A Crosman 106 collector pistol

[45flint]

Just in from an auction that was part of a three pistol group.  This Crosman 106 is about as good of condition as I have seen?  Plus its the earliest production; first type of sight and no identification on the pistol except the small circle on the grip. The finish is in remarkable condition for its age. (1948-1953). A little oil of the pump cup and it was firing like new. Being the first Crosman pistol makes it a cool addition.  Ironically I sold my only 106 at the airgun shows this year. That one didn’t hold a candle to this one. You never know what will come around the bend? This one seems like a keeper.














The later variation had these markings and a little cheaper sight.

[plymouthairrifle]

Good find!

[chuckinohio]

  My 106 is a later version but has the same front sight/tube plug as yours does, while my earlier 105 has the skinny front sight but the early rear sight.

[threesuns]

I’ll 2nd Charles assessment - likely mid production due to wide blade front sight even though other identifiers are early production.
The 3 on the right are all 106s - earliest to latest - top to bottom. The late production 106 has a 1300 medalist lever due to the original being broken.
One of my favorite air pistols - I think I have room for 1 more if you get tired of it 😃

[45flint]

Curious, the 22 came out in the second year. I see the early .177 with the skinny front sight. Did early 22’s have the skinny or the new front sight?

[threesuns]

My early 106 mirrors my 105 with the skinny front site.

Another curiosity - my early 106 has a solid bolt probe like my 105s, the mid run has a hollow probe, as does my late run 106. Pivot pins are another difference with later production pistols having solid pins vs early pins with cap screws.

All but 1 of my bullseye pistols has a number on the inside of the lever too

[45flint]

My early 106 mirrors my 105 with the skinny front site.

Another curiosity - my early 106 has a solid bolt probe like my 105s, the mid run has a hollow probe, as does my late run 106. Pivot pins are another difference with later production pistols having solid pins vs early pins with cap screws.

All but 1 of my bullseye pistols has a number on the inside of the lever too

Very interesting.  Not doubt mine is mid or late-mid production.  It has a hollow probe, solid pivot pin, and has numbers under the pump grip. Wonder if these number are really like serial numbers?

[chuckinohio]

   I do not know if they are serial numbers for a fact, but I believe that they are.

  My early 105 has a numbered pump lever, while my later 106 has the serial on the left rear of the main tube, no number on pump lever.
  My 105 also has a solid probe and a screw retained pivot pin. The 106 is solid pinned and hollow probed.
 

[chuckinohio]

 The early 105 number

  Also forgot to say, that is a nice 106 that you picked up. I would have been drawn to it as well.

[bantam5s]

Congrats on the beautiful example.
I've actually been looking into getting a 106.


It's quite interesting to me just how similar these are to the early Benjamin 13x pistols.
The early Benjamin's had the walnut grips which I prefer over plastic,  but these have a windage adjustable rear sight that doesn't have to be drifted which is nice.


I have a 137 on my list too, but I think I may try to cross a 106 off first.
It depends on accuracy potential though,  my 132 is a fine plinker but the rifling is quite shallow and when I get a .177 I'd like something a little more precise.

[Mzq284]

Nice 106. A friend found a clean one at a gun show, they're nice guns. I have one but it's nowhere near as nice as yours,  the original owner got his money's worth and then some.  One of these days I need to rehab it

[CaptJ]

Nice find! Looks like it was barely used?

[Habanero69er]

Some very nice pistols.

[bantam5s]

Do you guys think it's time to start chroniloguing 105/6 details ?

Obviously the biggest changes were the lever and the rear sights, but I have noticed other things.

Solid pivot pin vs pin with screw, sterile vs breech markings or rear plug markings, sterile vs numbered levers, different front sights, and this is all within the " early " 2 slot levers.
There are probably more differences across production to be observed / chronologued.

[bantam5s]

The pair of " 105" pistols I bought on Ebay actually turned out to be a 105 and a 106.

The 105 has the skinny front sight / plug with a screw in the end, dovetail brass rear sight, screw cap pivot pin, solid bolt, no number on the 2 slot pump handle, and is unmarked.


The 106 has the long no screw front sight / plug, stamped steel rear sight,  numbered 2 slot pump handle, hollow bolt , and is marked on the rear tube plug.

[cvasquez]

BEauitful oldie !! What kind of chrony numbers  does a 106 get?  IS it an accurate shooter??