Hello, looking for help about a Sheridan

[fldavid]

I previously purchased a Sheridan Blue Streak at an estate sale. I'm looking for information on this gun as I couldn't find much in an internet search. I want to know the year and where I can find replacement parts for it. The model number is 8691k. Thank you very much.

[Habanero69er]

Mac-1 for parts, try this for the year: http://www.crosman.com/discover/crosman/benjamin-product-dates

Also check out the American/US air gun gate & the Vintage air gun gate.

[bantam5s]

Crosman has a list of serial number date ranges. Also use this thread to get your post count up so we can see the gun. (  your not allowed to talk about a Sheridan that you have and not post pictures of it , it's against the laws of narure  )

[bbv13]

Welcome David,

That's a nice gun to start out this hobby with and your going to be spoiled right off the bat. Mac1 or Baker will have the parts you need or if you want to go all the way send it off to Mac1 for the Steroid treatment.

Bryan

[454ho]

I previously purchased a Sheridan Blue Streak... The model number is 8691k.

Welcome to our addiction.   

That is not a model number, it is the manufacture date backwards. Your rifle was made in 1968. Not exactly sure what month corresponds to k. If they skipped the letter i, then it would be November. If they did not skip i, then it is October.

[Habanero69er]

Nov. '68

[Old Corps]

I previously purchased a Sheridan Blue Streak at an estate sale. I'm looking for information on this gun as I couldn't find much in an internet search. I want to know the year and where I can find replacement parts for it. The model number is 8691k. Thank you very much.

Here's a copy of an original owners manual.http://stevespages.com/pdf/sheridan_blue-streak-silver-streak.pdf

This is also a great link--it's the Sheridan repair manual. http://ujays.net/repair-manual-v4.3.pdf

Yer welcome and welcome aboard.

Ed

[Hoosier Daddy]

So just out of curiosity...
If you don't mind telling...
Since it was an Estate sale...
What did you pay?

Hey, It's the Gorilla in the room nobody seemed to notice. 

[DWTrull]

SHERIDAN PRODUCTS INC.

Sheridan Products Inc. was formed to produce Pneumatic Air Pellet Rifles  with production beginning in March 1947. In the early 1940s Co-founder Ed Wackerhagen, dissatisfied with a pellet gun used by his son Philip, set out to build one of the finest airguns in history. The design was to incorporate the philosophy: "performance is the sum total of many small functions who's combined result must spell 'Bulls-eye' It was to be called the Model A, also known as the Super Grade. This gun was to fill the gap between the "BB" gun and the .22. A successful prototype was produced in mid-1944, and in partnership with I.R. "Bob" Kraus, Sheridan Products Inc was born. The name Sheridan was reputedly in honor of the Civil War's General Philip Sheridan.
The Sheridan Model A "Super Grade" was introduced in 1947 and is considered one of the finest Air rifles ever produced. Unfortunately its high cost (MSRP $56.50), translated to very slow sales. Within a year, it was decided that a cheaper model was needed, and in 1948 the Model B "Sporter" was born.  Designed to be less expensive than the Model A, it had a MSRP of $35 when introduced. Apparently the price point of the Model B was still too high, and sales continue to be slow on both rifles, which was of great concern to the newly formed Sheridan Company. It was quickly realized that for the company to survive, a much cheaper to produced model must be designed. This philosophy gave rise to the last Sheridan model, the Model C "Streak" introduced in 1949. It's MSRP at introduction was $19.95 and was selling for $23.95 by 1950. This is the model that ushered Sheridan Products Inc. into profitability. The Model C Silver and Blue Streaks are the pellet rifles that Sheridan is primarily known for, since the Model A's and B's are relatively scarce. Sheridan manufactured the Model C Streaks for 27 years before being bought out by the Benjamin Air Rifle company in 1976 and ending the original run of Sheridan produce Streaks. Many small changes were made to the Streaks during it's 27 year run, providing collectors many different varieties. 
SHERIDAN AIR RIFLES
 (All Sheridan air rifles Model A, B, and C are multi-pump, single shot, bolt action, breech-loading, and .20 (5mm) caliber. Muzzle velocity figures are for Sheridan΄s standard weight pellets of 14.3 grains.)
Model A (Super) (1947-1953) Total Production: 2130 Velocity: Variable to 700 fps. With a large cast and machined aluminum receiver, bronzed barrel and pump tube, walnut stock with Monte Carlo cheek-piece, ball-type valve mechanism, adjustable trigger, and peep sight. It weighed 5 pounds 14 ounces, stretched 37 inches overall, with a 20-inch barrel with one turn in 12 inches.  MSRP $56.50.
Model B (Sporter) (1948-1951) Total Production: 1051  Velocity: Variable to 700 fps Designed to be less expensive than the Model A (Super) Using the same gun, but without the cheek-piece, a revision of soldered ventilated rib type barrel, less expensive paint finish and various slight changes it was to be a cheaper alternative to the slow selling Model A. MSRP $35 when introduced, $42.50 when production stopped.
Model C (Streak) (1949-1976) Total Production: Unknown. Velocity: Variable to 700 fps. Designed to be less costly to produce than the Model A (Super) and the Model B (Sporter).  Although less costly to produce when compared to the Super and Sporter Grade, the Model C were still well constructed Airguns using quality materials. They  utilized walnut stocks, aluminum receiver, bronze barrel and pump tube. A different valve mechanism was used in the Model C than in the previous Model A and B. It was dubbed the "Streaks" with the Silver Streak being first with its Nickel finish, followed by Blue Streak in a black oxide finish  in 1952. The only difference between the two steaks is the finish. MSRP 19.95 at introduction and was soon selling for $23.95 (1949-50). 
Sheridan Products Inc was acquired by its competitor, the Benjamin Air Rifle Company in 1977, thus ending the original line of Sheridan Model C's in 1976.*
*(Benjamin Air Rifle Company continued producing Model C's until 1992 when the company was purchased by competitor Crosman Corporation. Changes to the design of the Model C were made by both Benjamin and Crosman.) 

Dating a Vintage Sheridan Model C (Streak) 1949 - 1976
(be aware that changes often cannot be pinpointed exactly, so most changes will only be list by year they first appeared) Date stamps on 1964 to 1971 and serial numbers on 1972- 1985 easily pinpoint manufacture dates for these years. This change chronology is most useful for identifying approximate manufacture dates for Model C "Streaks" produced from 1949 to 1963, the "Thumb Safety" version of the Model C Streaks.

1949 - First production Silver Streak Introduced. (Sept 1949)
•   Slab sided stock (1949 only)
•   Rear sights are aperture style (1949 - 1951)
•   Tube stamped "SHERIDAN PRODUCTS INC. ---RACINE WIS--- on right side (1949 - 1951)
•   Forearm attached with screws (1949 - 1951/52)
•   Knurled windage adjustment for rear sight (1949 - 1952)
•   Straight end Butt stock (1950 - 1954)
•   Rear sight soldered on to barrel ( 1949 - 1955)
•   High Comb stock (1950 - 1958)
•   Slim trigger guard attached with two screws (1949 - 1959).
•   Forearm is slim style (1949 - 1960)
•   Straight bolt arm (1949 - 1960)
•   Hold-down thumb safety (1949 - 1962)
•   Sculpted front blade sight (1949 - 1963)
•   Grooved receiver (1949 - 1967)
•   Pump Tube stamped "SILVER STREAK" on left side.
1950 - One change
•   Slab sided stock discontinued.
1951 - Two changes
•   Patridge rear sight introduced. (introduced late 1951)
•   Hole on right side receiver (allows pin removal on Bolt) (1951 - 1956)
1952 - Three changes
•   Blue Streak model introduced (May 1952)
•   Forearm attached with roll pins. .
•   Pump tube now has "MADE IN USA" stamped on right side after RACINE, WIS. stamping.
1953 - One change
•   Knurled Windage knobs discontinued
1954 - No changes
1955 - One change
•   Crescent butt stock replaces straight butt stock.
1956 - Two changes
•   Rear sight now attached with set screw and two dimples, and is no longer soldered to barrel. (May 1956 - May 1961)
•   Hole on right side of receiver removed (Mid - Late 1956)
1957 - No changes
1958 - No changes
1959 - One change
•   Introduce lower comb on Stock.
1960 - Three changes
•   Trigger guard now wider and attached with Rivet and one screw. (Aug 1960)
•   Introduce new stamped lettering on pump tube "5 M/M CAL" now stamped on left side of Tube.
•   Blue Streak models now have "BLUE STREAK" stamped on the pump tube.
1961 - Three changes
•   Introduce larger "Beaver tail" style Forearm.
•   Change from straight bolt to curved bolt handle with hole on ball-end and pinned to Bolt. (May 1961)
•   Rear Sight now attached with 2 set screws. (June 1961 - May 1971)
1962 - One change
•   Hand Guard introduced
1963 - One change
•   Rocker Safety introduced. (Feb 1963)
1964 - Two changes
•   Inspection dates now stamped (backwards and alphabetically) on the left side of the receiver. (Jan 1964 - Apr 1972)
•   Front sight changed to a large forward serrated ramp style 1964 - 1977)
1965 - No changes
1966 - No changes
1967 - One change
•   Trigger guard now attached by two rivets
1968 - Two change
•   Grooves removed from the Receiver (now smooth flattop receiver). (Mar 1968 - Feb 1978)
•   Curved bolt handle now welded to bolt.
1969 - No changes
1970 - No changes
1971 - Two changes
•   Left-handed version introduced (Jul 1971) ( Approx 400 made)
•   Rear sight now clip-on attachment. (April 1971)
1972 - Two changes
•   Stamped Serial numbers introduced ( 000001 - 025650). (Apr 1972)
•   Hole in bolt handle made shallow (1972 - 1974)
1973 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 025651 - 060550)
1974 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 060551 - 100780)
1975 - One change. Serial numbers ( 100780 - 141460)
•   Hole in bolt handle eliminated.
1976 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 141461 - 175840) 
Last year of the Original Sheridan Products Inc. produced Streaks, before being purchased by its competitor the Benjamin company.


BENJAMIN / SHERIDAN
1977 - Two changes. Serial numbers ( 175841 - 211020) - First year of the Benjamin/Sheridan Streaks.
•   "C SERIES" now stamped on left side of tube. (Apr 1977)
•   Barrel now extends over muzzle cap.
1978 - Two changes. Serial numbers ( 211021 - 257460) 
•   Introduce short ramp front sight. (Feb 1978)
•   Round top receiver. (Feb 1978)
1979 - Two changes. Serial numbers ( 257461 - 308340) -
•   Introduce "AIR HOLE DO NOT OIL" stamped on bottom of tube. (Jun 1979)
•   Double sear trigger introduced. (Sept 1979)
1980 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 308341 - 346820)
1981 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 346821 - 381450)
1982 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 381451 - 401050)
1983 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 401051 - 417410)
1984 - One change. Serial numbers ( 417411 - 437800)
•   Receiver drilled for Williams Peep Sight. (Jan 1984)
1985 - No changes. Serial numbers ( 437801 - ---------)

[Habanero69er]

Some good info Dave.

[kudzu]

Wow, Dave, thanks for posting all that interesting and helpful information about Sheridan air rifle history.

[Hoosier Daddy]

gracious!
Cerebral overload,...

[Cloud 9]

Bigwave8, thanks to your listing of the changes, I just determined that my 1951/1952 silver streak is in fact a 1951.  It was the sight change from aperture to patridge that was the clincher.  Thanks!!

[JoeV]

For those interested, the history posted by bigwave8 can be viewed and printed at...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Products

Two of my brothers have Sheridans, one from 1960, and the other from the last batch that were made by Benjamin. Mine is a 1983. I'm seeing my brothers tonight and printed out the history for them, as they will both find it interesting, and also helpful to identify any vintage guns they come across.

[GP2004]

The history and the manuals were really good to see, Thanks for posting, interesting stuff for sure.