Rare Airgun find at a large Gunshop

[45flint]

I’ve read a lot about this air rifle from two sources. They both gave me insight that this would be a rifle I would love to own. Tom Gaylord in his blog: https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2013/01/erma-elg-10-air-rifle/ and John Milewski in Airgun World November of 2017. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/airgun-world/20171101/281848643847756

What I love to collect are airguns that look and feel like a real firearms but with real blued steel built with firearm quality.  The Erma looks and feels just like a Winchester 22 lever action rifle I used to own. They modeled the gun after the iconic Winchester 94, the post popular lever rifle ever made. As reviewed this rifle is built like a firearm, it would pass for one till you have to load it. I read that Beeman imported less than 100 into the US so they are a rare find. I have only seen one since I started to collect about 4 years ago. Then a couple weeks ago I saw one on a auction site. As I was searching google for information I saw another one for sale at a gun shop. What are the odds! The stocks on these are beech and beech can have a lot of variation in grain patterns. I thought the grain pattern on the one in the gun shop was far superior and would pass for walnut, so I made a offer close to where I thought the auction was headed and they accepted. Just received it and it Chronyed at 625 FPS with Hobbys, about right. Here are pics of mine:

https://imgur.com/gallery/3xdVPTo

Nice thing about the gunshop was they underpromised and over delivered.  They said good condition and it was about mint.  And it was packed as professionally as any gun I have ever received. 

[Airnut]

Dude that’s SWEET!!

[unionrdr]

Very nice indeed! Reminds me a bit more of a Marlin. Similar front sight to my Crosman model 99. I hate to think of the price you paid for that beauty?!

[Wayne52]

Steve that is indeed a beauty no doubt . . . a big congrats on finding that one for sure !!!

[RBQChicken]

Is it just one pump with the lever action, or multi-pump?

[avator]

Beautiful Steve... thanks for showing it to us.

[45flint]

Is it just one pump with the lever action, or multi-pump?

It’s a German spring Rifle. The lever instead of loading a round, cocks the spring.  One pull cocks the spring and opens the port for loading a pellet.  The legal limit in Germany is 6 FP and this shoots right at that limit.

[Andrew]

I had an Erma .22 lever back in the day, that's why it feels like a firearm cause they made real powder burners, can't beat German quality.

That is an awesome find, you're very good at seeking out rarities and it would be a great backyard plinker without too much noise.

[HunterWhite]

That is super nice.
I have a model 1894 and it has the same sights. I'm kind of surprised that they even duplicated the double hinge on the lever. Earlier Henry and Winchester rifles ( 1864, 66, 73, ) have a single hinge lever.
The only thing different from mine is the opening on the top. That looks like the later AE angle eject 94's that were made to mount a scope.
The fit actually looks better than my 1969 model.

[45flint]

That is super nice.
I have a model 1894 and it has the same sights. I'm kind of surprised that they even duplicated the double hinge on the lever. Earlier Henry and Winchester rifles ( 1864, 66, 73, ) have a single hinge lever.
The only thing different from mine is the opening on the top. That looks like the later AE angle eject 94's that were made to mount a scope.
The fit actually looks better than my 1969 model.

It is made to duplicate the Winchester 94 as much as possible. The 94 is the most popular lever action rifle in history, another John Browning classic.  Since you own a 94 you can see their attention to detail and how they used that double hinge on the lever in a different way to give them added length and leverage to cock the spring.  What is remarkable about this rifle is that they managed to hide all that is required to propel a pellet into a gun that looks and feels like a 1894 classic rifle.  A real feat of design and engineering. They first made a cartridge rifle reproduction.  They incorporated many of the same parts into this pellet gun which helps to explain why this feels and looks like a firearm.  Also interesting that Erma made only one Airgun, this one.  They found out like many manufacturers before them, people will only pay so much for a Airgun.

[bantam5s]

That is an extremely cool rifle that I've never heard of.
Congrats, I'm sure it cost a pretty penny but seems worth it.

[rsterne]

Very nice rifle that I have never heard of before.... looks like you got a beaut !!!!

Bob

[45flint]

That is an extremely cool rifle that I've never heard of.
Congrats, I'm sure it cost a pretty penny but seems worth it.

Yes it’s not cheap but it was about the same price as the current Walther CO2 Winchester reproduction and is a much better made gun.  With collectable guns  I doubt I will ever loose money on it?  I’ve collected enough now I started this year selling my surplus guns at several Airgun Shows near me.  Haven’t lost money on any of them and have had a blast there as well. Seems for every gun I sell I buy another one!

[Hoosier Daddy]

VERY cool Steve, Thanks for sharing!