before switching to the usual yard markings. That'll prove very handy I'm sure?

MMshtr · « **Reply #38 on:** December 20, 2018, 08:47:58 PM »

I agree. Leather seals are extremely durable. A little oil in the pump chamber,move the gun around and ....presto....I've brought a few pistols back to life this way.Sold as not working/parts then the oil trick and you have a working piece.....

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A special EBay auction find

Author Topic: A special EBay auction find (Read 4838 times))